EducationUSA Competitive College Club (CCC) Macedonia

On May 29th 2015 the American Corner Bitola organized a presentation titled “Tips for Success in School and Business” with Ms. Kaitlin Turck, Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Macedonia. On the event Ms. Turk talked more on how people make mistakes in the work place that maybe are setting them back in the progress of their careers. Giving examples of general situations both for school and work, she shared tips on what to avoid. She focused on the mistakes people are making while talking either socially or professionally, how they behave in certain work situations, how they tend to give out wrong information with their body posture or body language, and how people should brand themselves or to be more specific how people should introduce themselves and talk about themselves. The attendees enjoyed the presentation after which a discussion followed.

On May 26th 2015 the American Corner Bitola hosted a presentation on Open Educational Resources with Ms. Elena Stojanovska-Master of administration and member of the local NGO - Center for Local Initiatives. The goal of this presentation was to present open educational resources to the attendees that they can use to upgrade their carrier, to use in the teaching process, to develop particular skills etc. Some of the sources presented on the event were: web platforms for online education Coursera, EdX, Future Learn, Canvas net, MIT Open Course Ware, Khan Academy, EU MOOCs.  These types of events are intended to raise the awareness of the growing number of open educational resources and their usage. Q & A followed at the end of the event.

On May 8th, around 40 participants of YASA, a program of the Association of Yale Alumni together with the U.S. Embassy in Macedonia, American Corners Macedonia and EducationUSA organized the first ever Forum for learning about university education in the United States. The goal of this event was to share information about university education in the United States including insight into the Liberal Arts curriculum, the application process, and campus living so that students will consider the opportunities that may be available to them in the U.S. During the official opening, the U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia, Mr. Jess Baily gave brief remarks about his Yale experience and the benefits of Liberal Art education.  The break-out sessions covered the following topics: The Liberal Arts Curriculum, Application Process and Marketing Yourself and Why Employers Like Students with a Liberal Arts Education and General Career Advice. The currents members of the EducationUSA Competitiv

On May 7th 2015 Mr. Gazmend Ilazi, Educational Officer, U.S. Embassy Macedonia, spoke at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies - Bitola and the American Corner Bitola about the current Education Exchange opportunities for Macedonian Citizens through the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Fulbright Scholar Program and The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program are currently open for candidates who want to apply for fully funded professional development. The Fulbright Program awards approximately 8,000 grants annually. Roughly 1,600 U.S. students, 4,000 foreign students, 1,200 U.S. scholars, and 900 visiting scholars receive awards, in addition to several hundred teachers and professionals. Approximately 310,000 "Fulbrighters" have participated in the Program since its inception in 1946. The Humphrey Program brings young and mid-career professionals from designated countries to the United States for a year

On May 7th 2015 Peace Corps Volunteers Ted Shibata and Cindy Sorensen organized an info-session about the upcoming GLOW and YMLP camps. The Young Men’s Leadership Project (YMLP) is a program designed to develop and engage young men in Macedonia to help mold them into the future leaders of tomorrow. The Young Men’s Leadership Project provides a unique opportunity for young men from around the country to develop personal and professional skills in an environment that fosters social inclusion and integration. The mission of Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) is to develop the inherent potential found in the young women of Macedonia by providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to become active leaders in their communities. This is done through experiential education that celebrates diversity, builds academic and social competencies, and promotes English language literacy, leadership, teamwork, problem solving, and creative expression.  The application for these two camps is

On May 7th 2015 the members of EducationUSA Competitive College Club Bitola met with Ms. Biljana Kuzmanovska, EducationUSA Adviser & AC Bitola Coordinator and Peace Corps Volunteer Ted Shibata for this month’s Book Club event. The book selected for the event was “The Jungle” by American journalist and novelist Upton Sinclair. The book depicts working class poverty, the lack of social supports, harsh and unpleasant living and working conditions, and a hopelessness among many workers. These elements are contrasted with the deeply rooted corruption of people in power. PCV Shibata started the discussion with reviews from the students about the book and their take on the story. The students elaborated the story of the book and also watched videos related to the book topic. After this part, 3 of the CCC students prepared quick quiz about the book. All participants had the task to solve the quiz which also motivated them to think deeper about the book, the message it deliver