Heartland to host visitors from Finland and the Netherlands

[October 11, 2014]  NORMAL - Heartland Community College is participating in an exciting professional development experience with overseas partners. Four HCC employees have been paired with educators from Finland and the Netherlands to host and share best practices of the American school system. In exchange, participating HCC employees will visit their partner’s country in May 2015.

Heartland will welcome its guests with a reception on Wednesday, October 15 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in room 1406 of the Community Commons Building on the Normal campus.

The exchange is part of the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs (ICISP), an organization that coordinates study abroad opportunities for colleges in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The program pairs people from different countries and allows them to job shadow one another for two weeks. The goal of the program is learn about one another’s school system and adopt best practices for their home school.

Heartland’s partners will arrive in mid-October and participate in a variety of activities that demonstrate American culture and professional development. Itinerary items include spending time in classes, speaking with student leaders and trips to Rader Farms and Illinois State University.

Amy Munson, dean of student success at HCC, is thrilled to have partners coming in from top-ranked education systems. “Finland and the Netherlands both have world-renowned education programs,” she explained. “Those countries place a lot of emphasis on hands-on learning and really focus on problem-based curriculum. I’m excited to see what we can offer to them and what they can offer to Heartland.”

Munson also hopes she and her ICISP partner, an administrator from North Karelia Municipal Education and Training Consortium, will learn a lot from each other about how to support students and help them be successful.

Heartland has a history of being actively involved with international activities and partnerships. The College has used ICISP to host visitors and send employees overseas since 1993. More than 20 people from HCC have participated in the program. Heartland also hosts delegates from China every summer as part of the International Institute for Teaching and Learning.

Learn more about Heartland Community College at heartland.edu, Facebook and Twitter.

[Becky Gropp, Heartland Community College]