OPAEC is an abbreviation for the Ottaway PIE Alumni Educational Corporation. OPAEC was founded as a Non-Profit Academic Corporation by PIE alumni from different parts of the world. Its purpose is to generate and consolidate investments that are targeted at funding intellectual research in the liberal arts including Bard scholarships that have been traditionally supported by James Ottaway.The formation of OPAEC was supported by Ottaway Alumni Amandas Gurung from Kathmandu Nepal, Ottaway Allumni Riaan Oppelt from Cape Town South Africa and PIE student Pavol Kohut from Slovenia.

OPEAC was established as a tribute to the global efforts of James Ottaway Junior in the development of a global culture of intellectual excellence through multiple scholarships since the 1980s. As well as showcasing and entrenching the global footprint of Bard College and the transformative power of liberal education, OPEAC recognizes the growing importance of knowledge workers as we dive deeper in the 21^st century global knowledge economy where knowledge is a resource and a store of value and wealth. Inspired by Chartered Accountants and  other professional guilds like engineers and lawyers, OPAEC established the first global Guild of Professional Intellectuals. Like Chartered Accountants, OPAEC produces Certified Public Intellectuals (CPIs) who have critical knowledge mass to lead prominent intellectual debates and procedures in various areas of expertise, stimulating intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and community engagement. This is achieved through interlocking with Bard programs and producing focused research and publications, thereby generating knowledge and intellectual expertise on a sustainable basis.