LONDON, September 11, 2018 — The University of South Carolina’s International Career Accelerator Program was recognized on Friday for its innovation and achievement in international education as it received the Progressive Education Delivery Award at the 2018 PIEoneer Awards. Each year, the award ceremony honors individuals and organizations that are leading in global student support and championing the international education industry.

The International Career Accelerator, a partnership between Shorelight Education and the University of South Carolina (USC) Career Center, was recognized for its commitment to preparing students for the modern international workplace. Participating students use the skills developed in the program to secure internships and other professional positions. The program has an outstanding track record: 86 percent of students who complete all four levels obtain employment.

The Career Accelerator is a key component of the International Accelerator Program, which was created in 2015 to further internationalize the university while providing students with academic and cultural support. The Career Accelerator was established to support international students’ career goals and help them develop the essential skills and confidence to engage with employers at career fairs, information sessions and other professional events.

“Our goal was to increase international student engagement with the USC Career Center from the very beginning of their time on-campus. That meant offering services that were better tailored to the unique needs of the students,” said Tonya Creamer, Career Accelerator Program Manager. “Ultimately, we aim to have a positive impact on retention, academic success and satisfaction with the university.”

Through the program, USC international students have developed résumés and honed interviewing and networking skills, helping them acquire internships at companies like Bank of China; Webitude Info in India; Ag First Bank in Columbia, SC; and Mercedes-Benz in Charleston, SC.

A unique offering available to all of Shorelight’s partner universities, the Career Accelerator program offers a two-year, multi-faceted professional development and career preparation experience created specifically for the international university student. Through the Career Accelerator, Shorelight works directly with partner universities to provide unparalleled support services to help students develop their professional skills and gain a strong understanding of how their knowledge, interests, motivations and personal experiences give them an immediate advantage when launching their career in a changing global workplace.

James Morrison, Director of the Career Accelerator Program, emphasized, “What comes across in this great program, time and time again, is the real will among our students to become actively and consciously involved in directing and achieving their career goals.”

Media Contact: Shorelight Education
Alex Goldstein
Alex.goldstein@corporate.shorelight.com

Shorelight Education is reinventing the international education experience for students worldwide. Based in Boston, the company partners with top-ranked, nonprofit American universities to build innovative programs and high-touch, technology-driven services that help talented students thrive and become global citizens.