News & Events
International Job Shadowing Experience Pilot Program
News Release
Oct. 9, 2018
International Job Shadowing Experience Pilot Program Enhancement Successful with Syngenta
Job shadowing has been around for many years, but adding an international component is a new twist on an tried and true way to learn. The new addition to the IFYE Association of the USA, Inc. (formerly International Farm Youth Exchange) program adds the opportunity not only to live with a host family, but to job shadow professionally with a member of the family as well.
A pilot program implemented by global agri-business leader Syngenta recently ended a successful exchange with Lisa Schmid, an IFYE from Germany. She lived and job shadowed three Syngenta professionals who work at the company’s Minnetonka, Minn., location.
“I was able to learn about other aspects of agriculture while with my Syngenta hosts. It was an amazing adventure that I’ll always remember,” said Schmid.
“I hoped to pilot the program in a way that we can replicate, so we can start thinking differently about introducing Syngenta opportunities to youth earlier—before they make major career-related decisions,” said Jenny Heaton, Head of People and Organization Development, North America & Global Seeds for Syngenta.
The next step for Syngenta and IFYE is to implement the opportunity for U.S. IFYEs to job shadow in other countries where Syngenta has major operations. “We look forward to growing this relationship and working with Syngenta to offer our participants new experiences that continue to add value to the exchange program,” said Ken Gordon, Executive Director, IFYE. People interested in learning more can visit www.ifyeusa.org.
About Syngenta
Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.
About IFYE
Founded in 1948, the IFYE Association of the USA, Inc. provides cultural exchange programming that places participants with multiple host families during a three- or six-month period in one or more of 15-plus countries. IFYE representatives experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain an understanding of the culture and lifestyle from those they live with while in the program. IFYE exchanges are conducted in collaboration with country coordinators and programs are facilitated and supported by the IFYE Association of the USA, Inc. The IFYE vision of “Peace through Understanding” continues to touch the lives of people around the world.
