College Extends Partnership with Democratic Republic of Congo

Bellevue College’s president and leadership team recently traveled to Africa to sign an extension agreement with Complexe Scolaire Bellevue, a kindergarten, primary, and secondary school complex located in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The signing agreement took place at the school with over 2,000 students in attendance.  

“After many conversations, we decided to sign a 10-year agreement as a statement about the stability of the relationship we’ve developed over the last decade,” said Bellevue College President David May. “This partnership is reflective of the trust we have and our commitment to work together into the future.” 

Bellevue College’s International Education program has partnered with Complexe Scolaire Bellevue since 2016. In its inception, about 10 Congolese students attended Bellevue College. As of the signing, Bellevue College expects to welcome more than 250 students from the Complexe Scolaire Bellevue in January, when winter quarter begins. Today, Congolese students make up about 17% of Bellevue College’s total international student enrollment. 

“It strengthens our campus culture to have a vibrant community of Congolese students,” May said. “If you’ve been to a Bellevue College commencement, you’ll know that their families are the loudest, proudest, and most vocal – just having the most fun — because they really believe in the power of education.” 

The trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, funded through the Bellevue College Foundation, took place in early December and provided the opportunity for the college leadership to discuss the work that had been accomplished so far and explore ways to strengthen and expand the partnership in the future. Possibilities include cultural exchanges through faculty trips and sabbaticals and potentially a student study abroad program. In 2018 and 2019, the partnership included a summer leadership academy in which many Congolese students heard from civic leaders.  

“Chris Twite, the son of the president of Complexe Scolaire, was at Bellevue College in 2019 as part of the leadership academy, he came here as a student, and is now back in the Congo, working at the school as head of their IT and data,” May said, noting Twite still recalls a speech from City of Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson. “Not only are students getting a world-class American education, but they’re returning to their homes, and using that education in their communities. We’re not just teaching them to be engineers and business leaders, but we’re teaching them to be leaders in their society.” 

Bellevue College currently has about 1,000 international students on campus, the highest enrolled of Washington state’s community and technical colleges. 

In addition to the partnership with Complexe Scolaire Bellevue, the college is exploring ways to replicate this partnership with other regions and countries in Africa. Bellevue College intends to extend these efforts to Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, and Tunisia, as well as to other regions worldwide, with the aim of strengthening its initiatives and creating new possibilities.

“Our visit to Complexe Scolaire Bellevue highlighted the powerful contributions of international students at Bellevue College and sparked thoughtful dialogue about strengthening the support systems around them,” said Bellevue College’s Vice President of Student Affairs Judith Hernández Chapar. 

While in Africa, Hernández Chapar and Associate Vice President and Chief International Officer for International Education and Global Initiatives Jean D’Arc Campbell visited Kenya. During this trip, Campbell toured schools in Thika and Embu and met with Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, the Principal Secretary of Higher Education and Research.  

“We are in preliminary discussions with the University of Embu to establish a partnership focused on student and faculty exchange,” Campbell said. “Our goal for the next five years is to diversify our market and pursue new opportunities. We remain committed to leveraging past lessons to strengthen our programs and expand our possibilities.” 

Campbell added that Bellevue College International Education is focusing on untapped markets and locations that have been overlooked by others.  

“We are committed to transforming international education through innovative strategies that highlight the opportunities and possibilities the world presents in addressing the challenges currently faced within this sector,” he said. “Our enrollment growth, even during challenging times, underscores the effectiveness of our distinctive outreach efforts, which seamlessly combines traditional recruitment methods with creative and innovative approaches. We strive to think outside the box and maintain an open-minded perspective in all our endeavors.”