Central Georgia Technical College Signs International Partnership Agreement With Kenya Defense University
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. – Central Georgia Technical College has entered into a new international education and training partnership with the National Defence University-Kenya, making CGTC one of the Kenyan university’s first higher education partners in the United States.
Leaders from both institutions gathered at CGTC in August to sign a Memorandum of Understanding establishing cooperation in areas including technical education, professional training, student and faculty exchanges, research, capacity building and cross-cultural learning.
The agreement, announced August 24, 2026, follows nearly two years of discussions and visits between officials from Central Georgia and Kenya.
CGTC President Dr. Ivan H. Allen and Executive Vice President Jeff Scruggs signed the agreement alongside NDU-K Vice Chancellor David K. Tarus and Brigadier General Guhad Noor, commandant.
Representatives from Kenya’s Defence Forces Technical College and Kenyan Embassy in Washington, D.C., also attended the signing.
“Meaningful collaboration drives the mission of both our institutions,” Allen said. “We look forward to the ways our commitment to each other develops into solutions that make our communities safer and prioritize the skills for a global workforce.”
Partnership Began With 2024 Visit to Central Georgia
The relationship between CGTC and NDU-K developed through work involving the Institute for Security Governance in 2024.
The institutions identified areas where CGTC’s experience developing technical education and workforce programs could help NDU-K expand its technical training capabilities.
The partnership began taking shape in October 2024, when representatives from NDU-K’s Defence Forces Technical College traveled to Central Georgia.
During that visit, Kenyan officials toured CGTC’s Macon and Warner Robins campuses and examined programs involving aviation maintenance, aircraft structural technology, cybersecurity, industrial systems and workforce development.
Initial discussions focused partly on how CGTC could support Kenya Defence Forces logistics modernization through technical education and training, as well as potential faculty, staff and student exchanges.
The relationship expanded in July 2025, when a CGTC delegation led by Scruggs traveled to Kenya.
The delegation visited NDU-K’s main campus in Nakuru and met with university leaders to discuss the institutions’ capabilities and strategic priorities. Those discussions broadened the proposed partnership to include research, capacity building and educational approaches addressing security and workforce challenges.
Agreement Opens Door to Student and Faculty Exchanges
The newly signed agreement establishes a framework for continued cooperation in international education, technical expertise, professional development and academic exchanges.
NDU-K marked its fifth year of operation in May 2026, and expanding technical programs has been identified as one of the university’s significant needs.
CGTC officials said the college’s previous international education and training projects, including multimillion-dollar contracts supporting capacity-building efforts overseas, helped position it as a potential partner.
During their latest visit, the Kenyan delegation toured CGTC’s primary campuses as well as the Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center, known as the VECTR Center.
“All of our international education and training opportunities with the greatest potential impact on students and faculty begin with strong relationships,” CGTC Director of Marketing, PR and International Outreach JoBen Rivera-Thompson said.
With the agreement now in effect, the institutions plan to continue developing education, training and exchange opportunities for students, faculty and staff in both countries.
