Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner announced a consulting agreement between the Virginia Foundation for Community Colleges Education (VFCCE) and the India-based Wadhwani Foundation (WF) to promote skills-based education in  India. The document was signed by Dr. Ajay Kela, President and CEO of Wadhwani Foundation, and Dr. Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of Virginia’s Community College System.

As part of the agreement, the VFCCE and the WF will identify high-impact skill development programs in India that need support, and further partnerships will be forged with government or private initiatives to meet local needs. Virginia community college experts will serve as consultants, sharing best practices, and the Wadhwani Foundation will provide local support and funding for this capacity building.

“Virginia’s two-year community colleges play a vital and unique role in our workforce training efforts,” said Sen. Warner, who is one of eight former Virginia governors to sit on the Honorary Board of Directors of VFCCE. “This agreement will allow Virginia’s Community Colleges to share their expertise and best practices materials as we work with the Wadhwani Foundation to help expand basic skills-based training as India’s middle class explodes in size.”