Experience the World at HCC
Students from a MCB class present a poster about Moroccan fermented foods.
Hillsborough Community College’s population of students, faculty, and staff includes many ethnic and racial groups. Hence, the school has the goal of preparing students to live and work in a multicultural world.
This concept is covered in HCC’s vision statement: “Hillsborough Community College delivers teaching and learning opportunities that empower students to achieve their educational goals and become contributing members of the local community and a global society.”
Students who want to succeed and be prepared for jobs in the future, must embrace the reality that we live in a global society. We need to learn to work and live with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
As faculty, we must embrace that too, so we can deliver the skills and prepare students to be “international-ready.”
When we learn about others, we can discover things that can actually bring us closer together, and as a result find peace and acceptance even among our differences.
Focus International was founded in 2013 to prepare students to compete in this global society and assist in the fulfillment of the vision of HCC.
Focus International is faculty-driven committee which welcomes the input of staff and students as well.
We bring the world to HCC by focusing on one country per year.
This academic year the focus has been Morocco.
Tia Gonzalez watches as henna is drawn on her hands.
In the summer, as part of an IDS class called “Global Citizens,” Dr. Suzanne Lynch takes students for one to two weeks to the country that will be the focus for the next academic year.
Students receive partial scholarships to help make the trip affordable. Scholarships come from HCC Foundation and student fees.
After the students return, events are held throughout the year to learn more about the country of focus.
There is a college-wide book read, and students also staff booths or educational tables at the different campuses during the individual campus International festival events.
For the next academic year the country in focus is Perú.
Next summer, students will explore and visit Perú, and continue exploring the culture of that country with events throughout the year.
If this article inspired you to develop international curriculum and you want to be more involved with Focus International, visit our website or contact us.
More events will be coming up during spring that you do not want to miss.
For details on future events visit: www.hccfl. edu/departments/the-worldat-hcc.aspx
