President Kolison with University of Rwanda students.
SUNY Fredonia President Stephen H. Kolison Jr. joined a high-level delegation of SUNY leaders on a multi-day visit to the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Rwanda this month as part of the SUNY Africa Initiative 鈥 a strategic system-wide effort to build lasting global partnerships across education, research and innovation.
The SUNY delegation engaged in discussions with top government officials, university leaders and U.S. embassy personnel. The goal: strengthen ties that will lead to student and faculty exchanges, joint academic programming, and long-term institutional collaboration.
鈥淥ur world is increasingly interconnected, and our students must be prepared to thrive in global contexts,鈥 said President Kolison, who was born in the Republic of Liberia and has long championed global education. 鈥淭his visit was not only about forging new partnerships 鈥 it was also about introducing the SUNY system to potential students, faculty and institutions in Eastern Africa. We want students in Rwanda and Kenya to see SUNY鈥檚 64 campuses as a welcoming and opportunity-rich place to continue their education and prepare for global leadership. I also used the opportunity to introduce SUNY Fredonia to people in the two countries.鈥
During the delegation鈥檚 first stop in Kenya, President Kolison and his SUNY colleagues met with the Principal Secretary of Higher Education the Ministry of Education and held discussions with more than 30 vice chancellors from public universities across the country. Each SUNY leader introduced their individual campus while also describing SUNY鈥檚 unique structure as a system of 64 campuses, offering an expansive range of academic and research opportunities.
鈥淲e succeeded in planting the SUNY brand in each country,鈥 Kolison said. 鈥淚 believe public higher education in Kenya is now, in my view, more familiar with SUNY as a system than ever before.鈥
From Kenya, the delegation traveled to Rwanda, where the itinerary included a summit hosted by the University of Rwanda 鈥 an institution with a system-based structure like SUNY. The delegation toured the University of Rwanda Kigali campus, including the Centers of Excellence, and held working meetings with senior university officials and faculty.
They also engaged with representatives from the private sector who collaborate with Rwandan universities on workforce development and research. The visit culminated with the presentation of a formal Declaration of Intent to the country鈥檚 Ministry of Education, signaling SUNY鈥檚 commitment to long-term collaboration.
The SUNY team also visited the U.S. embassies in the capital of both countries to discuss the visa process for students pursuing education in the United States. 鈥淲e aimed to build credibility with embassy staff,鈥 said Kolison. 鈥淚f students from these institutions are admitted to SUNY campuses, we want to ensure they have a smooth and supported pathway through the visa process.鈥
The SUNY Africa Initiative supports a broad spectrum of engagement opportunities, including student exchange and mobility, faculty visits and joint research, academic program development, virtual and online course collaboration, professional development for faculty and staff, and co-curricular programming and global learning experiences.
鈥淭he reception we received in both countries was overwhelmingly positive,鈥 said Kolison. 鈥淲e built relationships that are essential to what SUNY hopes to achieve. We have increased the likelihood that students from these institutions will choose SUNY to continue their education. We have also laid the foundation for dynamic faculty exchanges that will bring global ideas and energy to our classrooms. Our visit to both countries involved an intense schedule or itinerary with the goal of maximizing our time to the fullest. It was wonderful to be on a team the was fully prepared and up to the task. I am grateful to my colleagues for such an exemplary demonstration of commitment to the advancement of SUNY. The institutions in Kenya and Rwanda are excellent, on the move, and hold the potential for future collaboration in faculty and student exchanges. That excites me.鈥
In addition to Kolison, the SUNY delegation included:
鈥 Melur K. 鈥淩am鈥 Ramasubramanian, SUNY Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, and President of the SUNY Research Foundation
鈥 Peter O. Nwosu, President, State University of New York at Oswego
鈥 Winston 鈥淲ole鈥 Soboyejo, President, State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
鈥 Joshua S. McKeown, Associate Provost for International Education and Programs, State University of New York at Oswego
鈥 Wayne Westervelt, Vice President for External Relations, State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
More photos from President Kolison's trip to Africa
