UL Signs Tripartite Partnership

More than 200 University of Liberia students will gain access to international scholarships under a landmark tripartite agreement signed last week, also providing professional development opportunities for faculty and expanding access to international education programs.

The agreement between UL, the European Business Institute of Luxembourg (EBU), and the U.S.-based International Institute of Family Development Inc. was formalized Thursday, August 27, during a virtual MoU signing ceremony on Zoom.

Through the partnership, EBU will offer scholarships covering 97 percent of online tuition for 200 certificate programs, four diploma programs and 10 Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. The partnership will also establish a 2027 Luxembourg Study Abroad Program for UL students and faculty.

UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan said the signing marked “a defining chapter in the journey of the University of Liberia, our nation’s flagship national university,” adding that EBU offers programs in high-demand fields crucial to Liberia’s national development, including business and finance, technology and innovation, artificial intelligence, education and hospitality.

“As we gather to sign this historic Memorandum of Understanding with the European Business Institute of Luxembourg, we are not just exchanging documents; we are opening doors of limitless potential for our students, faculty, and staff, as well as our entire country,” she said.

Ms. Helen Chalisa, Board Chairperson of EBU, said the partnership is in line with EBU’s mission to bridge educational gaps in Africa by offering its education online.

“We do not want Africa to be left behind – not because of geography, and certainly not because quality education has become unaffordable,” Ms. Chalisa said during the Zoom ceremony. “Through this partnership with the University of Liberia, we are bringing opportunity closer to Liberian learners.”

According to the agreement, the partnership and its offerings will operate under the International Institute’s Program for African Cultural Exchange, Self-Enlightenment, Training, and Research (PACESETTER) Initiative. The program fosters collaboration between students in Africa and the United States, promoting non-political and non-sectarian cooperation. It also provides opportunities for middle school, high school, and college students to engage with the global community.

The MoU builds on a partnership established in June, when Dr. Maparyan issued a Letter of Partnership to the International Institute in support of the PACESETTER Initiative. She pledged UL’s readiness to host proposed international delegations and explore opportunities presented by the International Institute.

Ms. Veola Green, the International Institute’s Managing Executive Director and Principal, said the signing ceremony marked a defining moment in a shared vision of “Building the Africa We Deserve.” She said the partnership will open doors for hundreds of students each semester to access education and international opportunities. The partnership also aligns with the International Institute’s campaign to co-create pathways for 1 million jobs in Africa by 2030.

“Through the PACESETTER Initiative, we are not only equipping young people with the skills to thrive in today’s global economy, but also empowering them to become innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who will shape Africa’s future,” Green said.

EBU will cover 97 percent of online tuition for UL students, and fundraisers and other efforts will be undertaken to cover the remaining costs.

EBU is a Luxembourg-based nonprofit business and professional education institution, headquartered at Château de Wiltz. It provides predominantly online education to an international student population, with programs covering business and management, finance and accounting, data science and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, project management, hospitality and education.

Across sub-Saharan Africa, access to quality higher education continues to be constrained by infrastructure limitations, physical campus capacity, geography and cost. Ms. Chalisa said EBU chose to use technology to expand access to quality, globally recognized education through a virtual platform, with programs ranging from certificates and diplomas to degrees.

“We realized that we could not bring everyone to Luxembourg. It would not be affordable, and it would not be sustainable,” Ms. Chalisa said. “So, instead, we took education to where people are—through the internet,” she declared.

During the signing, Dr. Maparyan expressed gratitude to the partners and discussed the potential of the partnership.

“The value-add of EBU’s programs touches the very heartbeat of modern academic advancement, and key areas of national development for Liberia,” Dr. Maparyan said.

Through rigorous training in business and finance, the President added, UL scholars will be better positioned to drive sustainable economic growth in Liberia and compete from Liberia in a fast-paced digital world. In technology and innovation, the partnership will expand access to skills increasingly central to the global economy.

In education, Dr. Maparyan said the partnership will empower the minds that will shape future generations of Liberians, who will make contributions to the economy and national development. She disclosed the collaboration will also help UL develop expertise and programming in emerging sectors, including hospitality, that Liberia’s national development agenda requires.

The next semester at EBU begins September 7, and interested course-takers may apply at any time to get started. In the meantime, UL will use the remainder of 2026 to set up three SMART classrooms pledged by donors, enabling UL students, faculty, and staff at the Capitol Hill, Fendall, and Sinje campuses to take full advantage of the opportunity beginning in early 2027.

“To our scholars—the students, faculty, and staff who will benefit from this program—remember that you carry the hopes of a resilient and determined nation. Embrace this opportunity with discipline and the hunger for knowledge,” Dr. Maparyan urged.