Kyle and Franziska at WETM-IAC
Kyle Poffenroth, Director of Business Development and Placement Programs, and Franziska Thiemann, Internship Coordinator, represented the German American Chamber of Commerce California at this year’s IAPA conference from March 16-18, 2014 in London.
During their time in London, Kyle and Franziska had the opportunity to attend an educational session on current developments on J-1 visa. The workshop was run Michael McCarry, Executive Director of the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange. 170,000 highly educated foreign employees and students are in the U.S. at any one time under the J-1 program, which aims to promote international understanding through educational and cultural exchanges. GACC California is a proud member of the Alliance, whose mission is to formulate and promote policies that support the growth and well-being of international exchange.
The Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference (WETM-IAC) brings together organizations operating in all aspects of cultural exchange, including those providing internship and work experience opportunities abroad.
Organized annually by the WYSE Work Abroad Association and the International Au Pair Association, WETM-IAC represents an engaging forum for the development of the work and travel and cultural exchange community. The conference combines seminars, award ceremonies, and business appointments to provide delegates with the opportunity to meet with global industry leaders and establish new connections within the field.
WETM-IAC 2014 was a great success, giving all participating organizations the chance to speak about current trends in the industry and make valuable connections. We look forward to attending next year’s conference in Lisbon!
