NEC was established in September 1996 by Dr. Stoyan Ganev (President of the 47th UN General Assembly) who served as its founding director and continued in that role as well as in the role of Distinguished Professor of International Studies at the University until 2001. NEC has played an important role in supporting the international mission of the University. One of its main functions is bringing to campus eminent practitioners and experts in the fields of international business and diplomacy to speak to administrators, faculty and students. Distinguished visitors have included: Dr. Viktor Chernomyrdin, former Prime Minister of Russia and Chair of the Board of Gazprom (Russia's largest gas company); Dr. Theo Ben Gurirab, President of the United Nations General Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Namybia; Dr. Julio Macchi, Chair of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange; Ms. Akmaral Arystanbekova, Vice Chairperson of UNICEF.

Other organizations located on campus, with which the International College maintains a working relationship are:

Bridgeport Police Academy
Bridgeport Symphony
English Language Institute Music & Arts for the Handicapped
SCORE - Small Business Advisory Group
WPKN (radio station)
The Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
The Martial Arts Institute
English Language Institute