This bill aims to establish the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance Partnership, which seeks to enhance academic, cultural, and workforce connections between West Virginia and Ireland. The partnership will consist of ten members, with five representatives from four-year universities and five from two-year colleges, all appointed by the Governor with Senate consent. The initiative is designed to create opportunities for shared learning and international engagement, and it will facilitate collaboration between four-year and two-year institutions to qualify for grants.

Additionally, the bill outlines the distribution of five $50,000 grants to support student and faculty exchange programs and collaborative educational initiatives, totaling $250,000 in funding. The Higher Education Policy Commission will determine which programs are eligible for these grants. The bill also amends existing provisions related to the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission, expanding its purpose to include educational collaboration alongside trade and investment initiatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 29-36-2, 29-36-4, 29-36-6