Accra Technical University (ATU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and African American Male Education and Network Development (A2MEND) to expand international learning and academic opportunities for students.

The partnership, signed on August 14, 2026, establishes a framework for the three institutions to collaborate through the Pan African Virtual College (PAVC), an initiative designed to connect students, faculty and institutions in Ghana and California through an Africa-centred approach to education.

The partnership opens the door to opportunities including study abroad and student exchanges, virtual learning and exchanges, joint seminars and other academic programmes for ATU students. It will also promote curriculum development, faculty and staff exchanges, joint research and professional development.

The initiative is expected to give students greater exposure to international learning while providing opportunities to acquire additional knowledge and skills relevant to the changing demands of the global workforce.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of ATU, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, welcomed the partnership as another opportunity for Africans to acquire relevant skills and knowledge.

He pledged the University’s full support towards making the collaboration successful and encouraged students to take advantage of the programmes that will emerge from the partnership, particularly opportunities that could enable them to acquire additional certification alongside their studies at ATU.

Former President of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and current Board member, Pamela Haynes, described the signing as a historic moment in the shared journey of the participating institutions.

Drawing inspiration from the Akan concept of Sankofa, which means to “return and fetch it,” she presented the partnership as an opportunity for people of African descent to reconnect with their roots while drawing on the valuable lessons of the past to build the future.

According to her, the partnership goes beyond academic cooperation. It represents an opportunity to strengthen an African-centred approach to education and deepen connections between Africa and its diaspora.

She acknowledged the contribution of A2MEND, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and their Ghanaian partners towards bringing the Pan African Virtual College initiative to fruition.

The President of A2MEND, Dr. Edward Bush, said the partnership advances the organisation’s mission of expanding access to international educational opportunities, particularly for Black students and Ghanaians, by addressing some of the barriers that have traditionally limited access.

He said the initiative would help position students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to address challenges within their communities and contribute meaningfully to development.

According to him, programmes developed under the partnership will be relevant to the African context, research-centred and responsive to workforce needs, with areas such as climate change, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity among the fields to be explored.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor of ATU, Professor Felix Kutsanedzie also welcomed the initiative, particularly the effort to make participation financially accessible to Ghanaian students. He noted that charging applicable fees in Ghanaian currency would be important in encouraging wider student participation.

The MoU provides an umbrella framework for cooperation among ATU, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and A2MEND. Specific programmes, including exchanges, online courses, research activities and other academic opportunities, will be developed through subsequent implementation arrangements.

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office provides statewide leadership and coordination for the California Community Colleges system and supports initiatives in student success, innovation, collaboration and international partnerships.

African American Male Education and Network Development (A2MEND) is a non-profit organisation made up of community college faculty and administrators who volunteer their scholarly and professional expertise to promote institutional change. The organisation has worked to improve educational outcomes for men of colour within the California Community Colleges system and, under the new partnership, serves as a strategic convener and implementation partner supporting educational opportunity, Pan-African collaboration and institutional partnerships.

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ACCRA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

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