Columbia and The Bahamas Ministry of Education Launch Partnership to Expand Opportunities for Bahamian Students

Bahamas Ministry of Education Columbia College Chicago leaders meet with representatives from the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas during a February 2026 visit to campus.

Chicago — March 26, 2026 — Columbia College Chicago has announced a strategic international partnership with the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, designed to expand educational access for Bahamian students and strengthen global pathways into the creative industries. 

“Columbia College Chicago is proud to partner with the Ministry of Education of The Bahamas to create pathways for talented Bahamian students to pursue their academic and creative ambitions,” said Shantay N. Bolton, President and CEO. “This collaboration reflects our shared belief that global partnerships can unlock transformative opportunities for students while strengthening the future of the creative economy.” 

The agreement builds upon an evolving collaboration with the Ministry’s Public School Scholars Programme, a national initiative that prepares high-achieving Bahamian students for academic success and leadership. Through this effort, Columbia will not only enroll students but also provide comprehensive academic advising, student engagement, and career readiness support to ensure persistence through graduation and beyond. 

“As a division of the Ministry of Education, we are extremely proud of this partnership. It signals the level of commitment to the development of the arts in the Bahamas. Bahamian creatives should be excited to explore the vast opportunities and exceptional academic resources available to them at Columbia College Chicago,” said Robyn Lynes, Attorney and Chair of the Public-School Scholarship Programme for the Ministry of Education in the Bahamas. 

The partnership has been strengthened through reciprocal engagements. A recent Bahamian delegation visit to Columbia’s campus included meetings with leadership across admissions, international student services, academic advising, and student affairs. In turn, Columbia leadership traveled to Nassau to deepen collaboration with national education partners and institutional stakeholders. They met with leadership from the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to explore transfer school pathway to high-demand fields offered at Columbia including fashion, media, and entrepreneurship. 

In addition, Columbia representatives are engaging with principals, counselors, and students from several secondary schools across New Providence, Grand Bahamas, and the Family Islands to introduce academic programs and opportunities available to Bahamian students.  

“This partnership reflects the extraordinary talent and promise of Bahamian students,” said Emmanuel Lalande, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Strategy and Student Success. “Together, we are building direct pathways to a world-class creative education while ensuring students are supported academically, professionally, and holistically.” 

Representatives from The Bahamas will visit Columbia in May to participate in Manifest, the college’s annual celebration of student creativity and creative homecoming, further advancing this dynamic collaboration. Columbia continues to expand its global footprint through strategic partnerships that prepare the next generation of creative leaders. 

About Columbia College Chicago: Creative Careers Start Here.   
A destination for innovators for more than 135 years and located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Cultural Mile, Columbia College Chicago is a private, non-profit school for creatives that offers a distinctive curriculum that blends creative and media arts, liberal arts, and business in 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Columbia students graduate career-ready, with creative and critical thinking skills, real-world problem-solving abilities, standout bodies of work, and industry connections to fuel their professional journeys and the creative economy. Find Columbia College Chicago on social media at @ColumbiaChi on X and Instagram, on Facebook and on LinkedIn.  

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