Professionals from Kazakhstan participate
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Global Education and Training (GET) collaborated with colleagues at Parkland College and several University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign departments, amongst other local and regional academic institutions, to host a week-long intensive program in vocational education.
The program, which spanned from May 5 to May 9, benefited a group of 20 higher education professionals (plus two translators) from different colleges in Kazakhstan.
The focus of the program was on Career and Technical Education (CTE) and vocational education in the U.S., and approaches to that in Central Illinois. Broadly, the following topics were covered:
- Modern trends in vocational education
- Teaching methods and technologies in vocational training colleges
- Innovations in technical specialties
- Developing colleges as educational hubs for advancements in CTE
GET Coordinator Allison Wheeler said they achieved the program’s focus by giving participants learning opportunities from different stakeholders in these systems. This can be seen from the variety of lectures and visits integrated into the five days they had on campus.
GET worked with colleagues across the Illinois campus, Parkland College, Central High School, Lincoln Land Community College, and the Capital Area Career Center including:
- Parkland College President Dr. Pam Lau
- Derrick Baker, Dean of Career and Technical Education at Parkland
- Jonathan Ross, Applied Science and Technology Department Chair at Parkland
- David Charney, Ford ASSET at Parkland
- Andrew Henson, Welding at Parkland
- Dennis Huffman, Welding at Parkland
- John Dunlap, AGCO at Parkland
- Aimee Densmore, Apprenticeships at Parkland
- Steve Hancock, General Diesel Tech Program at Parkland
- Dustin Stuart, Construction at Parkland
- Nick Elder, Director at Education for Employment, #330 Early College and Career Academy
- Joseph Meyer, Instructor of CTE, Central High School
- Joe Williams, Central High School Principal
- Jill Craft, Program Director for the Department of Hospitality Management at Illinois
- Jorden Brotherton, Clinical Assistant Professor at Illinois
- Carter Phillips, Chef and Quantity Food Manager at Illinois
- Shandra Jamison, Manager at the Jump Simulation Center
- Robert Ferriell, Student and Business Services at the Capital Area Career Center in Springfield
- Lorenzo Baber, Director of the Office of Community College Research and Leadership at Illinois
- Cadance Silas, Director at Open Door Workforce Equity Initiative/PATH Grant
- Christopher Edmonds, Program Director for Construction Trades at Lincoln Land Community College Workforce Careers Center
In a feedback questionnaire, several of the program participants shared their experiences and takeaways from the week.
Anar Barmanbetova from Almaty Construction and Technical College said they will take away not only specific knowledge and skills from the program, but also self-confidence.
“(I will take away) confidence in myself as a specialist, an understanding of my own professional goals, and a drive for continuous development,” Barmanbetova said. “I also gained valuable professional contacts, which I am sure will become an important part of my future journey.”
Marzhan Zhumabay from Almaty College of Technology and Floristry called the experience valuable and inspiring.
“It was an opportunity to immerse myself in an academic environment that fosters critical thinking, an interdisciplinary approach, and practical application of knowledge,” Zhumabay noted.
Aidana Zhumamuratova from Almaty Electromechanical College shared similar sentiments about a valuable experience but added that it was also enriching.
Zhumamuratova explained how participation in the program allowed the group to see how colleges effectively interact with universities and schools, how advanced equipment and teaching methods are used, and how programs are updated in response to labor market demands.
“From the very first day, I was immersed in an atmosphere of openness, innovation, and a practice-oriented educational approach,” Zhumamuratova said. “A particularly impressive moment was the meeting with Parkland College President Dr. Pamela Lau. The history of CTE and the management approach demonstrated the importance of strategic thinking, flexibility, and leadership engagement in the development of educational institutions.”
Zhumamuratova also expressed appreciation for the tours of Parkland College, the University of Illinois, vocational training centers, and the medical simulation center because it helped them understand the significance of hands-on practice in the educational process.
They went on to share how they were especially inspired Capstone projects, and they found Dr. Lorenzo Baber's lecture on federal policy in vocational education and the Perkins Act insightful because it helped them better understand how government support can foster college development.
“This experience strengthened my belief in the importance of a flexible, student-centered, and practical education model,” Zhumamuratova said. “I took away many ideas that will be useful for improving our college's vocational training program, especially in terms of employer collaboration and the use of new educational technologies.”
Wheeler helped coordinate the program since mid-March and said above all, her main takeaway from putting this program together is the pride she has for the campus, for the community, and for the collaborative and exploratory spirit to host international groups.
“I had the privilege of doing a lot of new outreach to campus units… that our office has not worked with on a program like this ever before,” Wheeler said. “I got to share the mission of (GET) and invite others to be a part of the educational experiences we curate for our visitors. Every organization I spoke to was excited to host our Kazakh cohort, not only to educate them on the innovative work they do in their respective units, but also for the pursuit of mutual and global learning.”
Analicia Haynes is the storytelling and social media specialist for Global Communications at Illinois International. She can be reached at ahayn2@illinois.edu.