The Global Network That’s Advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Plus, an invitation from Hudson Valley Community College president Dr. Roger Ramsammy to attend a special event for higher education leaders.

Picture this: In the spring of 2023, Croatia held its largest education event for vocational school students. Around that same time, a training agency in Trinidad and Tobago released the 10th episode of its popular YouTube series for kids, “Learn A Skill With Me.” Over in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, laws were officially revised to help eliminate disparities in the quality of education.

As separate as these initiatives may seem, they share something very special in common— they’re all programs grown out of an education-based global network; one that, starting this year, includes Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY, the first American community college to be selected. (And you’re invited to its two-day inauguration event by its president, Dr. Roger Ramsammy. More on that in a bit.)

To explain this network and what it means for the United States, there are a few important acronyms to go over.

UNESCO, UNEVOC, & TVET

First, there’s the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO.

Higher education leaders know UNESCO; among their many initiatives is their recent work in providing distance learning for Ukrainian refugee students.

Then there’s the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, UNESCO’s only designated center for advancing technical and vocational education and training (TVET). UNESCO-UNEVOC “promotes increased opportunities for productive work, sustainable livelihoods, personal empowerment, and socio-economic development, especially for youth, women, and the disadvantaged” throughout the world.

Now to do all that, collaboration is crucial. That’s where the UNEVOC Network comes in.

The UNEVOC Network

It’s a significant achievement and honor to be inducted into the UNEVOC Network.

Those who are—ministries, national bodies, training providers, and research universities—both gain access to an international community of innovators and take on responsibilities of their own, using their respective fields of expertise to enhance the quality of TVET across the globe.

Many who work in American higher education are unfamiliar with this network. That’s because of the 220+ members that span the globe, only two are based in the U.S. One is a four-year institution.

The other one? Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York.

Network Benefits

Induction into this prestigious network allows members to:

● Access and assist in the development of resources related to TVET

● Participate in UNESCO-UNEVOC-sponsored projects, events and activities

● Contribute to the global debate on TVET

● Network with other TVET providers across the globe

● Develop cross-border partnerships and engage in mutual assistance

Hudson Valley: A Community College With A Global Mindset

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College is the largest community college in upstate New York. It serves nearly 20,000 students in credit and non-credit programs and offers degree and certificate programs in business, the liberal arts, health sciences, and STEM fields, and the school also administers the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training at no cost to those who qualify.

In addition to retaining an exceptional faculty of award-winning professors and practitioners active in their fields, Hudson Valley is also forging strategic international partnerships—one of the many future-forward goals of its current president.

With more than 30 years of higher education experience, Dr. Ramsammy is on a mission to take HVCC global and unleash the power of cross-border collaboration. A native of Trinidad, he now serves on the Board of Directors of the World Federation of College and Polytechnics Board of Directors, and under his leadership, HVCC has already made significant progress on several global partnerships to support TVET internationally.

It’s Dr. Ramsammy’s vision—along with the determination of his faculty and staff—that helped lead the college to UNEVOC.

HVCC As a UNEVOC Reference Center

Backing up a bit to TVET: The skilled trades are at the heart of TVET, and the global demand for training in these areas is significant. Additionally, DEI and English language training in TVET are also sparse.

Hudson Valley Community College, however, has a long history of providing inclusive education and training in the trades, as well as guidance on the development of English Language Training programs that can be delivered globally.

For example, HVCC serves more than 600 students with learning and physical disabilities, and its Center for Access and Assistive Technology offers dedicated staff, programs, and infrastructure to help students succeed. And, this year, HVCC will host a Uniquely Abled Academy, a renowned career preparation program for young adults with autism.

Through Dr. Ramsammy’s work, HVCC also has created several partnerships in Costa Rica. Working with the Ministry of Public Education, HVCC has developed and delivered English language training to public school teachers in Costa Rica, and intends to expand the offerings. In addition, HVCC has collaborated with the Ministry of Public Education to provide ‘Train-the- Trainer’ programs for educators teaching English as a Foreign Language in Costa Rican schools. With the Instituto CEA, HVCC is offering an Electric Vehicle Train-the-Trainer course. Additionally, in 2023, HVCC worked with educators in Costa Rica to provide students and community members a cross-cultural experience in Costa Rica that focused on biodiversity and sustainability.

And since launching its Global Classroom High School Program in 2020, which allows high school students far and wide to take online college-level courses at a significantly reduced cost, HVCC has enrolled students from places like Armenia, Qatar, and Pakistan.

All of this and more explains why HVCC has successfully become the first community college in the United States to join the UNEVOC Network, and also become the network’s very first Reference Center in the country.

What that means: HVCC plans to carry out its two priorities as a UNEVOC Reference Center, “Inclusive Training and Education in the Skilled Trades” and “English Language Training,” through engaging projects, workshops, events, resource creation, and more. It’s a giant honor for the Troy-based community college.

An Invitation to a Two-Day Event

To mark the significance of being inducted into the UNESCO Network, HVCC is hosting a two-day event on campus April 11-12.

After an official inauguration ceremony on Thursday morning, with remarks from Dr. Ramsammy and UNESCO-UNEVOC representatives, there will be a variety of networking opportunities and workshops on topics including robotics, welding, electric and autonomous vehicles, and more.

In addition to members of the college community, attendees will include representatives from UNESCO, the UNESCO-UNEVOC Secretariat Office, UNEVOC Centers, and other international leaders and partners, as well as leaders from SUNY and other colleges and universities; K-12 partners; business and community leaders; state, local and federal elected officials; and other key stakeholders.

As a Chronicle of Higher Education reader, you’re invited to join in celebrating this critical moment—not just in HVCC’s trajectory, but also at the start of yet another colossal step toward developing skills for all individuals to learn, work, and live in a global world.

Together, this network is poised to create more peaceful and inclusive societies everywhere. From Croatia to Mongolia to the United States. Come learn how you can be a part of that.

Attend the event in-person or virtually

Register Today

To learn more about Hudson Valley, please visit www.hvcc.edu

This content was paid for and created by Hudson Valley Community College. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.