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OTHER NEWS STORIES - Campus speaks out on Iraqi war - Muslim student club vandalized - Prof resigns under cloud - News Briefs College President joins delegation to China Ty Garfield Editor-in-Chief Dr. Holly Moore, President of Shoreline Community College, will join a delegation from the American Association of Community Colleges en route to the Peoples Republic of China, Oct. 21 - Nov. 3. Organized by Dr. Peter Ku, chancellor of the Seattle Community College District, the meetings serve to develop relationships within key industries and educational systems. Although well traveled, this is Moore's first trip to China. Moore, joined by Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development, Darlene Miller, will participate in meetings with 24 Chinese College presidents in the city of Beijing and the first conference of the Chinese Association of Community Colleges in Shanghai. The group will also meet in Seattle's Sister City of Chongqing. Dr. Moore et al engage Chinese educators "We have been asked to participate in this mission because of our continued success in developing comprehensive international education programs which focus on student and faculty exchange and workforce training." Moore said in a press realease dated Oct. 7. The delegation's visit is an initiative to increase international vocational and technology training. Moore says, "China has a huge workforce potential, in order to maximize that potential the Chinese government is looking to incorporate elements of Western education systems into their own." The Chinese system is similar to that found in Germany, where students not directly bound for University may enter professional training schools. For example, Volvo and BMW offer automotive engineering facilities. The Automotive Training Program at SCC has won national recognition for excellence; these achievements present SCC as a prime candidate for collaboration with international Community Colleges. Moore said, "China is looking for systems to train its workforce in a rapidly changing world. Industries of interest to the government include: automotive, manufacturing and biotechnology." Miller and Moore will meet with Boeing, Weyerhaeuser and nearly 20 other companies who have a commercial stake in the development of China's workforce. Recently in Washington D.C. the Department of Education implemented standards measured by the 'Global Preparedness Index'. The GPI marks scholastic achievement in language literacy, international coverage and study abroad programs. SCC ranks among the top community colleges on the GPI. "This is a great opportunity for (SCC) to reach out to other cultures and establish ourselves in the world marketplace. Traditionally, the Chinese 'Productivity Center,' similar to our vocational training facilities, focus more on the vocational rather than the academic." Moore said. "Our model (at SCC) balances these two elements of that continuum and views them amorphously," says Moore. Moore has also traveled through the Baja region of Mexico, visited Japan, toured Europe and hopes to visit South America. Asked how she plans to stay in contact, Moore replied: "I have had a chip added to my Palm Pilot and rented a cell phone for a month which has been modified for international districts so, as long as there is a cell nearby, I can keep in touch." © 2002 Shoreline Community College™