KCTCS NEWS RELEASE – for immediate release
Contact: Jackie Bondurant, (859) 246-3219
KCTCS receives ALO grant to develop IT programs in Vietnam
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 31, 2004) – The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) has been awarded a $95,221 grant from the Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development (ALO) to partner with Kien Giang Community College in Vietnam.
KCTCS will join with three other U.S. educational institutions to provide faculty training and curriculum development for the establishment of a quality information technology workforce-training program.
The U.S. institutions are Mohawk Valley Community College in New York, Richland College of Dallas County Community College District in Texas, and Texas Tech University.
Located in the small fishing community of Rach Gia, Kien Giang Community College is in a key position to assist new industries that are taking root in the community – building products, cement production, and shipyards.
“The ALO grant provides the college an excellent opportunity to introduce computers and IT systems into the community’s workforce,” Michael B. McCall, KCTCS president, said. “We are in the position to help the country’s economic development by training skilled laborers in this field.”
The Vietnam government has selected Kien Giang Community College as a place to lay the groundwork for the IT workforce-training program.
“This program will be a model for community colleges and other institutions throughout Vietnam,” Keith Bird, KCTCS chancellor, said. “It will further the goals of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to achieve economic modernization and particularly to serve the exploding youth population and reduce poverty.”
The first phase of the project will occur in May 2004 when a delegation from the states will travel to Kien Giang Community College for orientation and initial training.
In August, a delegation from Vietnam will participate in three weeks of intensive IT and workforce development training at Mohawk Valley Community College.
The third phase of the project will take place in February, 2005 with follow-up training conducted by the U.S. information technology and English language trainers at Kien Giang Community College and the fourth phase in November 2005 with the principal investigators meeting at the KCTCS System Office to review the program and create a final report.
Total cost of the project is $252,761. This includes the $95,221 grant from ALO and a cost share totaling $156,540 from the participating U.S. institutions. The funds will be used to support travel for on-site training, stipends for instructors, limited staff support, books and materials for training, and participation at the ALO’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
For more information on KCTCS international opportunities, visit the KCTCS website at http://www.kctcs.edu/international/ or contact Analy Scorsone, (859) 246-3353
KCTCS colleges change lives by providing academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu .