Diah Hastuti, an international student from Indonesia, couldn't believe her luck when she learned that she was a beneficiary of a consortium of community colleges in the U.S.
This consortium of community colleges had been awarded a major cooperative agreement by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs-and it opened a door for Hastuit.
"It was like a dream come true," declared Hastuti, a Highline Community College student. "I have always wanted to study in the United States. Now I am here and it is wonderful."
HCC is one of six member colleges from Community Colleges for International Development (CCID) participating in the pilot stage of this $3 million program.
Its goal is to provide training pathways to students from Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa and Brazil.
Last summer, Highline welcomed 16 students for a 12-month program to study Engineering or Hospitality/Tourism.
A January 2006 Summit on International Education moved U.S. college and university presidents to recommend public diplomacy opportunities to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.
Egyptian government leaders, together with the USAID Mission in Cairo, joined to expand the initial pilot program.
"We have recently learned that the State Department has approved an additional $8 million to bring about 170 Egyptian students to the U.S. in 2008. Highline is one of three colleges nationally named as a center for the program," said HCC interim president Jack Bermingham.
With this substantial increase in the students arriving for training, each center will work with neighboring CCID-member institutions to place students in the college that will best meet their program needs.
"The students taking part in this initiative will return to their home countries with some specific technical skills they can use to take advantage of career opportunities there," said Bermingham.
"Their education and living experiences in the U.S. should offer them a greater understanding of America and assist Americans to gain a better knowledge of the students' countries.
"By learning side-by-side with students from other nations through this program and other international programs at Highline, domestic students gain a broader perspective of the world. We hope this program brings us all closer together and promotes public diplomacy as a means to enhance peaceful resolution of conflict."
In addition to technical studies, the colleges will provide a Leadership, Democracy and Personal Responsibility component to their programs to enhance participants' understanding of American society and strategies useful in promoting civic engagement.
