Georgia Southern University signs memorandum of understanding with University of Belize for international partnership

Georgia Southern University and the University of Belize (UB) signed a memorandum of understanding launching an official partnership, increasing access to research projects and degree programs at both institutions.

Georgia Southern will gain access to unique research locations in Belize, opening up opportunities for students and faculty to study marine biology, tropical ecology and natural resource management. UB faculty and students will gain access to master’s and doctoral degree programs at Georgia Southern through streamlined applications and financial aid.

Representatives from the two universities came together for an official signing ceremony on the main campus of UB in Belmopan, Belize. Avinandan (Avi) Mukherjee, Ph.D., Georgia Southern’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs said the partnership marks a great step forward in the University’s standing as a major research institution with global connections.

“This partnership with the University of Belize reflects Georgia Southern’s commitment to building meaningful global collaborations that expand opportunities for our students, faculty and researchers,” said Mukherjee. “By connecting our institutions, we are creating new pathways for discovery, innovation and academic excellence while addressing challenges that extend beyond national borders. Together, we will strengthen research, develop future leaders and create opportunities that benefit both universities and the communities we serve.”

UB faculty will be able to pursue advanced degrees at Georgia Southern through a hybrid format that allows them to continue teaching in Belize. The faculty will spend one academic year in residence at a Georgia Southern campus for foundational coursework and research planning. They will then return to Belize to complete their research and dissertation while maintaining their teaching duties at their own institution.

UB graduates who meet Georgia Southern’s core admission requirements will be able to apply to graduate school at Georgia Southern with Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) and Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) or in-state tuition for those who do not receive an assistantship.

Georgia Southern is already seeing interest from UB students, with two recent graduates enrolling in the materials science and environmental science doctoral programs in the College of Science and Mathematics (COSM). Other UB students expressed interest in engineering and applied computing during recent exchange trips where Georgia Southern faculty toured UB facilities and presented their own research at the 2026 annual science symposium in Belmopan.

“It was a great pleasure to host the Georgia Southern University delegation, including Provost Avinandan Mukherjee,” said Vincent Palacio, Ph.D., president of the University of Belize. “This memorandum of understanding has already proven to be one of our most productive partnerships, with guest lectures taking place and University of Belize students already being accepted into graduate programs at Georgia Southern University. I am especially encouraged to see that several initiatives have identified potential collaborators who share a passion for advancing their mutual interests. These early successes demonstrate the strength of this partnership, and I look forward to even greater collaboration and impact in the years ahead.”

The partnership expands Georgia Southern’s commitment to hands-on learning by providing a unique international location for students and faculty to conduct real-world research. Through shared research projects, the two universities will tackle common goals such as coastal resiliency and national development.

“In the College of Science and Mathematics, discovery is in our DNA, and this partnership with the University of Belize is a vital extension of that commitment,” said Michael Huggins, Ph.D., dean of COSM. “By establishing joint research initiatives focused on global environmental challenges, we ensure our work has a direct real-world impact. This collaboration also represents a long-term investment in our collective research capacity, strengthening our enduring scientific legacy, through talent and workforce development by preparing technically skilled graduates who are ready to lead in the global scientific community.”

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 with a Carnegie Community Engagement classification, offers approximately 149 different degree programs serving nearly 31,600 students through 11 colleges on four campuses in Savannah, Hinesville, Statesboro, Swainsboro and online instruction.

Founded in 1906, Georgia Southern is a leader in higher education in southeast Georgia with expert faculty and a focus on public impact research and engaging learning opportunities through knowledge and know-how that prepare our students to soar beyond and take ownership of their lives, careers and communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.