Launched in October 2024 by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the U.K.’s Association of Colleges (AoC),with support from the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, the U.S.-UK Community College and Technical Education Exchange is already producing results, reshaping how students and faculty collaborate across borders.
First Cohort in Action
- Southport College (England) & Bergen Community College (New Jersey): Southport students traveled to Bergen this fall to work alongside American peers on a project to transform the City of Hackensack’s Main Street into a prototype for sustainable urban design. Their plans include an electrical microgrid powered by photovoltaic panels, kinetic paving, and SMART technologies. Bergen students are leading the engineering component, while Southport students are developing sustainable building designs. The final blueprints and 3D models will be presented to Hackensack town representatives with potential to be implemented in the coming years.
- Cambridge Regional College (England) & Linn Benton Community College (Oregon): Cambridge students visited LBCC’s Advanced Transportation Technology Center, touring EV repair facilities and lab spaces, meeting with Oregon state officials, and gaining insights on the latest technology developments from visits to LBCC’s industry partners. The collaboration will continue in February, when LBCC faculty and students will travel to Cambridge for hands-on training and industry site visits.
Both partnerships highlight the exchange program’s focus on green skills and advanced workforce pathways, aligning education with pressing global challenges. Harvey Gilchrist, a student at Southport College who participated in the visit to Bergen Community College, reflected on the experience during an In the Know with ACCT podcast, saying “This project has truly been the experience of a lifetime. Meeting new people and discussing different approaches to sustainability gave me a clearer sense of direction and purpose. It wouldn’t have been the same without this exchange.” The podcast episode, which features exchange program students, can be heard by searching the Apple, Google Play, or Spotify apps for “In the Know with ACCT.”
Looking Ahead
Students from Bergen and Linn Benton will travel to their U.K. partner colleges in spring 2026, continuing the reciprocal exchange model. Organizers say these experiences not only expand technical knowledge but also provide students with the communication and intercultural skills needed to succeed in an interconnected global workforce.
"The immediate benefits of our pilot program to participating students and colleges demonstrate that targeted, workforce-based exchange partnerships are well positioned for success," said ACCT Vice President for Membership and Educational Services Robin Matross Helms. "We are excited to build on this clear validation of our approach."
Second Cohort Announced
Building on early success, ACCT and AoC have launched a second cohort of partnerships:
- Dallas College (Texas) paired with Inspire Education Group (U.K.), with a focus on sustainable energy.
- Hudson County Community College (New Jersey) paired with Capital City College Group (U.K.), with a focus on culinary arts and hospitality.
Leaders of the new partnerships expressed enthusiasm about joining the initiative. “We are thrilled to join this transatlantic exchange,” said Shawnda Navarro Floyd, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Workforce Education at Dallas College. “Our students will gain invaluable technical experience in a critical field for our state and local economy.” Hudson County Community College's President Chris Reber added, "We are thrilled to partner with Capital City College Group to expand workforce pathways with our Culinary Arts Institute. Through this international exchange of knowledge and expertise, we look forward to building transformational experiences for our Hudson students."
A Growing Vision
The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, whose support has been critical to the program’s launch and expansion, emphasized its long-term vision and impact: “We are proud to support these exchanges, which empower students to tackle global challenges and build a brighter future — for themselves, their communities, and the world,” said William L. Gertz, trustee of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation. ACCT Vice President Robin Matross Helms underscored the program’s broader mission, saying “Community colleges and technical education have a critical role to play in preparing students to succeed in a global workforce, and in tackling the grand global challenges of our time. This exchange is laying the foundation for many more workforce-focused global partnerships down the road.”
With projects underway in New Jersey and Oregon, and new cohorts preparing to launch, the U.S.-UK exchange is quickly becoming a practical model for how international collaboration can drive innovation, sustainability, and opportunity for community college and technical education students on both sides of the Atlantic.
