Opening course pathways in the Ivory Coast and Sub-Saharan Africa
Adelphi, Md. — [June 25, 2026] — University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and Université Française d’Abidjan (UFRA), a higher education institution based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast], today announced a new academic partnership expanding access to internationally focused learning opportunities for qualified students enrolling through UFRA.
Through the agreement, qualified participants may apply for admission to UMGC and enroll in selected UMGC online courses—in fields like business administration, cybersecurity technology and computer science—subject to UMGC admission requirements, course prerequisites, and academic policies. Students who successfully complete eligible coursework will earn academic credit from UMGC.
The collaboration supports UMGC’s mission to broaden access to high-quality, flexible education for adult and nontraditional learners around the world. Under the agreement, UFRA will serve as the students’ primary local institution for recruitment, academic preparation, English-language training, and student support services, while UMGC will facilitate admissions decisions, registration, course content, faculty, assessment, and the award of academic credit for UMGC coursework.
“UMGC was established with the understanding that where you live or work should not limit your access to quality higher education, and today, the university operates globally in more than 20 countries and territories,” said UMGC Chief Partnerships Officer Chris Motz. “This agreement with UFRA extends that conviction to a region where the demand for global recognized credentials is growing quickly. It opens a course pathway and also represents an investment in a relationship with long-term implications for learner opportunities across sub-Saharan Africa.”
The new agreement with UFRA reflects the university’s broader strategy of building partnerships that expand opportunity and foster learner mobility across regions and communities.
About University of Maryland Global Campus
University of Maryland Global Campus was founded more than 75 years ago specifically to serve the higher education needs of working adults and military service members. Today, UMGC is the largest provider of postsecondary education in Maryland and continues its global tradition with online and hybrid courses, more than 175 classroom and service locations worldwide, and more than 100 degrees and certificates backed by the reputation of a state university and the University System of Maryland. For more information, visit https://www.umgc.edu.
About Université Française d’Abidjan (UFRA)
Founded in 1999, Université Française d’Abidjan (UFRA) is a private higher education institution in Côte d’Ivoire dedicated to providing high-quality, internationally oriented education. Established to bring European academic standards to West Africa, UFRA enables students to earn French and internationally recognized degrees while studying in Abidjan. Operating under the License-Master-Doctorate (LMD) framework, the university offers programs in finance, commerce and marketing, engineering and technology, law, and management sciences. Through academic excellence, innovation, and strategic international partnerships, UFRA prepares graduates to become leaders and professionals equipped to succeed in a global economy.
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