International Cotton Schools Ready for Summer Classes

From Cotton Grower Magazine – May 2015

 

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On May 27, school will be in session once again in the international cotton community.

On that date, the American Cotton Shippers Association is set to host the International Cotton Institute, bringing in the world’s best and brightest young leaders from the cotton industry. In August, organizers with the Texas Cotton Exchange are set to host their own world-renowned academy, the Texas International Cotton School. Both programs have a long history of churning out leadership for the global cotton industry.

The ACSA International Cotton Institute will host dozens of young cotton professionals from around the globe on campus at the University of Memphis. Over a stretch of eight weeks, the program will offer an in-depth look at the cotton industry from on-farm production to market analysis and downstream stops in cotton’s supply chain.

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Students at the International Cotton Institute routinely take trips onto nearby cotton farms to see first-hand how Americans farm, gin, store and transport cotton. They also learn about classing procedures, and the students – most of whom traditionally originate from overseas – leave with a new understanding of the culture of American cotton.

In the classroom, students at the International Cotton Institute are taught by guest faculty members comprised of knowledgeable cotton industry professionals who are themselves leaders in their respective fields.

While most students at the Institute come from foreign countries, many originate from American farms, gins and trade companies. Those wishing to learn more about the program are encouraged to visit the Institute’s webpage.

Later in the summer, students will flock to Lubbock, TX, from across the country and the world for the Texas International Cotton School. The 35th session of the program will take place August 3-13.

“The Texas International Cotton School is an internationally respected local resource offering two weeks of intensive classes, lectures, tours and hands-on interaction in all phases of production, harvesting, classing, testing, preparation and processing,” says Grady Martin, president of the Lubbock Cotton Exchange.

The school is sponsored and managed by the Lubbock Cotton Exchange and the Texas Cotton Association, in cooperation with the Texas Tech University Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute.

During the two week course, students are housed at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lubbock and commute to the Texas Tech University Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute for classes. Organizers say the Texas International Cotton School is uniquely structured to give students a strong understanding of the cotton industry in Texas and how it interacts with global cotton industry enterprises.

“Students will have the opportunity to learn from and interact with industry experts from around the country during class and outside of class at scheduled social events,” Martin says.

Since the school began in 1989, the Texas International Cotton School has served more than 500 students from 59 countries and 16 American states, according to Martin. In addition to the strong market background students receive, Martin says the program also offers important networking opportunities. As of mid-April, the 2015 class consisted of applicants from places as far-flung as Pakistan, India and Israel.

Those interested in enrolling can learn more about the Texas International Cotton School by visiting www.TexasIntlCottonSchool.com. There they’ll find information regarding meals, lodging, registration and curriculum, among other topics.

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