BCTC broadens its range of programs for refugee and international students

Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Kentucky, is making a difference in the lives of international students and refugees through their innovative programs. As college students across the Commonwealth graduate and prepare for adulthood, some are taking the skills they learned in Kentucky back home, while others are starting a new life in the Bluegrass State.

Recently, 14 international students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College completed the Community College Initiative Program in the school’s Global Learning Department. This program, in partnership with the State Department, sends J-1 scholars for one year of study to earn short-term credentials to take back to their home countries and enter the global job market.

Karissa Porter, director of the Refugee Career Pathway program, highlighted the importance of the Global Learning Department in serving refugees, immigrants, and international students. With Lexington being home to a large population of refugees, including those from Congo, the college is expanding its services to include vocational training in welding, electrician assistance, nurse aid, fashion production, and A+ computer programming.

Porter emphasized the rewarding experience of working with international students who are new to America, stating, “There’s nothing better, I am just so proud of the work I get to do because I get to daily engage with individuals who have shown such resilience but then are also just so excited for the next thing.”

The Refugee Vocational Training program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College is open to eligible students, including refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, Afghan/Ukrainian Humanitarian paroles, and victims of human trafficking. This program aims to help students gain certification in the U.S. and prepare them for successful careers in their chosen fields.