CWU signs MOU with State of Kosrae to explore areas of mutual interest

Central Washington University signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State of Kosrae on Monday, officially bringing the two international partners together after nearly a year of relationship-building.

CWU President Jim Wohlpart and his delegation met virtually with government representatives, education officials, and others from the small Micronesian nation to sign the MOU, which outlines how CWU and the State of Kosrae will share knowledge and resources with one another over the next three-plus years.

“Central Washington University’s partnership with the State of Kosrae will have a positive impact on our faculty, staff, and students through expanding our interaction with other cultures and through providing rich learning opportunities,” Wohlpart said during the brief ceremony in Barge Hall. “And we hope that the same will be true for students and teachers from Kosrae as we build this partnership.”

Governor Tulensa Palik and Lt. Governor Arthy Nena from the State of Kosrae — located northeast of Australia in the South Pacific — were on hand for Monday’s virtual signing event, coordinated by the CWU Office of International Studies, in collaboration with the President’s Office.

Director of Education Tulensru Waguk and Kosrae High School Principal Scott Nena also were in attendance, along with a recent CWU Public Health graduate from the State of Kosrae, Alwin Alik.

Both parties applauded when Alik was introduced, highlighting a growing sense of goodwill between CWU and the State of Kosrae. The formal relationship between the two entities began to develop in early 2023, when a small delegation from the State of Kosrae visited the Ellensburg campus.

Nicki Kukar, CWU’s Executive Director of the Office of International Studies and Programs, explained that the State of Kosrae has long been interested in what Central has to offer their government and educational system.

She noted that the initial MOU is for three years, with the ability to extend the agreement in writing through mutual consent. Similar agreements are often extended, and CWU is hoping this MOU will develop into a long-term partnership.

“They are very interested in education, and that is what we are known for,” Kukar said. “They want us to help them learn how to educate teachers, who will, in turn, be able to educate the masses.”

Kukar added that the State of Kosrae is also looking at ways they can build more sustainable communities. They expect to lean heavily on Central’s world-renowned faculty.

“They are looking to us to help them grow in a smart, stable way,” she said. “They want to do it the right way, and we have a lot of great resources we can share with them.”

In return, the State of Kosrae has agreed to welcome CWU researchers to the South Pacific and provide them with access to resources and research sites that will help advance their own work.

“As part of this agreement, we see many areas of potential collaboration, including teacher preparation, the sciences, ethnic and cultural studies, engineering, sustainability, and ag-business,” Wohlpart said. “We also see opportunities to share resources for research purposes as we embody a spirit of collaboration and mutual support in the global education community.”

Because of CWU’s tradition as a top educational institution, the university also could see an increase in international student enrollment as a result of the partnership.

Kukar noted that State of Kosrae officials have been very pleased with their students’ success at Central — more so than other universities.

“CWU came highly recommended to their government and school officials,” she said. “We expect more students from the State of Kosrae will come here because of our past connections, and our history with their students.”