(PHOENIX, Ariz., Oct. 7, 2003) – On Saturday, Oct. 11, Math instructor Tom Adamson, will begin his first phase in the Netherlands Exchange Program as a host to Sisca van Schieveen of ROC Aventus College. This unique program is available through District International and Intercultural Education and allows each participant to spend two weeks in their selected country.

The program, which is open to board approved employees, matched eight exchange participants from MCCD with a counterpart in one of the 24 participating Dutch Colleges. The purpose of this partnership is to gain additional understanding of a different educational system and how it impacts working with international students. It allows participants, like Adamson to develop new perspectives on their professional competencies and experience new educational settings.

Adamson is very excited for this exchange. Although he has explored most of the United States, this will be his first experience traveling abroad.

"I am very excited to travel abroad, he said. "My brother teaches in the Netherlands and I plan to stay a little longer so I can visit with him and explore his school in addition to the ROC Aventus College campus. After communicating with Sisca over email, it is quite obvious that we want the same thing out of this experience. We are both excited to see how other educational systems work and how different they are from our own."

Although Adamson and Schieveen are involved and different disciplines, this will not hinder either of them in getting to see how instructors in their particular area work. Adamson has worked with Nellie Torres in the Phoenix College International Student Center to ensure that Schieveen will have an agenda that allows her to sit-in on classes similar to those that she teaches.

"Sisca and I will be touring the campus on Monday, Oct. 13," he added. "I encourage everyone to welcome her and get to know her while she is on our campus."

Schieveen works with adults at her home campus. She will sit-in on reading and English ESL classes, attend a welcome luncheon, observe an Adult Basic Education class at Rio Salado College and the Maricopa Skill Center, hear a guest lecturer on cultural diversity in education and spend time and tour surrounding areas with Adamson’s family.

She will depart and return to the Netherlands on Oct. 25. Adamson will begin his exchange in the Netherlands May 8.

All MCCD participants were nominated by their college president. For more information on this exchange, please contact International Education at (480) 461-7758.