The Russians are visiting to learn about the North Carolina Community College System as their country begins an educational reform program. Some of the participants are administrators of programs in Russian high schools and technical institutes and others are education government officials.

"We are always pleased to share information about our community colleges," said North Carolina Community College System President H. Martin Lancaster. "We feel we have the best system in the country and look forward to any opportunity to help others develop a system to benefit their citizens just as the North Carolina System serves its students and our communities."

The visit by the Russians is sponsored by the United States State Department and hosted by the International Visitors Council. The fact-finding tour has included stops in several cities across the country. The North Carolina visit is the last stop in the tour. The group will spend time at the System Office and will tour Wake Technical and Durham Technical Community Colleges. A full agenda is attached.

Under the leadership of Education Minister Vladimir Filippov, the education system in Russia is experiencing reform. Filippov’s goal is to make the education system more accountable to its citizens. He also hopes to find new ways to finance the country’s education programs. Local Russian education authorities face serious difficulties when attempting to improve professional and technical preparation programs, at both the high school and institute levels. The delegation members who will spend two days in the Triangle hope to gain valuable information that they can integrate into their system to help facilitate education reform in their country and assist those local officials in the process.

The NCCCS has offered valuable information to representatives from several other countries undergoing education reform. At the end of March a delegation of education officials from Thailand came to North Carolina to gain valuable knowledge as a new community college system is developed in the country. In June a group of educators from Senegal came to learn best practices as they reshape their country’s educational landscape. Educators have also traveled from Japan to study our community college system this year and System executives have presented on the international stage

Academic and Student Services
Dr. Delores Parker, Vice President

Administration
Dr. Saundra Williams, Vice President

Economic and Workforce Development
Susan Seymour – NCCCS Regional Training Director, Research Triangle Region

11:20 a.m. Walk to restaurant

12: 45 p.m. Drive to Waverly Place

1:00-2:00 p.m. Wake Tech Community College - Business and Industry Center

                       Waverly Place, Cary (Intersection of Kildaire Farm and Tryon Roads)

Tour by Wayne Loots, Dean of Business and Industry Services.
Overview of special projects – Cisco and John Deere
Tour facility

2:00-2:15 p.m. Travel to Wake Tech Community College main campus.

Greeting – Dr. Bruce Howell, President, Wake Technical Community College
                    Tour – Plastics Program, Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technology,   
                     Automotion/Robotics Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology – Ben White, Dean, Engineering
                     Technology
                    

9:30 – 10:30 NCCCS Office - Caswell Building

Distance Learning in the Military
Major Gail Richards and Mr. Dave O’Rear (North Carolina National Guard)

10:30 – 11:00 Drive to Durham

11:00 – 11:30 Education Resource Center, Durham Technical Community College

                    Overview and tour – Health Technologies
                    Don Kritsch, Associate Dean, Health Technologies

11:30 Drive to Brightleaf for lunch - Nikkos

11:45 – 12:45 Lunch

12:45 Travel to Durham Technical Community College Basic Skills Center

1:00 - 2:15     Basic Skills Center

Overview and Tour – Adult and Basic Skills Department
Michael "Russ" Conley, Assistant Dean and Department Head

2:15 – 2:30 Drive to Small Business Center

2:30 – 3:30 Small Business Center

Greeting – Nicholas J. Tennyson, Mayor, City of Durham

Tour of Small Business Center and explanation of program
Dub Gulley, SBC Director

-NCCCS-

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