The Dominica State College (DSC) and the University of Maryland have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will result in student and faculty exchanges; research partnerships and the facilitation for the exchange of scholarly information between the two institutions.

“These are just a few of the many benefits that will derive from this historic agreement between our institutions,” stated Dr. Donald Peters, President of the Dominica State College. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a university within the Maryland Public Higher Education System and it is also a Land Grant Institution which means that is also funded by the US Federal Government. The university is ideally suited to help the DSC and indeed the country of Dominica, by helping provide the kind of academic programs that will prepare Dominica students as professional in the country’s two major industries, Agriculture and Tourism.

UMES main programs to which DSC students will be transferring includes Animal and Poultry Science, Plant and Soil science, Urban Forestry, Agribusiness and Agriculture Education. In addition the Department of Human Ecology will train Dominica students in Family and Consumer Science, Child Development, Dietetics and Fashion Merchandising, and the Division of Technology will offer degrees in Construction Management Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology while the Department of Hotel and Restaurant Management, will prepare students for Bachelors Degree in Hotel Management, Restaurant Management, Culinary Arts and Travel and Tourism.

Dominica-born Gabriel Christian is a member of the Board of Visitors of that University and was instrumental in working with Dr. Peters and the UMES administration to facilitate this agreement. Dominica’s Ambassador to the OAS, H.E. Hubert Charles who is stationed in Washington DC also accompanied Dr. Peters to the University to witness the signing of the MOU.

The President of DSC, Dr. Peters expressed his appreciation of DSC’s ability to continue to partner with international universities in seeking opportunities for Dominican students to further their education in areas not available in Dominica. “The University of Maryland at Eastern Shore is a historically strong university in the areas of Agriculture, Hospitality and Technology, it is accredited by the Middle States Association of College and Schools and I feel fortunate and pleased to have the DSC associated with such a strong and distinctive institution.”

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