Excelsior University opens first international student partnership with Côte d’Ivoire university

Excelsior University signed a global partnership with the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire at its Albany headquarters on Sept. 21, 2026. The deal creates a pathway for eligible UVCI graduates to pursue an MBA at Excelsior and marks Excelsior’s first partnership serving international students.

Why it matters: - Excelsior University is expanding beyond U.S. borders for the first time with a partnership designed for international students. - The agreement gives graduates of the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire a direct route to an Excelsior MBA. - The deal connects two online-focused institutions that are betting on digital education to widen access.

What happened: - Excelsior University welcomed representatives from the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire, known as UVCI, to its Albany headquarters on Sept. 21, 2026. - The two institutions signed a formal global partnership agreement. - Excelsior described the collaboration as its first partnership serving international students.

The details: - UVCI graduates from its database license program, which is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, will have access to a pathway into Excelsior’s MBA program. - UVCI is based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s largest city. - UVCI was established in 2015 to expand access to postsecondary education and address capacity limits at traditional universities in West Africa. - UVCI and Excelsior both center their missions on accessible education through digital innovation. - UVCI President Tiémoman Kone said the university wants to use digital technology to train young people who can innovate and launch ventures without physical or geographic barriers. - Kone said the partnership with Excelsior can create more opportunities for learners through advanced degrees grounded in practical, workforce-ready knowledge. - Excelsior President David Schejbal said the partnership will create new educational pathways for UVCI learners and support their personal and professional goals worldwide. - More information is available in Excelsior’s partnership announcement.

Between the lines: - The partnership shows how universities are using online delivery and cross-border agreements to reach students who may not fit traditional campus-based models. - For Excelsior, the agreement can extend its international footprint without opening a physical campus abroad. - For UVCI students, the pathway adds an advanced-degree option linked to a U.S. institution.

What's next: - UVCI graduates who meet the program requirements can move toward Excelsior’s MBA through the new pathway. - The two universities are likely to use the agreement as a foundation for broader academic collaboration if the partnership succeeds.

The bottom line: - Excelsior’s first international student partnership turns a local signing ceremony into a cross-continental education pipeline.