Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

International Students Build Workforce Skills at College of DuPage

  • 08/27/19

GLEN ELLYN, IL – College of DuPage (COD) has welcomed 16 students from around the world through the 2019-2020 Community College Initiative (CCI) program.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the CCI program recruits participants from underserved and unrepresented communities and provides them with quality educational study at U.S. community colleges. The program is designed to build technical skills, enhance leadership capabilities, and strengthen English language proficiency.

Since partnering with the CCI program during the 2012-2013 academic year, COD has hosted 124 international students from 13 countries worldwide. Students have come to the College from Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa, and Turkey.

International Student Services Program Coordinator Kayla Chepyator said she is thrilled to welcome this year’s studentsand applauded the program for its benefits to the visiting students, as well as native COD students.

“The Institute of International Education states that in 2016-2017, less than 11 percent of all undergraduate students in the United States had the opportunity to study abroad,” she says. “This number is even lower in community colleges. International exchange programs provide internationalization of U.S. campuses and provide students with an opportunity to learn from others to prepare them for their role as a global citizen.”

While at COD, visiting students pursue one-year certificate programs in workforce development fields and receive opportunities for professional internships, service learning, and community engagement activities. After completing the program, the students return home with a deeper understanding of U.S. culture and new skills to help them contribute to the economic growth and development of their countries.

This year’s students represent 12 countries, and include Abdullah Abdelraheem (Egypt, Business); Sangrem Bawm (Bangladesh, Business); Kabelo Boleu (South Africa, Culinary Arts); Udayabhanu Bolleddu (India, Horticulture); Marie-Honorée Kadio-Morokro (Ivory Coast, Horticulture); Sylvester Korang-Amoako (Ghana, Engineering); Jesus Miolan Reyes (Dominican Republic, MPTV); Magauta Ntsoeu (South Africa, Tourism); Linda Otieno (Kenya, Hospitality); Edgar Palomino Arevalo (Colombia, Tourism); Ria Pratiwi (Indonesia, Business); Akash Raj (India, MPTV); Ditha Rimadiputri (Indonesia, Business); Francisco Da Silva Santos (Brazil, Engineering); Toni Sitania (Indonesia, Tourism); and Faustina Teye (Ghana, Horticulture).

For more information about the Community College Initiative Program, contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at at[email protected].

For more information about COD’s Field and Experiential Learning/Study Abroad/Global Education programs, call 630/942-2356 or visit www.cod.edu/field.

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).