The Tribune

A SENIOR figure at the College of the Bahamas has challenged Rotarians to invest in the facility.

Vice-president of advancement at the college Dr Ian Strachan issued the challenge based on its legacy of transforming lives.

In his address to the Rotary Club of West Nassau recently, Dr Strachan, who is also the acting executive vice-president, said the college was one of the Bahamas’ “greatest success stories”, as evidenced through its many accomplished and influential alumni.

“It is one of those things that we have gotten right; really, really right. We prepared a generation of leaders. The institution has never been perfect; it has never had all the resources it needed to do its work; but it has endured and has succeeded in its solemn purpose to offer opportunity to its people,” he told the service club.

A 1988 graduate of the college, Dr Strachan noted that the institution has given thousands of Bahamians “the opportunity to grow, to be challenged, to discover their gifts, to expand their horizons, to broaden the territory of their souls, to be mentored, to be tested and to be trained”.

The college has been moving decisively towards its goal of university status, building on its 40-year-old legacy as the premiere institution of higher learning in the Bahamas.

With construction underway on the Franklyn R Wilson Graduate Centre at its Oakes Field Campus, the completion of a ten-year master plan and the addition of two independently offered graduate degree programmes, he said the institution is advancing in order to undergird the growth and development of the Bahamas.

The College Council, and academic and administrative leaders, also continue to forge relationships with institutions abroad to bolster capacity, create opportunities to develop the expertise of staff and faculty and extend students’ international exposure.

Recently, the college signed memoranda of understanding with two Cuban universities – one with the University of Havana (Universidad de La Habana; UH) and another with the University of Information Science (Universidad de las Ciencias Inform�ticas; UCI).

These agreements aim to facilitate institutional strengthening, further academic development and research opportunities.

There are also plans for a co-ordinated and intensive engagement of the communities and civic and business interests in the immediate vicinity of the College’s Oakes Field Campus through an initiative being referred to as the “University Zone”. This is one of the recommendations outlined in the report from the University Transition Secretariat.

Dr Strachan pointed out that the goal of the “University Zone” is to create a university district, developed through public-private partnership which can give economic depth to the notion of Urban Development and which can strengthen Nassau as a destination.

It is proposed that the University Zone would extend from Bay Street in the North to the Tonique Williams Darling Highway and be hedged by Marcus Bethel Way, Farrington Road and Baillou Hill Road.

“This zone will serve as a vehicle through which the college can bring more focused effort to outreach and hopefully, with the government’s buy in, be a stimulant to domestic investment, employment and wealth generation,” he explained.

The college’s platform for progress is being advanced as the institution observes its 40th anniversary this year through a schedule of events and the inaugural signature Flamingo Ball on June 14th.

At the event, 40 outstanding alumni of the college will be celebrated, out of whom five will be inducted into the COB Alumni Society Hall of Fame.

Six members of staff, faculty and administration will be also honoured.

“COB is changing. A new generation of Bahamians, graduates of the College of the Bahamas, like myself, are stepping up and becoming faculty, chairs, directors, executive directors, deans and vice presidents at the College. There is renewed energy and faith in our future. We need the private sector to share that faith,” he said.