St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – September 8, 2026 – A new chapter in tertiary education has opened in Antigua and Barbuda, as the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) has officially welcomed its first group of enrolled students following the high-profile merger of five separate post-secondary institutions into one unified collegiate system.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, total enrolment across ABCAS’ five geographically distributed campuses has surpassed 1,200. This incoming cohort makes history as the first group to begin studies under the new consolidated ABCAS brand, capping months of transition work to integrate the formerly independent institutions.
Each of the five campuses hosts a distinct specialized school tailored to meet the country’s diverse workforce and development needs. The Eustace Hill Campus is home to the School of Business, Innovation and Information Technology, while the Muriel O’Mard Campus houses the School of Tourism and Hospitality. Vocational and technical training is centered at the Harrison Centre’s School of Technical and Vocational Education, and the Dr. Alister Francis Campus hosts the School of Education, Arts, Science and Industry. Rounding out the network is the Glanvilles Campus, which operates the new School of Agriculture.
Among the most notable milestones of this inaugural intake is the launch of the School of Agriculture itself, which welcomed its first ever cohort of eight students. This launch is a targeted strategic step: national education planners aim to strengthen formal agricultural training across the country, and create structured, accessible pathways for young people seeking to build careers or launch entrepreneurial ventures in the agricultural sector, a key part of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy and food security strategy.
Honourable Daryll S. Matthew, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, emphasized that this first cohort’s arrival confirms the core vision that drove the merger of the five institutions. The consolidation was designed to align tertiary education more closely with national development goals, by eliminating redundancies and pooling resources across once-separate campuses.
Dr. E. Jonah Greene, President of ABCAS, framed the incoming cohort as a landmark moment for the new unified college, which now draws on the unique legacy and strengths of each of its five constituent campuses. “For our students, being part of ABCAS should mean access to the collective strengths of the entire College. Each of our campuses brings its own expertise, experience and areas of specialisation, and our responsibility is to ensure those strengths work together,” Dr. Greene explained. “As we welcome this first intake, our focus is on providing students with a strong education, practical preparation and the support they need to move confidently into further study, employment or entrepreneurship.”
As the 2026/2027 academic year kicks off, ABCAS leadership has extended welcomes to both new and returning students, and expressed optimism for a year defined by collaborative learning, personal growth, and expanded opportunity across all five campuses. The institution remains anchored in its core mission: delivering accessible, relevant, and high-quality academic, technical, and vocational training that equips graduates to pursue their personal career goals, while contributing meaning to the long-term nation-building efforts of Antigua and Barbuda.