By Mahzouba Maya Faal
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Madison Area Technical College in the United States of America (USA) on Tuesday, 29th November 2022, when a delegation of the College visited MoHERST in Bijilo.
The MOU is based on the mutual desire of MoHERST and Madison College to develop learning experiences that prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of living in a world community. Thus, both parties will work towards strengthening, promoting and developing cooperation in education, and training including faculty and student exchanges, joint research undertakings, attending international conferences, development and innovation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Samba Sowe, Director of Science, Technology and Innovation who gave a brief background of the Ministry’s transformation agenda of tertiary and higher education institutions and its decentralisation drive of extending TVET education to every region of the country.
For Mr. Madi Jatta, Deputy Permanent Secretary of MoHERST, the partnership highlights key strategic areas the Ministry is working on. He informed that a term of reference will be developed to commence the implementation of the MOU.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway underlined the importance of education in the life of a city. Thus, she expressed optimism that the joint relationship will yield significant results for students in The Gambia and the USA.
The Wisconsin State Representative Mr. Samba Baldeh, who is also a native of The Gambia, expressed pleasure to be back home and to share how education has helped transform his life into something meaningful. Mr Baldeh is passionate about impacting the lives of children through education and looks forward to a great collaboration with MoHERST.
Similarly, Dr Geoff Bradshaw of Madison College remarked that the college looks forward to a great collaboration with the Ministry in strengthening and promoting the education and training of both parties.
