International Studies

International Studies

The following information is intended to highlight some of the activities, study abroad opportunities, resources and services provided by the Center for International Studies.

is faq

International Student Admissions at PVCC

For all PVCC students

External links to international education Web sites

Explore the Global Worldwide Web!

The following links are sites available for educational use and research.  

IS Educational Research Resources:

International Program & Funding Resources:

International and Intercultural Education

The Paradise Valley Community College Center for International Studies was founded in 1994 under the auspices of an U.S. Department of Education Title VI-B grant. The Center's commitment to international education leadership and service has resulted in exemplary programs, awards, and initiatives.

  • awarded the International Achievement Award for the Best Practice in Global Education for the Global Forums and Villages program by American Council on International Intercultural Education (ACIIE)  
  • awarded in partnership with the Maricopa County Library District, an American Library Association Live! @ Your Librarygrant to host nine visiting authors to speak on "Losing Geography, Discovering Self"  
  • awarded a second U.S. Department of Education Title VI-B grant to access the global digital economy  
  • awarded an International Consortium for Education and Economic Development grant to create online bilingual courses with CETYS University, Baja California, Mexico  
  • awarded an USAID grant to train environmental technicians at the University of Tabasco, Villahermosa, Mexico  
  • awarded an U.S. Department of Education Title VI-A grant for humanities and foreign languages curriculum and program development
  • awarded a U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant to participate with a consortium of colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico on a trilateral student exchange grant  
  • awarded a Japan Foundation library grant  
  • designated as Regional Center for Asian Studies by the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii  
  • received the Faculty Recognition Award for exemplary international programs by the Consortium for Community College Development  
  • awarded the International Achievement Award for international faculty development and a comprehensive international resource center by American Council on International Intercultural Education
  • hosted two Fulbright Scholars in residence (Morocco and Taiwan)
  • launched the Maricopa Community College’s Global Scholars Distinction Program (GSDP) for students

Center for International Studies & International/Intercultural Education Committee (CIS-IIE)  Mission Statement

The Paradise Valley Community College Center for International Studies & International/Intercultural Education Committee (CIS-IIE)  provides a wide array of innovative instructional and student development programs in international education with a primary focus on and specialization in Asia and Latin America.

Center for International Studies & International/Intercultural Education Committee (CIS-IIE)  Vision Statement

Cultivate Paradise Valley Community College as a center for global engagement.

Strategic Plan

  1. Provide global engagement opportunities for students.

    1. Offer short-term study abroad opportunities and explore scholarship funding to support the students studying abroad (on-going)

    2. Increase student participation with global/local social justice educational opportunities, e.g, refugee and immigrant service agencies, service-learning in local community and abroad, on-campus initiatives and programming, collaborative online international learning (COIL), etc. (on-going)

    3. Sustain annual Paradise Valley Community College International Film Festivals on-campus and in Cave Creek service area (on-going)

    4. Expand visiting artists, scholars, and other professionals (on-going)

    5. Sustain globally-focused articulation agreements (on-going)

    6. Maintain a passive international student recruitment process (on-going)

  2. Increase global engagement opportunities for employees

    1. Continue to provide faculty and staff with global content-based, field study, institute, workshop, forum, and seminar opportunities (on-going)

    2. Increase faculty and administrator participation in the Asian Studies Development Program (on-going)

    3. Increase participation in MCCCD coordinated exchanges and fellowships (on-going)

  3. Promote an interface between college and community groups with global engagement programs and opportunities

  4. Assess and evaluate the operations of and resources associated with the Center to maintain quality

In partnership with the Catholic Charities Offices of Refugee Resettlement, the Center for International Studies hosts one or two global village presentations each year.  This partnership was established in 2000. These one-hour presentations provide experiential opportunities to understand the material and non-material culture from different regions of the globe.  Topics include: Differences Between Refugees and Immigrants, Passport to Africa, Asia, Mexico, and the Middle East.