Top Iraqi Education Officials Visit GCC
March 3, 2008
Contacts: Suzanne Higgins
suzanne.higgins@gcmail.maricopa.edu 623.845.3808
Patricia Vogel
pr.vogel@gcmail.maricopa.edu 623.845.3014
On Feb. 28, a delegation of ten Iraqi officials from top education posts came to Glendale Community College as part of a fact-finding visit to the U.S. to study occupational forms of education. Though Iraq has a centuries-long tradition of highly respected universities, the concept of broad occupational training in community college-type settings is not at all common there. The war in Iraq has left the infrastructure of that country in shambles. Many things need to be rebuilt, and the ongoing fighting makes it extremely difficult. When a simple gasoline engine breaks down, it must be sent out of Iraq to be repaired. Not only are there few parts or tools to repair such items, there is a huge shortage of skilled workers to do such repairs. Among the many rebuilding issues in the arena of education, training a skilled workforce is high on the list. Iraq is struggling to return to some kind of normal life, and workforce development is seen as a way for the country to move forward.
Ken Bus, Director of GCC's International Education Program, provided the Iraqi visitors with an in-depth tour of GCC. The group plans to visit a number of U.S. institutions of higher learning, but GCC was their very first destination after landing in Washington, D.C. In her communication with Ken Bus to schedule the visit, Sue Reiner, Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Arizona, (who coordinated the Arizona itinerary of the Iraqi delegation), said that these visitors from Iraq "asked specifically for the opportunity to learn about the work of Maricopa County Community Colleges. They want to learn about vocational education that prepares students to enter the workforce with usable skills, and they already know that your Workforce Development program is considered one of the best in the country."
The delegation was composed of both men and women. Some were officials from Iraqi universities, including Baghdad University. Others were high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Higher Education in Iraq. Normally, this story would include photos of the Iraqi group, but they asked us not to take photos. Iraqi professionals, especially women, who visit the United States in a political or professional role, can be endangered by published photos.
