Guidelines for Interpreters
The Iowa International Center is proud to presentthe Community Connections Program!
During the Community Connections program, ten professional visitors from Kazakhstan will visit central Iowa from October 15 through November 4, 2014. The program is hosted by the Iowa International Center. Program participants will be experienced professionals working in construction education, college administration, and/or government education.Theprogram will focus on construction and vocational education, and will include professional visits and cultural experiences to help the participants learn practical skills and U.S. and Iowa culture. This program will improve the educational opportunities and best practices for vocational and construction education in Kazakhstan, to create a more competitive and skilled workforce for the economic benefit of entire region.
This program is an intensive learning experience. Participants mustidentify needs within their professional communities at home, develop action plans that utilize the experiences and knowledge gained here in Iowa and put these plans into action upon returning home to Kazakhstan.
Key topics of study for Community Connections program participants will include:
-Construction education programscurricula development at high school, post-secondary trade association levels
-Faculty development / unions and associations of educators
-The role of vocational programs in post-secondary/adult learner programming education in Iowa
-Best practices in developing and delivering vocational education programs including but not limited to plasterers, painters, facing workers, etc.
-College-business partnerships in curriculum development and employment of graduates
-The construction industry in Iowa–including dynamic conversations with large and small construction companies in the central part of the state
-Professional trade associations for the construction industry
-Program-related volunteer activities involving construction (Habitat for Humanity, etc.)
-State-of-the-art construction trends and the integration into curricula
-Establish professional contacts with college faculty and area construction professionals for further post-program collaboration
Cultural opportunities to enhance the participants' overall experience will include:
- Homestays with local host families
- A visit to Chicago, for additional education and cultural interactions/experiences
- Opportunities to share the Kazakh culture with Iowans
Opportunities to support the Community Connections Program include:
- Professional Interaction and Support – Involvement from local industry leaders and teachers willing to offer time, expertise and hands-on experiences in specific areas of small or large-scale commercial and residential construction, vocational education and industry-specific human resource development
- Program and/or Reception Sponsorship – Contributions ranging from $2,500 (Supporting Sponsorship) to $10,000 (Presenting Sponsorship) with logo and name recognition on all printed materials, media announcements, programs, special program events during the program, web site and related materials given to participants, 100+ professional and home hosts in the community, as well as recognition as a major sponsor of the Iowa International Center’s Passport to Prosperity Event (with 300 community leaders in attendance).
- In-kind donations – Including Russian-English dictionaries and phrase books, “pay-as-you-go" cell phones, transportation (15 passenger van rental), and facility use for special events (welcome reception, cultural sharing)