Program Description
The Community College Initiative Program is an international education exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and administered by Community College Initiative Programs (CCID).
The Community College Initiative Program enables individuals from Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey, and countries in Central America to spend one year studying at community colleges in the United States and earn a vocational certificate.
The program provides academic instruction in selected fields including agriculture, applied engineering, business management and administration, health professions, information technology, media, and tourism and hospitality management, while also immersing participants in U.S. society and cultural life. After completing the program, participants return home with new skills and experiences that enable them to contribute to the growth and development of their countries and societies.
Participants are recruited from historically under served populations and may not have had opportunities for formal job training or higher education. Most participants are in their early- to mid-twenties and many already have work experience. Nearly 400 students have benefited since the program’s inception from study at host institutions across the United States.
The Community College Initiative Program demonstrates the United States' commitment to increasing access to higher education for under served international students in key regions and utilizes the unique resource represented by U.S. community colleges. The program reinforces U.S. community colleges’ efforts to become involved in international education and develop international ties.