COD Welcomes International Students Through Community College Initiative Program

By: Angela Mennecke

CCI students in downtown Chicago

College of DuPage has welcomed 18 students from around the world through the 2022-2023 Community College Initiative program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Since 2012, COD has hosted nearly 200 students from more than 15 countries worldwide.

I have been consistently impressed with how these young leaders take what they learn at COD back to their home countries and use it to improve their communities.

COD CCI Program Coordinator Kayla Chepyator

While at COD, visiting students pursue one-year certificate programs in workforce development fields and receive opportunities for professional internships, service learning and community engagement activities. 

“I have been consistently impressed with how these young leaders take what they learn at COD back to their home countries and use it to improve their communities,” said COD CCI Program Coordinator Kayla Chepyator. “At the same time, they bring with them the knowledge and experience of cultures that people in the COD community may not have been exposed to before. It’s really a wonderful global learning opportunity for everyone involved.”

For the current academic year, students are participating in a program designed to build knowledge about the current media landscape and develop media literacy skills, including the ability to understand and counter misinformation and disinformation.

This year's students represent six countries, and include:

Ganjala Abbasova (Azerbaijan); Nursen Askarbekov (Kyrgyzstan); Said Muhammad Asoev (Tajikistan); Jahongir Azizov (Tajikistan); Adem Bislimi (Kosovo); Shabnam Duzenji (Azerbaijan); Orkhan Gayibov (Azerbaijan); Vladyslvav Hirchuk (Ukraine); Hoji Hojiev (Tajikistan); Sahobakhon Juraeva (Tajikistan); Albinota Krasniqi (Kosovo); Mariia Kukshina (Ukraine); Florentina Lipovica (Kosovo); Ismayil Malikov (Azerbaijan); Grese Sermaxhaj (Kosovo); Anat Sharipov (Kazakhstan); Sezim Soodanbekova (Kyrgyzstan); and Vlera Zymeri (Kosovo).

For more information about the Community College Initiative Program, contact Chepyator at chepyat@cod.edu.