Montgomery County Community College: MCCC's Global Academy Celebrates New Educational Partnership With India

Press release from the Montgomery County Community College:

Diane VanDyke

October 26, 2021

Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) classes are now available to students
across the globe in India.  

Through a collaboration with the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education
(DCTE), Government of Karnataka, India, the MCCC Global Academy will be offering DCTE
students online and on-campus courses for the Tourism and Hospitality Management Associate Degree Program.

Tourism and Hospitality

Officials from the Government of Karnataka, MCCC and Pennsylvania met virtually via
WebEx on Oct. 25 to celebrate the new partnership. From India, Mr. Pradeep P IAS, Commissioner,
DCTE; Mr. Kumar Nalk IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Government
of Karnataka; Dr. Vijay Chauthalwale, Department of Foreign Affairs, BJP; Dr. C N
Ashwath Narayan, Hon. Minister of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka; Mr. Basavaraj
Bommal, Hon. Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka; and Mr. Manjunath R, Director,
Department of Technical Education, Government of Karnataka, attended.

“We are pleased to partner with the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education,
Government of Karnataka, to offer our Tourism and Hospitality Management Program to
students in India,” said Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President. “This is
the first initiative of the new collaboration, and we look forward to expanding our
offerings in the future. Montco is for all learners, at all ages and stages of life,
and we are pleased to extend this reach globally, further enriching the student experience.”

MCCC’s Tourism and Hospitality Management Program prepares students for careers in
convention and visitors bureaus, destination management companies, restaurants, parks,
casinos, hotels and resorts, among other businesses. As the economy recovers from
the pandemic, jobs in these fields will be in great demand. In Montgomery County alone,
tourism spending generated more than $1.63 billion in 2019.

“We are excited about this partnership,” said Marcel L. Groen, Treasurer, MCCC Board
of Trustees. “While this is the first initiative of its kind, we expect it to grow
exponentially. The Board bases its decision-making for programs such as this upon
it giving results that will advance the College’s core mission of serving the educational,
workforce and cultural needs of our students. The Board makes these decisions through
the lens of ensuring programs are innovative and sustainable and will provide meaningful
learning experiences that afford access to and drive success.”

Rep. Madeleine Dean, U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District,
offered her congratulations through a video-recorded presentation.

“I want to congratulate both the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education,
Government of Karnataka, India, and Montgomery County Community College for this tremendous
new partnership,” said Rep. Dean. “We have an exciting moment here in Montgomery County
for community colleges. Your partnership showcases the potential and innovation of
these institutions, which have long provided accessible higher education. With this
program in Karnataka, the capacity of Montgomery County Community College will be
felt across continents, and frankly, around the world.”

Noe Ortega, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, joined the virtual
ceremony to offer his congratulations.

“Congratulations to the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education and Montgomery
County Community College on this historic new partnership. In an increasingly global
and digital world, it is critical now more than ever to foster connections with one
another. By joining forces, you certainly have taken a step to a renewed commitment
to global learning, and to me that is extremely important,” said Ortega. “You are
creating access to new languages and cultures, curriculum and training and job experiences,
which I think will benefit both the students of Karnataka and those who are here in
Pennsylvania.”

DCTE students who enroll in the program through the MCCC Global Academy will take
the preparation coursework through the DCTE in Karnataka, India, during the first
year of the program. After successfully completing all of the requirements, students
will take the remaining 20 courses through the MCCC Global Academy.

Students can take courses online or on-campus at MCCC’s Blue Bell and Pottstown Campuses
or in a hybrid format. MCCC offers a flexible class format to allow students to select the modality that works best for them and their schedules.

Through the MCCC Global Academy, all students will have full access to MCCC’s student support services, including 24/7 online tutoring, library resources, academic advising and wellness
support, as well as MCCC’s athletics, clubs and organizations.

Upon completion of the Tourism and Hospitality Management Program Associate Degree
Program, graduates can start their careers or continue their education. MCCC has agreements
with more than 30 transfer partner schools that allow students to transfer their credits seamlessly to earn their next
degree. The Tourism and Hospitality Management Program also offers internship opportunities for students at numerous places in the tourism and hospitality industries.

MCCC is fully accredited by the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

This press release was produced by the Montgomery County Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.