Competency & Performance Solutions (CPS), an ethics-based USA company, builds international, customized learning experiences. CPS is located in Tampa Bay, Florida, a region with excellent educational and recreational resources.
CPS is deeply committed to building friendship and understanding between the USA and the world, and have a long history of working with the Tampa Bay International Business Council (old website: www.tbibc.org).
We have consulted with the US Global Leadership Coalition and US Agency for Trade and Development regarding ways to grow our economy and build international relationships for peace and prosperity in a changing world.
CPS seeks to empower international participants to build communities with quality of life, advanced products and services, prosperity and a competitive advantage in international business.
Our international 90-day soft landing program was created for people of any age who want to come to the USA, improve their business English, technology, vocational and cultural skills. It also connects our participants with Central Florida’s vast vocational and entrepreneurial training resources, and with our world-class recreational facilities.
Our participants can return to their home countries refreshed and inspired, with measurable, certified skills, to contribute to their own communities and economies. They will remain friends, potential business partners with the USA, and creators of a new and peaceful world of mutual understanding.
This program was first requested for the new Libya. An Arabic translation of the program is available here. This file will not open on the website. It is a downloadable pdf: نقر على وص لة إلى الترجمة العربية : http://www.c-psolutions.com/2011/09/90dayarabicversion/
Here is an English video about the program: video. فيديو
The program includes:
Total Participant Care
Internal atrium of USF Embasssy Suites.
- Full accommodation in a luxury suite hotel, near a premier university, within one kilometer of a huge, international-class medical university and medical complex of facilities. Two people share each large suite, with two queen beds, bathroom, lounge, dining room and kitchenette. Laundry facilities and a gym are on site.
- All meals and refreshments are included. Participants have many options for lunch and dinner on non-training days. This is covered by an ample cash allowance, international and US grocery stores, and many US and international restaurants.
- All transport is included. Participants will be greeted and guided to and from Tampa International Airport, and transport is provided for excursions, shopping, etc.
- Transport is provided to and from places of worship. There is a Libyan Mosque, and we arrange optional involvement in local Libyan community events.
- All participants will receive cell phones for 24-hour contact and support. Cell phones have cameras.
Two people share a queen suite. Please see video of lounge, dining room, kitchen area, etc. Single occupancy is available but is sadly expensive.
- There are guides and interpreters on all entertainment and cultural outings.
Training
- The program focuses on effective training by highly-qualified staff, providing training in English (reading, writing and conversation).
- English is applied in many situations beyond the classroom. There will be consolidation work (including computer-based consolidation). Many activities will immerse participants in English, international culture, computer skills, business skills, developing networking abilities and exploring vocational skills.
- Each participant will receive a new HP laptop, laptop case, headphones and microphone. All laptop computers are new, with warranty and MS Office software with licenses. Tutors will train everyone to use Skype and Gmail Chat for easy, free communication with home.
- The program includes English language software, all training books, pictorial dictionary, workbooks, stationery and printing.
- Participants will be assessed regularly on their progress, given guidance and encouragement, and helped with vocational assessments.
- The program will end with a graduation celebration, certification and report.
Business Connections
- Green Business. Participants will visit Tampa Bay’s recycling plants, to see recycling programs, the use of landfills with best practices, and how Tampa Bay makes electricity from waste.
- Construction and other business experiences. Participants will visits various industries, and vocational training schools according to participant interests.
- Vocational training. The first three months include English, computer skills and cultural fluency. There is also include aptitude testing, interest testing and assessment. There is no specific vocational training in the first three months.
Tampa Bay makes electricity from waste
- After the first three months, training can range from construction to nanotechnology. The construction and pipeline curricula usually follow the NCCER’s standards, unless otherwise required.
Entertainment
- Busch Gardens Theme Park, The Disney Magic Kingdom World, the Kennedy Space Center, Universal Studios (the world of movie making), Sea World and other theme parks offer all participants world-class entertainment and educational experiences. This is an excellent way of learning English. Participants become comfortable with many different situations.
- The program is based within easy walking distance of a mall, and many shops of different types. The free hotel shuttles are a good choice in mid summer as walking can be hot.
- Participants keep a project book of ideas that might be useful in their home country. They discuss these with entrepreneurship experts, and turn them into business plan projects.
- The program includes the cost of tickets for these tours, and includes transport, meals and special arrangements for disabled participants.
- Busch Gardens is close to the program base. The hotel offers with free transport and Busch Gardens offers “pay once and come all year” tickets. These tickets are included in the program. They allow participants to visit the park as often as they like.
Other Learning and Edu-tainment Experiences.
- The program includes visits to the world-class Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa Bay Aquarium (with the Dolphin Boat Tour). The Mosi (Museum of Science and Industry) and Imax Dome. Participants may choose discussions about ways to teach children science and math and ways that such programs might be of use to their home nation. (www.plantmuseum.com/)
Historic buildings and museums in Tampa
- A History of Tampa Bay tour visits two museums and explains how Tampa Bay developed and became the most multi-national, multi-cultural metropolis in Florida. After the tour, there will be a discussion of ways to communicate history and heritage, and how this can be integrated with tourism.
- Different picnic events take advantage of Tampa Bay’s wonderful weather. These include Lettuce Lake Park and some of the Best Beaches in the USA (Fort DeSoto and Honeymoon Island). These tours introduce participants to the ecology of Florida, and the beauty of the region. They also show ways to make local environments user-friendly to those who live locally, and how to attract tourism revenue.
- The Manatee Tour is only available in winter months. This introduces participants to the strange animals that exist only in Florida. The Manatee Tour can be paired with the Outlet Mall Tour. This will probably be near the end of the program, when participants are interested in gifts for family and friends at home.
- The American Sporting World. Participants attend an ice hockey, baseball or American football game, for an American cultural experience. The game chosen depends on the season.
International Connections
- Networking with the world. The Tampa Bay International Business Council (TBIBC) includes Chambers of Commerce from Brazil, Britain, the Caribbean, China, France, India, South Korea, the Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Scandinavia, and many counties in Central and South America. Participants can choose to meet the international community at TBIBC events.
- Dinner with fellow-warriors: The Coalition who has worked with the National Transitional Council is largely based out of MacDill in Tampa Bay. They have a close relationship with TBIBC. Celebrate freedom together.
- Meet the IBB. Speed-network with the students of the International Business Board. This activity teaches participants to meet new people and to introduce themselves. Many IBB members are international students, and benefit from this activity too.
Schedule (this is for Libya but varies by group needs)
Monday: Program (ESL, technology, culture and conversational English)
Tuesday: Program (ESL, technology, culture and conversational English)
Wednesday: Business or Entertainment Outings.
Thursday: Program (ESL, technology, culture and conversational English)
Friday: Short Program. Mosque transport available. Shopping, Busch Gardens and other transport available.
Saturday: Short Program.
Sunday: Day off. Some Entertainment Outings.
Summary
This program equips participants with a range of international communication skills, from English to cultural fluency, to help them with their careers on their return home, or to prepare them for successful further training.
It ensures that they experience life in an American city, and enjoy many new and enriching experiences.
This is a “soft landing” program. It is designed to build learning, and to provide the recreation and refreshment of a vacation.
CPS works closely with participants and with our nation-of-origin advisers to cushion participants from being away from home and their culture. It provides on-going support and help throughout the time that they are in our care.
CPS, the Tampa Bay International Business Council and the Tampa Bay Community will be honored to welcome those who have fought so bravely for their country. We look forward to building strong ties with our international students and their nations.
