The Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) has welcomed its first student intake since the amalgamation of five tertiary institutions under the ABCAS umbrella.
Just over 1,200 students have enrolled across the College’s five campuses for the 2026/2027 academic year. This is the first group of students to enter the institutions as part of one unified college following the transition to ABCAS.
Students are pursuing programmes through the School of Business, Innovation and Information Technology at the Eustace Hill Campus; the School of Tourism and Hospitality at the Muriel O’Mard Campus; the School of Technical and Vocational Education at the Harrison Centre; the School of Education, Arts, Science and Industry at the Dr. Alister Francis Campus; and the School of Agriculture at the Glanvilles Campus.
The School of Agriculture welcomed its first-ever cohort of eight students, marking the beginning of student enrolment in the school. The milestone forms part of a wider effort to strengthen agricultural training and create clearer pathways for young people interested in careers and entrepreneurship within the sector.
The Honourable Daryll S. Matthew, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, said the first intake demonstrates the broader purpose behind bringing the five institutions together under ABCAS.
“ABCAS was established to do more than bring five institutions under one name. It allows us to pool resources, expertise and facilities that previously existed across separate institutions and use them more effectively for the benefit of our students. It also gives us an opportunity to reduce duplication, strengthen the quality and range of programmes available, and create clearer pathways from education and training into the areas where our country needs skilled people. Ultimately, the measure of ABCAS will be the opportunities it creates for our people and the contribution its graduates make to the continued development of Antigua and Barbuda.”
President of ABCAS, Dr. E. Jonah Greene, said the arrival of the College’s first intake is significant as ABCAS builds on the collective strengths of its five campuses.
“For our students, being part of ABCAS should mean access to the collective strengths of the entire College. Each of our campuses brings its own expertise, experience and areas of specialisation, and our responsibility is to ensure those strengths work together. As we welcome this first intake, our focus is on providing students with a strong education, practical preparation and the support they need to move confidently into further study, employment or entrepreneurship.”
As the 2026/2027 academic year gets underway, ABCAS welcomes its new and returning students and looks forward to a productive year of learning, growth and opportunity across all five campuses.
The College remains committed to providing relevant, high-quality academic, technical and vocational education that equips students with the knowledge and skills to pursue their ambitions and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Five Campuses, One College: ABCAS Welcomes Its First Student Intake.