(May 16, 2019, Ottawa) Today the members of the WFCP gathered via conference call for the 2019 Annual General Meeting. The Board heard from the Chair about the events of the last year, how the Federation has grown throughout 2018, and the successes around the 2018 World Congress. The 2018-19 Annual Report was also presented to the members (click on the image to download the report). To request a hard copy of the Annual Report, please contact the Secretariat.

Treasurer, John Henik, presented the financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. Members heard from the Board of Directors about the state of education in their countries and how the WFCP can support professional and technical education and training.

The members also elected five directors to the Board; four are returning, while Ms. Dawn Ward will serve her first term on the WFCP Board of Directors, effective immediately.

The elected Board members are:

Mouhamed Fadel Niang, Network of ISEP Institutes Senegal (Senegal)

Professor Mouhamed Fadel NIANG is a Senegalese senior official who achieved a lot in the fields of teaching and scientific research on the one hand, and in governance and public institutions on the other. Professor NIANG holds a PhD in Applied Sciences graduation in Material Science and Engineering from the “Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines” in Paris, France. He is a recognized expert in mechanical and civil engineering, but also in economic and collective intelligence for developing countries. Since September 2012, Mr. NIANG has been the Director of the Higher Institute for Vocational Training (ISEP) in Thies. He also is the national Coordinator of ISEP network in Senegal (RISEP), representative of fourteen institutes under establishment in Senegal.

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges (United Kingdom)

David Hughes became Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges in September 2016. Before that he was CEO at Learning and Work Institute, a leading think tank, research and policy organisation which was formed in 2016 from a merger he led between NIACE and Inclusion. From 2000 to 2011, Mr. Hughes worked in senior roles at the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Prior to that, he worked in the voluntary sector across a wide range of roles and organisations in the UK and Australia, in social housing, co-operatives, welfare, regeneration and community development. He has held many Board and Committee roles, including a few years as Vice-Chair of the East Midlands Regional Assembly in the 1990s. Mr. Hughes played a leading role in establishing the new Education and Training Foundation in 2013 and has established and supported several third sector organisations.

Dawn Ward CBE, Burton and South Derbyshire College (United Kingdom)

Dawn Ward is Chief Executive and Principal of Burton and South Derbyshire College.  She is a graduate from Oxford Brookes University and has had a highly successful international career.  She is a published author and was a World Skills Chief expert from 2000-2005. Ms. Ward has extensive Board experience spanning over 25 years. She is currently a Non-Executive Director of Staffline Group PLC and EAL, a UK based-international awarding body. She is also Deputy Chair of the Chartered Institution for Further Education and represents her fellow CEO’s on a number of regional Boards. She has extensive experience of representing the UK on an international federated membership organisation.  Ms. Ward understands the necessary dynamics between Board members and also the necessity for collective responsibility in decision making.

John Henik, Senior Administrator Global Education Network, Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs, Kirkwood Community College (United States of America)

John Henik is the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs with Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA – USA. In this position he provides leadership and support for 120 academic credit programs representing over 20,000 students annually. In addition, he is a senior administrator with the Global Education Network (GEN). During his twelve-years with GEN he initiated their membership to the World Federation of Colleges & Polytechnics (WFCP) and is proud to note that GEN members have participated in every WFCP World Congress since the New York City Congress in 2008. His enthusiasm for his participation in the GEN organization is directed toward the dedication this association has to enhancing innovative global learning and collaborative opportunities for member institutions in Australia, Singapore, Canada and the United States. Their emphasis on globally linking faculty, staff and students through semester, short-term and electronic exchanges among the member institutions reflects his values (http://www.globaledunetwork.org).

Wayne C. Wheeler, American Association of Community Colleges, Director, International Programs and Services (United States of America)

Wayne Wheeler has over 10 years of experience representing the nearly 1,200 community colleges in the United States through his work at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)—one of the “Big Six” presidentially-based national higher education associations. As the head of AACC’s International Office, he develops and implements strategic initiatives and projects that are aimed at enhancing the international capacity of community colleges and raising the profile of the national association among the various stakeholders. Mr. Wheeler advises community colleges on internationalization matters and speaks to domestic and international audiences about the role of community colleges in the U.S. higher education system and their activities in the international education arena. He provides support to AACC’s Commission on Global Education and liaises with key contacts at U.S. and international education organizations as well as at various U.S. government agencies and foreign embassies, missions, economic and trade offices in Washington, D.C.

The WFCP welcomes the new and returning Board members.

The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) is a member-based international network of colleges, polytechnics, university colleges, institutions and individuals of professional and technical education and training. The Federation provides leadership in delivering workforce education for the global economy.

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For more information:

Tresanna Hassanally
Director
World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics
secretariat@wfcp.org
613-746-2222 ext. 3141
Twitter: @wfcpsecretariat