11 delegates from El Salvador will be coming to make professional connections in San Diego exploring the role of small business owners in driving economic development, democratization, and stabilization. Provide an overview of the U.S. tertiary education sector and the varying functions of universities, community colleges, distance learning and certificate programs, and vocational/technical schools in preparing young people to enter the marketplace. They will assess U.S. educational policy, advocacy, and programs, and how educational institutions in the U.S. contribute to the social and economic development of the country working along with the industry. They will also examine best practices for expanding international student exchange programs and developing institutional support. Furthermore, they will explore possible future collaborations/linkages with participants’ educational institutions and examine U.S. colleges’ best practices for career development centers experiences, curriculum design and applied research aligned with local industry and job creation.