Online exchange project Curio (NL) and ECC Kokusai (Japan)

As physical exchanges are currently not possible because of the worldwide Covid pandemic, other options are explored to stay in touch with each other in the Global College Network. A nice example is the online joint project between students of International Business Studies of Curio in Roosendaal, the Netherlands and  ECC Kokusai College in Osaka, Japan. In November and December 2021 23 Japanese students and 35 Dutch students got to know each other online and exchanged ideas and experiences on subjects like culture, society, labour market and education in 4 online sessions.

In the project the students dealt with practical issues like the time difference between Holland and Japan, proper ways of interaction and good manners, language and communication skills. Both their teachers and the students themselves were very enthusiastic about this unique opportunity of global cooperation. All participants were very motivated, carried out extensive research before the meetings, were well prepared and actively took part in all online sessions. The project was finished off with a diploma ceremony and evaluation.

All people involved are inspired and motivated to extend this project in the near future. This is possible as both in the Japanese and the Dutch curriculum international cooperation is embedded in their regular study programme. A great example of the importance and added value of the Global College Network, even in the current global health care situation.

Welcome NorQuest College!

The Global College Network is excited to welcome its newest member school: NorQuest College.

Located in Edmonton, Canada, NorQuest College is Alberta’s largest community college, serving more than 21,000 students annually. As a regional steward, NorQuest College provides access to adult education in Edmonton and 26 surrounding communities, including eight First Nations communities. NorQuest offers foundational programming (academic upgrading, adult literacy, employment readiness, and English as a Second Language) as well as post secondary diploma and certificate programs in health care, community studies, environment protection, energy management and business.

By collaborating with industry, government, and community, NorQuest ensures its postsecondary education is workforce relevant. Currently, 57% of NorQuest students are born outside of Canada, representing 114 countries and more than 78+ languages. Sixty-two percent of NorQuest’s learners are female; over 830 self-identified as Indigenous; 55% of students are age 25 and over; and 710 students self-identified as having disabilities. Research shows that our College graduates add, on average, $471.4 million of total income to Edmonton’s regional economy (annually).

NorQuest College’s International Projects & Mobility Team is the central point for all international initiatives at the College. The team is involved in the design, management, and implementation of various international projects, consultancies and mobility activities worldwide. Currently, we are engaged in projects in Kenya and the Caribbean and in discussion with partners in Brazil, India and the Philippines.

At NorQuest, we firmly believe in a partnership model where our areas of expertise can be extended through collaborations with other post-secondary institutions as well as private and public organizations.

Areas of interest for collaboration and exchange:

  • Student Exchange

  • Faculty Exchange and Collaboration

  • Joint Research and Field Projects

  • Field Schools – Inbound and Outbound

  • Hosting Short Summer Language and Culture Camps

  • Partnerships with International Postsecondary Institutions

NIU Completes On-campus Vaccination Drive

With the announcement by the Japanese government that approved universities will be able to begin vaccinating students and staff on campus, NIU became just one of 32 universities in Japan to be approved and begin vaccinations on Day 1 of eligibility. Moreover, we were the only university in Kyushu to do so.

All students and staff of NIU and the Kyushu Bunka Gakuen Education Group were eligible for free vaccinations on campus. In all, approximately 4,000 were scheduled to be vaccinated over two two-week periods in June and July. NIU set up dedicated facilities with overseen by faculty from the Department of Pharmacy.

Panzini | Catching Up on an Eventful Year

What we did and what we are doing…….. at Panzini

Panzini is mostly known as vocational training schools, providing hands-on, live experience and giving students an experience with  the real environment . 

• During the strict confinement (closure of the school) the cooking teachers  organized culinary challenges. 

• Video demonstration of technique were put online in a digital educational  space by the teachers 

• LIVE CLASSES on Facebook, Google Meet  

• Reorganisation: smaller groups than usual 

• Students contributed through short videos, tik-toks, etc.  

• Focusing on the subject with good practical examples, online videos  stimulating students' observation with questions 

• Events  

• International online Competitions ( AEHT on line conference , cookery  competitions) 

• School projects (including all international projects) were carried out on line (Erasmus – GCN- Language and cultural exchanges)  

Panzini’s contest (cookery live competition)  

#IoRestoOPEN...aCasa 

16th April 2020


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East Sussex | Virtual Boards to Support New Students

To help students settle into their local area, East Sussex College has developed a board giving QR codes of places of interest. Students can point their phones at the QR code and then visit the places of interest to them … or in a lockdown just do a virtual visit!

In addition, students created a film of their college to share. Attached is one made by Hastings international students – it’s a little long and gets very windy at times! But they did a great job and it helped them bond as a group.

https://www.facebook.com/EastSussexCollegeInternational/videos


Virtual boards

Virtual boards

SEDU | Experiencing an Online Webinar in VR

Sedu is part of the Opinlakeus network, which is a regional network of schools. The network hosts various events, does cooperation in projects - Opinlakeus also brings in the local school representatives to discuss international cooperation. The network offers different training possibilities for organisation’s staff members and this way benefits all the partners, and the training is also offered to the working life. 

The annual Opinlakeus Learning Technology seminar is organized in cooperation with Seinäjoki Joint Municipal Authority for Education Sedu and Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The event has been very popular each year, and it has e.g. showcased new learning applications and methods. This year it had to be held online, due to the COVID-19 -situation. For the first time ever, it was held in the AltspaceVR virtual reality environment, and the event was a success. In AltspaceVR the the participants are shown as avatars, and participants can join with VR glasses, regularly just by pc or follow the live stream from YouTube. 

The theme of the event this year was Remote working. The programme consisted of different company cases regarding working from home, as well as models for schools regarding online education and hybrid education, different platforms as well as representing the digital campus model for vocational education and training.

For a person trying out AltspaceVR for the first time, the event was a welcome surprise: “It was very interesting to take part in an online event like this. Having an active participant role in the online environment. It was a nice change compared to the webinars held via the more traditional applications such as Teams and ZOOM”.

Maybe we will see more of this kind of solutions used in the future, also in education.


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XABEC at the European Skills Week

Xabec will actively participate in the celebration of Skills Week: the European Vocational Training Week. The principal of the school, Antonio Mir, will take part in the opening session as a part of the celebration day that, due to the health crisis, the European Commission has decided to organize online. This is once again an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences with other European Vocational Training centers.

In addition, this European Vocational Training Week will also be held at XABEC on November 23rd and 24th. An online meeting is being arranged for counselors, students, families and anyone who wants to know a little more about the opportunities offered by Vocational Training.


Xabec 2020 Skills Week 1
Xabec 2020 Skills Week 2

Nagasaki Junior College | Online School Festival

On the 25th of October, Nagasaki Junior College’s 35th annual ‘Hakuchō-sai’, or school festival, was held online for the first time due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Events hosted by students were staged on campus, and were broadcast by local network NBC Nagasaki over the radio and in a YouTube livestream to the majority of the student body and a local audience watching from home.

 The different college departments and clubs all prepared content representing their skills; story telling, cooking competitions, songs and dance, speeches and skits, as the cameras from NBC roamed about the campus visiting each group in turn. The student council also organised an interactive quiz those watching from home could participate in online.  

 We would like to thank all the students for their hard work and creativity in re-imaging the annual school festival into an event that could be held online, and all those who have viewed the livestream video since.

The livestream recording of the festival is currently available on the NBC Nagasaki YouTube channel, or through the link below.

Youtube Livestream video link: https://youtu.be/7OWnWyCwTU4

ROC West-Brabant, Chichester College and East Sussex College Group

From 30 September to 20 October 2018 a group of 30 students from GCN-partner ROC West-Brabant in the Netherlands took part in a three-week language- and cross-cultural training course at the colleges of other GCN-partners Chichester and East Sussex College Group in Hastings, UK. The students took courses in intensive English, English for Specific Purposes and attended a number of infill classes in a various vocational fields, ranging from engineering, animal care, agricultural and horticultural studies and hospitality and catering (see picture). This programme, which will go into its fourth year in 2019, is a great example of the constructive and fruitful cooperation between partners in the Global College Network.’

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Antonio Mir - Japan Visit

In April 2018, the Director of Xabec, Antonio Mir visited Osaka, Kyoto and Sasebo to develop mobility programs for his students in Japan.  Through cooperation with ECC Kokusai College of Foreign Languages, Kyoto Gakuen, Nagasaki International University and Nagasaki Junior College, the ground work has been laid to further develop possible internships for Xabec students.