Seven delegates from the University of Comoros visited Coastal Carolina University Feb. 1 to 3. The delegates were escorted by U.S. Department of State official Eric Atkins as a part of a U.S. Agency for International Development Program (USAID). The program was established to help institutional development in developing markets.

CCU was chosen to provide insights into the interaction of public and community resources in the development of high quality hospitality and tourism education programs in higher education settings. Coastal Carolina also provided expertise and insights into the development and accreditation of programs in teacher development and English education development for teachers.

The Union of the Comoros is a country located off the east coast of Africa, near Madagascar. The University of Comoros was founded in 2003 and has almost 7,000 students. It is the only public university in the country. The choice of CCU was made in consultation between U.S. Embassy officials and representatives from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).

University of Comoros President Ibrahim Mohamed Rachadi said, "It is pressing to have partners from countries such as the USA that will help devise new ways of developing the university through linkages, exchanges, training and other mutually beneficial programs in the area of hospitality and tourism education and English language instruction specifically."

Brad Dean, executive director of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and Virginia Simmons, director of Adult and Community Education for the Horry County Schools, also made presentations to the group. Executive director of global initiatives at CCU, Darla Domke-Damonte said, "This visit reinforced the quality of CCU's programs in the areas of resort tourism management and teacher education and may create opportunities for faculty research, consultation and joint projects between the institutions."