An agreement of understanding has been signed that will solidify the longstanding relationship between Bridgewater State University and the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
“This agreement provides for a range of opportunities for BSU, including free admission for students, opportunities for research, internships, joint exhibits and much more,” said Dr. Karim Ismaili, special adviser to the president for university priorities and global engagement.
Signing the agreement on behalf of the museum was president and CEO James Russell.
The agreement lays out 11 ways in which the museum and university will benefit. Beyond internships, free admission and research opportunities, they include cross-collaborations resulting in lectures and related coursework, reciprocal access to facilities, and programmatic support for BSU’s Pedro Pires Institute for Cape Verdean Studies. The museum will also coordinate student exchanges with Cape Verdean institutions, and grant access to the museum and special programs for the Mandela Washington Fellows, who are currently on campus for a six-week program.
“This is a really strong regional partner,” Dr. Ismaili said. “We wanted to formalize, institutionalize and broaden our engagement with the museum.
BSU will also put its strong international partnerships to work as part of the agreement. Japan, for instance, would seem to be an ideal place for this type of engagement, due to the country’s ties to the New Bedford area. (A legendary Japanese native, Nakahama Manjirō, was one of the first from his country to visit the U.S. Upon his return home he became a famous samurai, translator, educator and builder of the country’s navy. The Fairhaven house he lived in is now a museum.)
The day the agreement was signed it was already paying dividends: The museum hosted BSU’s 25 Mandela Fellows, providing tours and the chance to meet local dignitaries.
“It’s just a great partnership,” Dr. Ismaili said. (Story by John Winters, G’11, University News & Media)
