The faculty in QCC's Interactive Media Design (IMD) program proved they are are at the forefront of media education during an international exchange with Dutch educators. Faculty from Rijn IJssel, a secondary vocational school in Arnhem, Netherlands, recently visited QCC to exchange ideas about IMD and student preparation for the global media design workforce.
Several Rijn IJssel professors, including graphic design teacher Bea van den Brink, film teacher Sean Glavey and marketing teacher Roy den Hartog, engaged with QCC faculty, administration and students throughout their visit. They met with QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja, received a campus tour from a student, and even attended the Hospitality and Restaurant Management (HRM) program's etiquette dinner.
"Any time we can exchange ideas with our colleagues in any part of the world, it's a beautiful thing," remarked Vice President of Academic Affairs Kathy Rentsch, highlighting the importance of international academic collaboration.
During a Lunch and Learn presentation on the exchange program, Professor of Psychology Nancy Donahue Berthiaume provided the visitors with a history of QCC and the community college system in the United States, explaining how these institutions emerged from a desire to make higher education accessible to everyone. Today, approximately 1,100 community colleges operate across the country.
The Dutch educators shared information about Rijn IJssel, which has multiple locations but is working to centralize operations. Located in Arnhem—the provincial capital known for the Battle of Arnhem in WWII—the school serves 10,517 students (7,903 full-time and 2,353 part-time), has 150 programs and employs 1,238 staff members. Their programs span various fields including health and welfare, creative industries, hospitality, business, and technology.
The Dutch visitors explained that Rijn IJssel is a four-year vocational school following government standards that require courses in Dutch, English, and calculus. Students also participate in weekly counseling sessions to assess their academic progress. After age 18, tuition costs approximately €1,600 per year.
Both institutions discussed the evolving nature of media education. The Rijn IJssel media program is transitioning from traditional graphic design and photography toward more interactive media like animation and video. Faculty members from both schools noted that today's students rarely watch television or read magazines, resulting in knowledge gaps regarding traditional media formats such as business cards or print article layouts.
Brooks Winchell presented on QCC's online courses and support systems, emphasizing the importance of clear navigation, timely feedback, and comprehensive support services. The Dutch educators noted that Rijn IJssel doesn't currently offer online courses.
A distinctive feature of Rijn IJssel's program is its extensive internship component, with students spending half of their third year and half of their fourth year in workplace settings. Many students secure employment through these internships, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in industry preparation.
The Dutch visitors showcased examples of their students' work in animation, video and graphic design, emphasizing their focus on technique over quick trends.
"We always go for quality first," noted van den Brink.
Professor of Interactive Media Mary Valentine and Assistant Professor Carolyn McGrath? are going to participate in the exchange by travelling to Rijn IJssel in April.
Learning Manager for Media Design Nate Mello presented equipment from the IMD program, including a harness for cell phone facial recognition that creates a meta-human from phone video— using technology similar to what is used in films like Avatar.
QCC faculty displayed portfolio development projects showcasing students' software and hardware proficiency, visual communication principles, design theory, and knowledge of art history and traditional methods of art-making. Bea van den Brink noted the "eloquent feedback" QCC students provided to each other, remarking on their comfort with one another and fluency in technical language from their courses.
The exchange highlighted both similarities and differences in approaches to media education while underscoring the global nature of creative industries and the importance of preparing students for international workforce participation.