April 22, 2013

World Bank Delegation Traveling to Chicago to Learn More About City's College to Careers Program

Key Members of World Bank Staff to Explore College to Careers program as an International Model for Successful Education Strategies

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

A World Bank delegation is traveling to Chicago on April 23rd and 24th to participate in a “learning journey” to explore the City Colleges of Chicago’s (CCC) successful College to Careers initiative. The delegation of fifteen senior World Bank staff will connect with leaders of the College to Careers program to learn about the design and implementation of the innovative program, in hopes that the model can be instructive for designing education and workforce development programs elsewhere around the nation and the world.

“The World Bank values this opportunity to learn about Mayor Emanuel's vision for the new College to Careers program,” said Elizabeth King, the World Bank's Education Director. “The program's focus on high-impact collaboration between Chicago's leaders, community colleges and employers underscores the important role of cities in strengthening education systems to equip students with job relevant skills and promote shared economic opportunity and growth. This will be a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience for the purpose of generating innovative solutions to this important global challenge.”

Over the two day visit, World Bank representatives will collaborate with top College to Careers program leaders, visit selected training sites and learn about employers’ and students’ experiences with the program. The World Bank will use the journey to draw lessons from Chicago’s model for successful cooperation between city government leaders, key business employers, educators, and students. The learning journey will also allow for an exchange of experiences and ideas between Chicago education leaders and the World Bank staff about developing education strategies that improve employment prospects for both Chicago students and students worldwide.

“The World Bank’s selection of College to Careers as a case study highlights Chicago’s growing status as a leader and innovator of developing unique education strategies to ensure economic prosperity for all our residents,” said Mayor Emanuel. “From day one, I have been committed to making sure that our City College system is an engine of job growth and economic opportunity for the City. I am pleased that the success we are having is being noticed and that others will benefit from our achievements.”

The CCC College to Careers program is a nationally-recognized initiative of Mayor Emanuel’s launched in December 2011, designed to ensure that students gain the skills on knowledge they need to succeed in the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow in 6 high-growth industries. The program also provides students with access to industry experts within the classroom and first access to competitive jobs and internships. Graduates of the program find occupational programs in six fast-growing fields: healthcare, business, information technology, culinary and hospitality, transportation/distribution/logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Over 100 local and international corporations and organizations have partnered with CCC to develop cutting-edge curriculums and 400 CCC students have landed internships through C2C.

The World Bank is an international organization focused on advancing socio-economic development and reducing poverty that partners with countries to provide loans, advice, and personalized resources. The visit is part of the World Bank’s “Education Strategy 2020,” a ten-year plan which focuses on closing the skills gap in developing nations through education improvement and targeted skills training. To implement the best educational strategies in underdeveloped nations, the World Bank seeks to develop a “global knowledge base” of the best educational reform strategies from around the globe.

 

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