Kirkwood Community College

Since its opening in 1966, Kirkwood Community College has set a standard for lifelong learning that has been a model for all that a community college can do for a community and a state. With over 140 majors and programs that provide preparation for a wide range of technical and professional careers, along with continuing education classes in a wide range of arts and sciences and technology, Kirkwood can fulfill nearly any educational or learning need. Indeed, the College is well known for inviting and supporting students from all walks of life, including non-traditional older adult students. It’s 50+ year alliance with and support of Heritage Area Agency on Aging is proof of its recognition that learning is a lifelong process and can empower individuals at any age.
 
Kirkwood has also helped to establish Iowa as part of the global community of lifelong learning with international agreements in place or pending with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions across the globe.

Additionally, Kirkwood is a board member college for the organization--Community Colleges for International Development (CCID), which is an international consortium of community colleges interested in international development opportunities for its member colleges.Not stopping there, Kirkwood became one of four membersof Global Education Network, a unique international consortium of technical colleges in Singapore, Australia, Canada, and the United States that plans student and faculty exchange activities and looks for opportunities to benefit from each other's expertise and international outlooks.

Kirkwood has long recognized the importance of global learning and new cultural experiences and offers those opportunities to students and faculty alike. The college has over 160 students who study abroad every year and provides scholarships to students for international study. For students who want the cultural experience without travel, Kirkwood has developed the Virtual Exchange. The college partners with international faculty to put students from different cultures in communication with one another in a virtual environment, often working on a common project.   

Kirkwood welcomes hundreds of international students each year, offering new cultural experiences for these visiting students and giving Iowa families opportunity to host and mentor these visiting students.  

Finally, Kirkwood recognizes that lifelong learning has a place in strengthening the Iowa economy. The college not only provides opportunities for individuals locally and globally, but also addresses educational needs of the work world with customizable corporate training designed to help businesses learn to develop leaders from within as well as increase skill mastery among employees.