FVC signs landmark agreement with Government of Côte d’Ivoire

Forth Valley College (FVC) has signed the most significant international partnership agreement in its history, entering into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire.

The strategic partnership opens new opportunities for skills development, student pathways and international collaboration.

The agreement also establishes Forth Valley College as the first traditional international education institution to have entered into a formal partnership with the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, reflecting the College's growing international reputation and expertise in skills development.

The agreement was formally signed at the Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire in London on Thursday, 21 May 2026, during a visit by the country's Minister of National Education, Literacy and Technical Education, who was in the UK to attend the prestigious Education World Forum (EWF), the world's largest gathering of education ministers.

The MoU establishes a framework for long-term collaboration between Forth Valley College and the Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training and Apprenticeship of Côte d’Ivoire, creating opportunities for skills development, curriculum collaboration, staff and student mobility, knowledge exchange and future educational pathways between the two countries. 

The signing represents the culmination of more than a year of engagement, relationship building and partnership development led by FVC’s Global Partnership Manager, Jamie Allan, and supported throughout by Her Excellency Amani Sara, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Kingdom.

Forth Valley College was also supported on the day by representatives from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Emily Summers, West Africa Team Leader and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Tamir Ismail, Education Sector Director Africa, reflecting the strategic importance of the agreement and its contribution to wider UK-Africa education and skills collaboration.

Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will work together to enhance technical and vocational education, develop progression routes for learners, pursue joint projects and funding opportunities, and strengthen links between education and employment. The partnership also creates opportunities to explore pathways for Ivorian learners to continue their studies with Forth Valley College and to work with employers on apprenticeship and scholarship opportunities. 

Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “I am sure everyone at Forth Valley College are as excited at the news of the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, as I am.

“I would like to thank Jamie Allan for all his hard work in getting us to this point and I can’t wait to see how we can open up and develop all the opportunities that are sure to present themselves in the weeks and months to come as a result of this new partnership.”

Jamie Allan, Global Partnerships Manager at Forth Valley College, said: "This is a truly landmark moment for Forth Valley College and represents the most significant international Memorandum of Understanding we have signed to date.

"What makes this agreement particularly special is that it is the result of more than a year of relationship building, trust and shared ambition. It demonstrates the growing international reputation of Forth Valley College and the confidence that governments and institutions around the world have in our ability to deliver high-quality technical and vocational education.

"I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Her Excellency Ambassador Sara Amani for her unwavering support throughout this journey. Her commitment to developing educational links between Côte d’Ivoire and Scotland has been instrumental in making this partnership a reality.

"I would also like to thank colleagues from the FCDO and DBT who supported us on the day and continue to champion UK education internationally. Thanks also to the Scottish Africa Business Association for their support throughout.

"This agreement is not simply a statement of intent. It provides a platform to create meaningful opportunities for learners, institutions and employers in both countries, and we look forward to turning that ambition into tangible outcomes over the years ahead."

The agreement forms part of Forth Valley College's wider international strategy, which has seen the College significantly expand its global partnerships across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Recent activity has included securing British Council International Skills Partnership funding, hosting ministerial and ambassadorial delegations and establishing partnerships with colleges, universities, governments and industry around the world.

The College believes the partnership has the potential to become a flagship example of educational cooperation between Scotland and West Africa, supporting skills development, social mobility and economic growth in both countries.

Photos are courtesy of the Ivory Coast Government photographer.