Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland, USA has signed a historic partnership with the University of Buea (College of Technology) in Cameroon, West-Central Africa, establishing a mutual effort to promote opportunities for academic research cooperation between both institutions.
On Thursday, June 21, 2023, Dr. Bradford Sims, President of Capitol and Ngomo Horace Manga, Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and International Partners in Education Framework Agreement to initiate collaboration in promoting cooperation in the areas of education and research, as well as to expand the basis for friendship and cooperative educational exchange.
The purpose of this agreement is to promote partnership, develop academic and educational cooperation based on equality and reciprocity, and facilitate and enhance academic, administrative, and research cooperation between the two universities toward the goal of granting degrees and diplomas in both undergraduate and graduate programs offered by both universities.
This MOU aligns with the missions of both institutions. The University of Buea is dedicated to providing opportunities for quality education through teaching and research in an environment that is conducive to such pursuits and in ways that respond to market forces. Capitol Technology University is also dedicated to educating individuals for professional success, with opportunities in engineering, computer and information sciences, and business, as well as providing relevant learning experiences that lead to success in the evolving global community.
Capitol has a long history of partnering with West African institutions to address global cyber skills and workforce shortages. Earlier this year, a partnership between Capitol and NexGen Higher Institute of Technology (NHIT) was established. The President of NHIT, Dr. Divine Sufor Anye, is a Capitol alumnus who received both his D.Sc. in Cybersecurity and his Ph.D. in Technology from the university. He has previously collaborated with Capitol in the development of cyber programs in Cameroon and helped successfully initiate a similar partnership between the Catholic University Institute of Buea (CUIB) and Capitol. In 2015, CUIB and Capitol established this partnership, signed by former Capitol President Dr. Michael T. Wood and CUIB Chancellor Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu. Within the MOU, Capitol agreed to assist the CUIB in establishing a cybersecurity program to which CUIB faculty were trained on-site at Capitol’s campus by experts in the field with access to resources such as the Capitol Cyber Lab. Dr. Anye, a Capitol student at the time, worked to develop and map courses for this initiative, which he stated was a challenging but rewarding endeavor and credited Capitol in its efforts, of going “above and beyond to help and support a good cause.”
Capitol professors continue to promote the building of relationships with international institutions. Dr. Ron Martin, a professor of practice at Capitol who specializes in critical infrastructure, systems security, and identity, credentialling, and access management (ICAM), is actively involved in the community and maintains professional relationships with a diverse mix of organizations. He has spoken at several events in Africa, including the ASIS Security Conference in Ghana.
Also, Dr. Martin as well as Capitol’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Cybersecurity expert Dr. William Butler, are Fulbright Specialists, a program that provides opportunities for academic researchers to advance the study of critical infrastructure and other important areas of technology education through project-based exchanges at host institutions across the world.
Capitol believes that fostering the development of creative opportunities and critical offerings for students around the globe starts with partnerships like these, and that these initiatives can only be achieved through the mutual collaboration of the faculty, staff, and alumni of these institutions.
Further announcement of this significant partnership will occur at the ASIS Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Conference on July 26, 2023 in Nigeria, where Dr. Martin will be a featured speaker.
Both Capitol and the University of Buea are looking forward to working together on these shared, important goals detailed in the partnership agreement.
For more information about Capitol Technology University, visit the website here.
For more information about the University of Buea, visit the website here.