Partners

Sierra Leone: Visit

An exploratory project began in 2005 to consider building a four-college community college system in Sierra Leone, linked with secondary and tertiary education programs already in existence. There are two study teams, one of Sierra Leone natives in the northern VA area, which made the initial request, and one in Sierra Leone, led by education, business, and community leaders.

Milton Margai College of Education and Technology in Freetown is the formal GMU partner in the project.

In 2006 Dr. Kettlewell and Dr. Alusine Kanu, a Sierra Leone native andprofessor communication at Northern Virginia Community College, were invited to visit the country to meet with the committee, visit towns interested in having community colleges, and to begin planning for sponsorship and funding of the project. The team also met with the Minister of Education who gave his consent to the project.

Community leaders in four locations are seeking assistance with IPDP to develop ICCTCs in Lunsar, Makeny, Kono (which has no postsecondary institutions in its province), and the Pujehan District.