Opening doors to international learning experiences

Camosun will use the funding provided by Colleges and Institutes Canada through the Global Skills Opportunity to reach groups, including Indigenous and low-income students, who may otherwise face barriers to an overseas learning experience.

“Study and work abroad programs provide students with invaluable learning experiences, especially in an increasingly globalized world,” says Sherri Bell, President of Camosun. “Camosun will leverage the funding from Global Skills Opportunity to provide more students with transformational experience abroad that can help shape the way they live and work.”

The program at Camosun will launch on April 1, 2022 and wrap up on March 31, 2025. During this time, participating students will be able to travel during the academic calendar as long as their application has been approved.

The grants are expected to support the on-the-land component of the new Ways in Indigenous Leadership and Learning certificate that is being developed in collaboration between Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen, the Centre for Indigenous Education and Community Connections at Camosun and Ara Institute in New Zealand.

“Enabling students to engage in on-the-land learning, here and in Aotearoa (New Zealand), will open doors -- and hearts and minds -- for the students in this exciting program. That will support them to do the same for those they lead in the future,” says Janice Simcoe, Director of Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen. “I look forward to hearing inspirational stories from the students, especially once they are in the workplace and making positive change in the world.

The expectation is that up to 100 students in total will be able to participate, including approximately 50 Indigenous students. Previously, other partner institutions have been located in Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, South Korean, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Spain or Sweden.

Projects that involve travel aboard will prioritize student safety, and ensure wraparound supports and security measures are in place to support students while overseas. Travel overseas will only be permitted in alignment with travel advisories from the government of Canada.

The project is funded by Global Skills Opportunity, the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program. Learn more about the program at: globalskillsopportunity.ca.

Camosun, located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, with campuses on the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, is one of the largest colleges in the province. Established in 1971, Camosun now celebrates 50 years of delivering innovative, life-changing academic and applied programs.