Shaping the Future of Global Career and Education Abroad Integration

In an evolving global job market, students need more than academic credentials—they need career-aligned experiences that build competencies and connections across borders.
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The Global Career Development Council (GCDC) is collaborating with The Forum on Education Abroad to develop a cohesive framework that empowers students to achieve career success, enhances institutional capacity, and responds to workforce needs worldwide.

About the GCDC

Mission

To advance global excellence in career development by providing institutions and employers with innovative collaboration models, technology, research, and professional development solutions that empower students and industry to thrive in a dynamic global workforce.

Vision

To become the world’s leading community in global career development solutions, where career development and education abroad intersect, and equip institutions and employers to prepare globally competent, workforce-ready graduates.

Core Values

• Student-Centered Impact: Elevating student outcomes through career readiness and holistic development.
• Global Employer Collaboration: Building bridges between institutions and employers worldwide.
• Innovation through Technology: Leveraging emerging tools to improve career development delivery and data-informed decision making.
• Integrity and Excellence: Maintaining the highest level of accountability to support positive career outcomes data, research, and professional practice.
• Equity and Access: Ensuring that all students and institutions have access to high-quality global career development opportunities.

Founders

Mario Vela is a visionary career development leader and founding member of the Global Career Development Council (GCDC), powered by The Forum on Education Abroad. He serves on the board of The Forum and is the co-founder and president of the HSI Career Collaborative. As Assistant Vice Provost for Career-Engaged Learning at UTSA, Mario brings over 15 years of experience bridging higher education, employer engagement, and global learning. His work focuses on advancing social mobility by aligning career development with global career readiness and expanding opportunities for students worldwide.

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Dr. Andres Jaime is a seasoned career development and experiential learning scholar-practioner and a founding member of the Global Career Development Council (CGDC) powered by The Forum on Education Abroad. He serves as Director of Public Health Practice at the UT School of Public Health San Antonio specializing in applied practice, cultural capital, community engagement, and student success frameworks. With over 20 years of experience, Andres has guided career and workforce development initiatives across public, private, and international higher education networks and built innovative partnerships with local, regional, and global employers across sectors to expand student access and career readiness. ​

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About the Partnership

GCDC and The Forum are proud to announce a strategic partnership aimed at integrating global career development with education abroad. This future-forward alliance is driven by a shared commitment to enhancing student academic and career outcomes. Together, we aim to embed global career readiness into education abroad experiences through a collaborative working framework, digital tools, research, and professional development solutions.

Purpose and Goals

This strategic partnership between GCDC and The Forum serves to:

• Establish a framework to align global career development best practices with education abroad standards and benchmarks.[AD1] [SK2]
• Articulate global career outcomes and employability competencies gained through career development and education abroad experiences.
• Foster collaborative global employer networks to bridge higher education and the workforce.
• Launch joint events to promote thought leadership, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
• Strengthen institutional capacity via events, professional development, consulting, and technology-based tools.

Opportunities to Get Involved: Global Career Development Council Think Tank

To celebrate the launch of this partnership, GCDC and The Forum will hold the Global Career Development Council Think Tank at Universidad LCI Veritas in San José, Costa Rica, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 (immediately following The Forum’s CIGL Conference).

This invitation-only gathering will convene hand-selected career development leaders, education abroad professionals, EdTech leaders, and global employers in a conversation about futuring and visioning for a framework for student success and a global workforce.
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Space is limited. Complete the interest form to let us know you’d like to be considered for this and future opportunities related to GCDC and our growing global career development community.