Educators From Serbia Visit Crafton Hills College with Redlands Sunrise Rotary Club
Publish Date: July 24, 2022
On Tuesday, May 3, Crafton Hills College provided a campus tour for six delegates from Serbia as part of the Congressional Open World program. The delegates consisted of university-level educators visiting the United States to engage, interact, and collaborate internationally. They were hosted locally by the Redlands Sunrise Rotary as they visited various colleges and other sites in the region.
The campus tour was part of their overall US tour to compare and learn about international teaching strategies and approaches at various institutions of higher education. The educators were accompanied by Dragana Obradovic, the U.S. Studies Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, as well as members of the Redlands Sunrise Rotary Club.
After welcoming the group, Crafton’s Development Coordinator, Carrie Audet took the group on a campus tour including a visit to the Child Development Center, Public Safety & Allied Health building, and the campus solar farm. The Disabled Student Services office and Technology Success Center demonstrated assistive technology access and technology ergonomics resources available to students.
Dr. Ivan Peña, dean of student equity and success, talked with the group about the higher education system in the United States, explaining the roles of community colleges, state, and private institutions. Professor Gwen DiPonio connected via Zoom to present degree and certification requirements, curriculum development, and courses offered at Crafton.
In the spirit of collaboration, two delegates Ljiljana Markovich and Ivana Markovic, provided an overview of the Serbian education system and the history of teachers’ education dating back to The Teacher’s College in Subotica, the first European-style institution of higher education, which was founded in 1689.
The tour concluded with Sunrise Rotarian and Redlands Police Department Commander Rachel Tolber presenting Dr. Ivan Peña and Carrie Audet with plaques from the Congressional Office for International Leadership in appreciation for contributing to the Open World Program. Participating in programs that create opportunities for participants to learn and work with others is what makes Crafton such a unique place to work and study.
