Results

Advance is strengthening the capacity of select two- and-three-year technical tertiary education programs in Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Jamaica to provide market-relevant, quality training to disadvantaged youth for increased employment.

Students in target academic units demonstrating market relevant skills increased

Curriculum design and pedagogy improved
Teacher, faculty, and staff development refined
Labor market bridging enhanced

tertiary institutions strengthened

Over

990

faculty and staff trained in subject-specific content, soft skills, and pedagogy through:

Interionational Study tours
Externships
Workshops
Guided visits to public and private sector businesses

technical degree programs with curricula revised with private and/or public sector employer’s input

Over

2600

youth have received labor market bridging support

Internships
Soft and employability skills training
Entrepreneurship workshops
Employer visits

Testimonial

The training in product development was a necessary and welcomed experience. It opens avenues to new ideas that can be readily incorporated within the teaching and learning process in the classroom. The training gave clarity to questions and misconceptions, which propagated a new way of thinking. As we seek to facilitate our students during this trying period, the training also provided us insights into engaging our students online and still being able to incorporate the practical aspects.

–Lecturer, Agro-processing and Business Management Program, Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica

Testimonial

The industry webinar was very informative. The aspect of the webinar which captured my attention the most was when Nadia spoke about the impact of lighting in culture. While she was discussing these effects and impacts, I was already visualizing the use of lights to do video mapping in the Chinese Garden in Hope Gardens in Kingston. Nadia’s story shows that she continues to be a student of her craft. My takeaway is for me to also be a student of my craft, to continue to learn and adapt to changes and most importantly to not be afraid of challenges.

–Student, Entertainment Design, Production and Technology Program, University of Technology, Jamaica

Testimonial

Participating in the curriculum revision process has been a great opportunity for me and without the support of the Advance would not have been possible. As professionals and as teachers, we want to improve and learn since, in general, we do not have pedagogical training, but we like teaching and we want to improve ourselves. This experience has helped me to understand the importance of the syllabus as a working guide and to improve my class planning.

–Faculty member, Centro Universitario Tecnológico de UNITEC (CEUTEC)

Testimonial

I am very grateful for the effort and dedication of my colleagues to improve the educational quality of our degree program. The momentum of the Advance Program has been important in building a great team that is producing high level results. We must continue working despite the adversities to improve the quality of instruction of this degree program, to which we are all committed.

–Academic coordinator, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH)

Testimonial

The course motivated me to execute my entrepreneurial ideas. I already started the project of selling candies and local pastries to retailers. The diploma course taught me to organize my goals, I also identified my marketing channels and now I have loyal customers and I had word-of-mouth advertising. The challenge I have now is to strengthen advertising channels, make myself known through social networks and create and legalize my brand, also increase sales volume.

–Student, Fruit Production degree program, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC)

Testimonial

The Advance Program encourages me to continue fighting until I achieve my dreams, promoting my participation in in training and field trips that are quite productive and allow me to learn about new agricultural production systems that I can replicate in my community.

–Student, Fruit Production degree program, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC)

Equitable access for disadvantaged individuals to target fields increased

Over

9282

youth enrolled in degree programs

427

scholarships granted to disadvantaged students to cover tuition, meals, transportation and lodging

435

Students who have graduated from Advance-supported technical degree programs

Testimonial

I was [a] person who did not have a lot of opportunities and I did not think I would have been considered for the Advance scholarship. It is very rewarding, especially now that I am finish[ed] and when I compare 2018 to now, I have learned so much. I have been more open to the world of science. The Advance Program really helped me to achieve some amount of personal development that I can use further in the future. I have learnt a lot of skills over the past two years. I really appreciate what Advance has done for us.

–Student, Agro-processing and Business Management Program, Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica

Testimonial

The Advance Program allowed me to start tertiary education. It made me realize that I need to take opportunities once they arrive and make the best of it. Getting the scholarship makes me believe that anything is possible and that dreams do come through. Education means success, it means a better way of living or a better way of life. For years, I felt like I was in darkness because education means so much and I was unable to access tertiary education. Thank God for the Advance Program I am now shining through. The Journey has been awesome! I am so blessed and grateful. Going to school daily makes me smile and so grateful.

–Student, Entertainment and Events Management Program, Vocational Training Development Institute

Testimonial

Thanks to the Advance Program and USAID, I have received support with transportation and food stipends, education materials, lab equipment and books. This has been crucial to finish my degree program. This scholarship has changed my life.

–Student, Clinical Laboratory degree program, Universidad Cristiana Evangélica Nuevo Milenio (UCENM)

Testimonial

The main support that USAID and the Advance Program has given me is the scholarship that has helped me to finish my degree program. I live far from campus in Choluteca and the expenses of having to commute to Tegucigalpa for classes are high. Thank you very much. Because of your support I was able to get uniforms and equipment that I used for my internship at the Hotel Intercontinental San Pedro Sula and I continue to use in my own bakery. Thank you for helping me accomplish a crucial life achievement, my graduation.

–Student, Food and Beverage degree program, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH)

Testimonial

Thanks to this opportunity that the Advance Program has given me to obtain the scholarship, I am fulfilling one of my dreams...Applying for and benefiting from the scholarship was such a great and excellent help for me, for my family, and for my community.

–Student, Business Administration degree program, Universidad Panamericana de Guatemala (UPANA)