Innovative Learning Concepts (Haiti) provides market-relevant training programs for today’s workforce and entrepreneurs, along with comprehensive mental health support and services. Founded in Massachusetts in 2014, Innovative Learning Concepts (ILC) brings together professionals from various backgrounds (academia, information technology, human services, etc.), living in the Diaspora as well as in
Haiti, who are all driven by a common passion to lend their time, knowledge, expertise, connections, financial resources, to effect changes in the motherland by making available comprehensive online and offline education. Moreover, we truly believe that as members of Haiti’s Diaspora, we are morally indebted to contribute to the country’s progress and to the elevation of our brothers and sisters - especially the youth; we also believe that the Diaspora of any country represents an extraordinary force and a collection of wealth and resources which must be explored and utilized. At ILC, we will thrive to offer the types of training that contribute to preparing our graduates for today’s competitive global job market and entrepreneurship opportunities. Students begin their journey with us by learning English as the first step to additional educational opportunities; once they have reached the proficiency level deemed necessary to handle web-based courses at the Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s levels with minimal difficulty, they will be assisted in their choice of a career from the ones that are in high demand today: computer science, computer programming (coding), business administration, health science. We are in the process of securing partnerships with several distance education providers, such as University of the People (www.uopeople.edu), to make this a reality for our students! Equally central to our success is our ability to help our students gain a living from their chosen careers following graduation. We plan to establish in the near future a Career Center which will connect our graduates with potential employers. For students with business ideas, the Center will also assist in designing and developing business plans, as well as facilitating access to unconventional financing sources. We decided to inaugurate our presence in Haiti with an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) program, due to the fact that English is foundational to many activities such as distance learning, staying informed about events around the world. More importantly, we desire for our EFL program to contribute to enhancing workforce capacity and developing human resource capacity throughout the country. Six years since the earthquake that struck Haiti, there have been a lot of progress made towards bringing the country back to at least where it was the day before that unfortunate event; however, much more work remains to be done. It is important that Haitians living in Haiti participate in the global economy and remain competitive; and English proficiency is paramount in achieving this phase. In our opinion, teaching English to students and young professionals living in Haiti is important for the following reasons (among others):
English is currently the language mostly used on the Internet (more than half of all websites are in English);
-- International commerce uses mostly English;
-- A significant portion of important international exchanges are being conducted in English;
-- The geographical location of Haiti vis-a-vis the United States and other English-speaking developed economies in this part of the world; and
-- Haiti shares the same time zone with a lot of these countries, making it easier for companies that outsource IT jobs to employ Haitian professionals living in Haiti. Therefore, it is critical for young Haitians at the secondary school and university levels and Haitian professionals living in Haiti to be able to read, write, and speak English proficiently. Proficiency in English will also lead to their ability to participate in the global workforce and share in the world economy, through the acquisition of relevant skills via online and offline education and training - something that is now possible, thanks to recent improvement in the quality of Internet connectivity available in Haiti. There is definitely a need for more flexible English language learning opportunities in Haiti, and we will fulfill this need through live and online delivery format for different proficiency levels. Using a Moodle, live webcasts, and a “flipped classroom” model, supplemented by resources made available through EdPuzzle and other online platforms, students will benefit from plenty of practice in a cyber classroom, in conversation circles, as well as independently. Our classes are taught by internationally certified instructors who are native English speakers. We combine in-class instructions with conversation sessions, and provide our students with the ability to practice English. With the assistance and expertise of instructors based in the United States and Canada, the program will be launched in the Mirebalais area as a pilot with only 75 students in the first year; additional students will be enrolled gradually, as to allow time to make necessary adjustments. Our goal is to offer classes that will address a high demand for learning the English language in Haiti.
