Genesee Community College's international Nursing and Biotechnology exchange program to Queensland, Australia has been awarded a 2011 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education.
It is bestowed by the Institute of International Education. Genesee's Australia exchange program won Honorable Mention in the Internationalizing the Community College category.
The awards honor the most outstanding initiatives in international higher education among the members of IIE Network, an association of more than 1,000 higher education institutions.
IIE will present the awards at a ceremony in New York City on March 18 as part of its Sixth Annual Best Practices in Internationalization Conference.
Genesee sent its first class of Nursing students to Brisbane, Australia in March of 2010 and its first Biotechnology student in August of 2010. Throughout their time abroad, the students worked in the field and studied their respective programs in a rigorous eight-week schedule.
Nursing students worked in local hospitals, while the Biotechnology student worked in medical pathology labs.
Biotechnology student Leah Reino documented her time in Australia in a blog that features photos of her pathology experience as well as her travels in Australia and New Zealand. The blog and photographs can be found at <http://www.gccblogs.wordpress.com>.
With the success of these programs, Genesee has expanded its international reach to Brazil, the Netherlands, Ireland, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
"Our relationships with international partners such as Australia and Brazil are strengthening," said Eunice M. Bellinger, EdD, executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Genesee Community College. "These programs advance a shared vision and philosophy of providing international experiences to the student body, thus broadening their horizons and global citizenship."
The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1919, IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations and corporations.
IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.
For further information please contact James Goodwin, Genesee's director of Curriculum Development and Review at 343-0055, ext. 6322.
