High school students in Panama find “adventure” through Accelerate ASU

Panama’s Instituto Alberto Einstein (IAE) is a trilingual Jewish school, with Spanish-speaking students learning both English and Hebrew. 

Educators at the International Baccalaureate school began offering college courses in 2017, hoping the high-level classes in English could boost students’ language comprehension and fluency while offering an academic challenge.

Over time, the goals of the college-in-high school program evolved. Emma Ducreux, who became coordinator of the school’s University Credit and Partnerships Program in 2023, wanted to find a way to help students explore future career paths. 

“We were daydreaming about what our department could do to make sure that our students found an individualized path based on their interests,” said Ducreux. 

After researching solutions, Ducreux found a potential fit in Accelerate ASU, a university-based dual enrollment program that partners with high schools to deliver affordable college courses and reduce the operational burden of implementation. 

Some time later, IAE school director Alec Jiggins independently brought up the idea of Accelerate ASU to Ducreux. 

To her, the timing felt serendipitous.

“It was just what we needed,” she said. “It felt like the universe wanted this to happen. We were looking for a path that allowed for self-exploration, but also allowed students to earn credits through a school that the parents knew and trusted.”

A personalized match based on student interests  

After speaking with Accelerate ASU’s partnership manager Michael Cacciatore, Ducreux felt confident that the program could support her students’ needs.

“In around a couple of months, we set up that partnership — it was really fast,” says Ducreux. “I didn’t have to convince anyone on my team because it just fit perfectly.”

IAE’s University Credit and Partnerships Program is a complementary, rigorous initiative for students seeking academic enrichment and the chance to build college-readiness skills. 

Ducreux hoped to give students a glimpse into an American university experience, as many of their parents attended universities abroad, and broaden their thinking about future careers available to them.

While the students in her program tend to be high achievers, Ducreux is pushing them to ask bigger questions about their dreams and identities beyond earning top grades.

“It’s about you as a person: who you are beyond the ‘A plus?’” says Ducreux. “Who are you outside of school, what leadership do you do in your communities?”

During the first year of the partnership, nearly half of the students in Ducreux’s program enrolled in ASU’s Universal Learner Courses (ULCs) to deepen their studies and explore potential career paths. Through ULCs, students gain access to over 70+ courses taught by ASU faculty in a variety of subjects. Courses are self-paced and low-risk, with students only adding a course to their transcript if they’re satisfied with their final grade.

Ducreux’s students have enrolled in a variety of courses and certificate programs based on their unique interests, including Advanced Excel in Business, College Mathematics, Project Management Fundamentals, Health and Wellness, English Composition and Psychology. 

Finding a career path — and a voice

Once students began taking courses through Accelerate ASU, Ducreux was able to support them in developing college-ready skills. She gives the example of coaching students to communicate with their professors about Jewish holiday observances.

“These are the things that I want to create as an environment,” she says. “I want them to know that they have a voice. They have the responsibility to fulfill what they need to do, but they also are owners of their path.”

As a facilitator, Ducreux has appreciated the amenities that come with the Accelerate ASU program, including specialized tutoring for students and the ability to monitor students’ progress in real time.

The wide range of classes offered have enabled students to explore specific career paths while learning from the experiences of others in their classroom community. 

One student who plans to be a doctor in Panama began taking Accelerate ASU’s Anatomy and Physiology ULC to build background knowledge in medicine. She was so enthusiastic about the course that she inspired a classmate to consider a medical career.

“Because of her, another student realized she also wanted to be a doctor,” says Ducreux. “She wanted to do it not just because of the credits. It’s about the knowledge that they’re getting. It’s a way of validating the path that they’re thinking about.”

Helping future leaders grow

Thinking long-term, Ducreux believes that supporting students in their career exploration can help them grow into community leaders. 

“We need them to be the leaders that we need now. I want to see them as the tools that we need for this country to have a better future for our generations. And I know that they can do that,” said Ducreux. 

“I always tell them, ‘You can absolutely create a profile that is right for you. You don’t have to just choose one thing or just the other thing.’ That’s why I love Accelerate ASU, because you need to have this adventure.”

Instituto Alberto Einstein is one of Accelerate ASU’s 550+ past and current partners from around the world. 

Audrey Moreno, senior director of Accelerate ASU, says ASU’s partnership with Instituto Alberto Einstein exemplifies what the program is all about. 

“One of the most powerful things about dual enrollment is seeing students realize what’s possible for themselves,” said Moreno. “When students are given the freedom to explore new subjects, discover potential career paths, and engage with college-level learning, they gain more than credits — they gain confidence, direction and a stronger sense of purpose. It’s exciting to see that happening for students at Instituto Alberto Einstein.”

To learn more about dual-enrollment opportunities for your students or child, visit accelerate.asu.edu.