Sara Mackey
Marketing Communications Specialist
Statewide Marketing
Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges
MADISON – As the marketplace becomes more global, business success will require employees who have some international business perspective. Representatives from the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and other major educational institutions will focus this year’s Global Education Conference on the integration of international experiences into all curricula.
The October 13-14 conference at the Concourse Hotel in Madison, will draw faculty, instructors and teachers interested in developing and showcasing innovative international programming in the curriculum. Sessions will include innovative faculty-led seminars and presentations on exchange programs, humanitarian experiences, short-term orlong-term study abroad and international internships.
“Wisconsin businesses are becoming more and more global and students who have a globalawareness often have a competitive advantage when they enter the workforce,” said Dan Clancy, president of the WTCS. “Employers like Mercury Marine, Johnson Controls, the Oshkosh Corporation, Caterpillar Global Mining and others have operations in many countries and serve customers around the world. Technical colleges also provide global business training for current employees of these companies.”
Wisconsin’s technical colleges provide a variety of international education components, including foreign language programs, study abroad opportunities, seminars and business training, exchanges and international internships.
The conference co-hosts are University of Wisconsin System, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Theopening keynote is author and journalist John Nichols, who will speak on “Citizens Beyond Borders – Why Knowledge of the World is Crucial to Building a Fair and Just Society.” International educator and professor, Geoffroy de la Forcade will give the closing keynote address on international programming in Cuba. On Thursday Brad Piazza, dean of the Business Division at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), and Alexandra Becker-Sielaff, program development coordinator, College Advancement at WCTC, will present “WCTC’s Curriculum Mapping Exercise: A Study in the Depth and Breadth of Global Competency.” Also on Thursday, Dr. Sue May, president of Fox Valley Technical College, will take part in a panel presentation, “Educating Globally Competent Students in the 21st Century.”
The Wisconsin Technical College System has 16 technical college districts throughout the state, which offermore than 300 programs awarding two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas and short-term technical diplomas. In addition, the System is the major provider of customized training and technical assistance to Wisconsin’s business and industry community. More than half of all adults in Wisconsin have accessed the technical colleges for education and training. Find more about educational programs at www.witechcolleges.org.
