Mary Immaculate College (MIC) has formally entered into a new three-year partnership with Teachers College (TC), Columbia University, marking a significant step in the College’s ongoing commitment to international collaboration in education, research and practice. The partnership was established through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this month.
The agreement provides a framework for joint research initiatives, academic exchange and innovation in teaching and learning. Central to the collaboration are projects such as the Teachers Research Exchange (T-REX) and the International Research Methods Summer School, both designed to strengthen the connection between academic research and classroom practice. The partnership also outlines opportunities for faculty and student mobility, joint conferences and the development of virtual exchange opportunities within graduate programmes.
Welcoming the agreement, Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC, said:
“We are delighted to formalise this partnership with Teachers College. Mary Immaculate College’s long-standing leadership in teacher education, and our approach to values-led, reciprocal international engagement, align closely with Teachers College’s commitment to equity, inclusion and student-centred learning. This agreement creates a strong platform for collaboration on shared educational challenges and opportunities, and on shaping more just and sustainable futures”.
Dr Holly Cowman, Director of International Engagement at MIC, added:
“This partnership will enrich the teaching, learning and research environments at both institutions. We are grateful to Professor KerryAnn O’Meara, Dr Portia Williams and Jazmin Guardado for their collaboration on this MoU, and we want to especially acknowledge Professor John Allegrante, who initiated this partnership.”
Speaking on the importance of TC’s partnership with MIC, Professor KerryAnn O’Meara, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost and Dean of TC, said:
“We are looking forward to embarking on this collaboration with MIC to benefit from mutual exchange of ideas and innovations, learning from what has worked in each cultural context.”
This agreement strengthens MIC’s international partnerships by supporting collaborative research, academic exchange and joint initiatives in teacher education and educational research.
