Antigua and Barbuda has launched a new tertiary institution described as “revolutionary,” following the merger of several post-secondary colleges into one national college.
The Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) was formally unveiled Tuesday at Sandals Grande. It combines Antigua State College, the Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology, and the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute. A fourth institution, the Harrison Centre Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education, is also expected to join the merger.
The consolidation was made possible by the ABCAS Bill 2025, which passed both houses of parliament earlier this year.
Education Minister Daryll Matthew hailed the move as a milestone for tertiary education delivery. “By bringing these institutions together, we create something bigger, better,” he said, noting that ABCAS will provide a seamless pathway for students from certificate level to bachelor’s degrees. He stressed that while integration of systems and budgets may be challenging, it offers an opportunity to modernize education and widen access.
“It is a deliberate strategy by my administration to ensure that we have an inclusive and progressive society,” Matthew said. “We must provide an entry point for every single Antiguan and Barbudan to improve their skills or educational standing.”
During the launch, the college’s new logo was unveiled, and the executive team and board of trustees were introduced.
Browne sets major 10-year education target
Prime Minister Gaston Browne used the ceremony to announce an ambitious goal: that within a decade, at least half of Antigua and Barbuda’s population will hold a college or university degree.
Calling the merger an “educational revolution,” Browne linked the target to his government’s broader strategy of inclusion and competitiveness. He pointed to the new opportunities available through ABCAS, the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, and international scholarship programs.
“Within the next ten years, at least 50% of the population should have at least a college or university degree,” Browne said. “Every Antiguan and Barbudan must have some form of skill or educational attainment in order to make a meaningful contribution to nation building.”
Browne acknowledged that the pledge could strain local institutions and the labor market but argued that an oversupply of graduates was preferable to a shortage. If jobs cannot absorb the number of degree-holders, he said, Antigua and Barbuda could “export skills” rather than risk underemployment.
The Prime Minister also urged that ABCAS include leadership and civics training, saying education should instill discipline, national pride, and civic responsibility alongside academics.
Framing education as the engine of national development, Browne said the government was determined to eliminate illiteracy and position Antigua and Barbuda as an “economic powerhouse” of the Caribbean. He noted the country already ranks highest in the region on the United Nations Human Development Index and predicted it would break into the top 40 globally within three years.
