Niagara College prioritizes supporting gender equality, equity, and inclusion initiatives around the world, and has recently welcomed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) leaders from the West Bank for a customized International Knowledge Exchange Program.
Ten representatives from seven TVET institutions across the West Bank attended sessions at the Welland and the Daniel J. Patterson campuses. Taking place June 17 to 23, the program aimed to share international expertise on gender equality, equity and inclusion in the Skilled Trades sector. On June 23, NC President Sean Kennedy handed out their Statements of Participation following a presentation on the Palestinian TVET system.
The institutions are part of the Gender Responsive and Inclusive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (GRIT) project, a partnership between Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) and Lutheran World Federation Jerusalem, with funding from Global Affairs Canada. The GRIT project recognizes the capacity and tenacity of Palestinian women, including women with disabilities, and seeks to reduce barriers to help them achieve their educational and career goals.
Course Coordinator of the Salesian Vocational Training Center in Bethlehem, Tonny Ballout, shared the success story of female students from the institution’s Carpentry program.
“A group of seven graduates who opened their own carpentry business two years ago are now exporting products to Germany, and looking to hire more women,” said Ballout. “The NC team has shared unique ways of managing and teaching with us, which will allow us to improve our programs even more.”
Director of the Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Centre (ETVTC) in Ramallah, Giovanni Anbar, said that after attending the program at NC, he is confident in the success of developing programs for women and men with disabilities.
“The experience shared during the program is the beginning of a phase of further development for us,” said Anbar, who shared some of ETVTC’s achievements within the GRIT project. “After a challenging process, we started bringing women to our hospitality programs, and now they are getting trained and ready to join the labour market to support their families.”
Bringing the world to Niagara College
To make the program a success, NC’s Global Customized Training & Consulting team collaborated with numerous areas across the College, such as the Academic Areas, Career Services, Community Employment Services, Global Education Projects, Health Wellness & Accessibility, International Student Services, Research & Innovation, and Sustainability.
Seminars on the ‘Culture of Applied Learning and Innovation at Niagara College’, ‘Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’, and ‘Student-Centered Learning’ were among the numerous activities of the International Knowledge Exchange Program.
The program also aimed at enhancing networking and building relationships among the participants and the college community.
“We are so grateful to Niagara College for hosting us and for so many genuine connections made,” said Heather Platt, CLWR’s GRIT Program Manager. “We see this as the beginning of our relationship and look forward to what is coming next.”
Niagara College supports gender equity and inclusion worldwide through projects in several countries. These projects support Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) and demonstrate NC’s commitment to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG number 5 – Gender Equality.
