NC Community Colleges Host Swiss Delegation to Strengthen Global Educational Partnerships

A delegation of Swiss higher education leaders visited North Carolina earlier this month as part of a U.S. study tour focused on exploring innovative educational practices, strengthening Swiss-American partnerships, and fostering collaboration between academia and industry. 

During their time in North Carolina, the delegation met with Dr. Brian Merritt and a team from the North Carolina Community College System Office in Raleigh. The group discussed the System’s efforts to empower its 58 community colleges and their critical role in workforce development.

“This visit represents an exciting opportunity to exchange ideas with global leaders in education,” said Dr. Merritt. “It’s through partnerships like these that we grow stronger—by learning from each other’s successes and challenges to create educational pathways that align with the evolving needs of industry and students.” 

The visit also included tours of Wake Technical Community College, Central Carolina Community College, and MOEN, a key industry partner, to observe how community colleges work with businesses to prepare a skilled workforce. 

This exchange highlights North Carolina’s commitment to fostering international partnerships and innovation in higher education to meet the evolving demands of the global workforce. 

Among their other visits were Georgetown University, Virginia Tech, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Savannah College of Art and Design.