Community College Fellowship

US-Brazil Connect Community College Fellowship

The U.S- Brazil Connect Fellowship was a wonderful and extraordinary life changing experiences. So much was expected from me and I am glad that I gave it my all. ”  US-Brazil Connect Community College Fellow

“I learned to work to my fears, I’m not afraid of to speak English anymore, I’m not afraid of to talk with one person from another country in English, I’m not afraid of English or learn any language anymore. Now I just want improve my English more and more and learn another language, because now I know that I can.”  Brazilian participant

 Program Goals: The  US-Brazil Partnership for Skills

Expansion in 2013

Based on a successful pilot program linking 24 U.S. participants with 200 Brazilian students in 2013, US-Brazil Connect and our Brazilian partners at the Brazilian Confederation of Industry/SESI/SENAI of Brazil are expanding in 2013.

• Four U.S. community colleges are creating teams and building institutional capacity: Flathead Valley Community College; Jackson Community College, Northwestern Michigan College, and Red Rocks Community College.
• 35 outstanding community college students will serve as US-Brazil Connect Community College Fellows. They will  skills in global leadership, explore Brazil, and create life-changing relationships.
• 700 Brazilian students in the SESI/SENAI systems will develop skills in English and relationships with U.S. Fellows
• 21 Team leaders, including three returning fellows from 2013 and faculty from Jackson and Red Rocks, will help to guide teams and provide support to Fellows.

Coming Soon:  Profiles of 35 US-Brazil Connect Community College Fellows for 2013.

Why is it important for community colleges to engage with Brazil?
Two key forces combine to make this the right time for expansion.

1. Community colleges must prepare students for success in the global economy.  The core mission of community colleges in the United States is to offer students the opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge and credentials required for success in today’s economy.  Twenty years ago, in most parts of the United States, community colleges could serve this mission through connections with employers and economic opportunities within their defined geographic region.
   Today, in additional to preparing their students for local conditions, community colleges must ensure graduates are ready to work and thrive in a global economy where geographic distance has been compressed by technology, competition for a job or a contract may come from firms which are based thousands of miles away, and where problem-solving across cultures, language and geographic boundaries is critical to success.
2. Brazil will play a growing role in the global economy.
   Brazil is the world’s 6^th largest economy. Per-capita income is nearly twice that of China. Brazil’s rise is expected to continue. The World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics are estimated to attract investments of roughly $550 billion between 2011 and 2014^[ii]
   Ten years ago, economists identified four countries that were poised to emerge as economic forces in the global economy:  Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  At the time, these “BRIC” countries were contributing 16% of the world’s gross domestic product growth.  Since the global crisis of 2008, this figure has soared to 45%.^[i]
   Most importantly, from 2003 to 2008, over 27 million people in this country of 200 million have moved from poverty into Brazil’s middle class. Due to the increasing purchasing power of a growing middle class, Brazil is projected to become the fifth largest consumer market by 2030 when it will be worth over US$2.5 trillion, ahead of the UK and France. Brazil is already the world’s third largest market for mobile phones, the fifth largest for vehicles and computers, and the eighth largest for higher education.
   Given the emerging role of Brazil as an economic power, a cultural leader, and a source of innovation and creativity, we need an action plan that connects US community colleges and their students and communities with specific, substantive, and high-quality opportunities with Brazil.

   US-Brazil Connect Goals

   Recognizing the scale of opportunity in Brazil, US-Brazil Connect is working to strengthen U.S. community college capacity to participate in high-impact, high-value partnerships with Brazilian institutions.  We are:

   • Developing a strong and sustainable community college consortium that models effective community college partnerships with Brazil, attracts ongoing support, and lays the foundation for sustainable community college success through partnerships with Brazil.
   • Focusing on students by creating a large-scale, paid internship program in Brazil to meet the unique needs of U.S. community college students and build college capacity.
   • Activating strategic partnerships with key Brazilian institutions and implementing programs.
     Our primary partners in Brazil and The Brazilian Confederation of Industry and SENAI/SESI.  Additionally, we are working  with the U.S. Embassy in Brazil and Federal Technical Institutes of Brazil.
   • Developing external funding and support for U.S.  community college goals to support and connect U.S. community colleges and key Brazilian institutions.