Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has explored potential Transnational Education partnerships with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania, United States, as part of efforts to strengthen practical STEM education in Nigerian universities.
In a statement on Sunday, Alausa led a Nigerian delegation to the university on Friday, where he toured its health sciences and advanced manufacturing facilities and held discussions with university President Dr Christopher M. Reber and senior officials.
The visit focused on potential collaboration in STEM education, student pathways and workforce development. Harrisburg University confirmed ahead of the visit that the delegation would tour its health sciences and advanced manufacturing facilities, including its Metal Lab, Smart Factory and Robotics Lab.
During the tour, students demonstrated practical applications of their training in advanced manufacturing, robotics, cybersecurity, data analytics, biotechnology, health sciences and interactive media.
The demonstrations showcased an education model that combines classroom teaching with laboratory work, experimentation, research and problem-solving.
Alausa said Nigeria could use Transnational Education (TNE) partnerships to strengthen links between Nigerian universities and reputable international institutions.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has established a framework for TNE covering arrangements such as joint and twinning programmes, articulation agreements, branch campuses, online and blended learning, franchised programmes, joint research initiatives and student and faculty mobility.
The minister said such partnerships should go beyond providing access to foreign qualifications and should support knowledge transfer, research, innovation, faculty development and stronger university-industry links.
Areas discussed during the visit included artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, robotics, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and health sciences.
The Federal Ministry of Education said collaboration in these fields could help Nigerian universities strengthen laboratory-based teaching, expand research capacity and equip graduates with practical skills aligned with emerging industries.
Harrisburg University offers programmes in fields including advanced manufacturing, analytics, biotechnology and cybersecurity, with an emphasis on connecting academic learning with practical applications.
Alausa also interacted with Nigerian and other African students at the university during the visit, which coincided with the 2026 African Cultural Festival in Harrisburg.
The festival, themed “The Great Reunion,” focused on education, culture and collaboration among Africans and the wider community.
Among those present during the university engagement were Harrisburg University Chief Strategy Officer David Clickner; Richard Pitts Jr., chair of the Department of Manufacturing Systems; Dr Luanne Reese Hutchinson, Executive Director of the Strategic Healthcare Initiative; Wole Adeniyi of the African Cultural Festival; and Nigerian and other African students.
The minister said the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to pursue international academic partnerships capable of producing practical benefits for Nigerian students and universities.
He said the government would also continue to focus on skills development, research, innovation and technology as part of efforts to prepare Nigerian graduates for the global knowledge economy.
Harrisburg University President Christopher M. Reber said the institution was looking forward to exploring ways its programmes could serve Nigerian students and strengthen educational ties between Pennsylvania and Africa.
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