Post-secondary students will soon have more opportunities to study abroad thanks to a new network launched by Douglas College in collaboration with eight other colleges and institutes across Western Canada.
Established with the support of the Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund, the Western Canada Mobility Network (WCMN) offers field schools, semester exchanges and hybrid opportunities to lower systemic barriers for students who cannot study abroad due to lack of funding or opportunities from their school.
“Providing accessible opportunities for young people to study abroad is a great way to keep new generations of students engaged in their own future and the future of Canada,” said Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. “New skill development, intercultural competencies and global connections – the benefits to students are endless.”
Students at any of the nine member institutions part of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) – Douglas College, Aurora College, College of the Rockies, Justice Institute of British Columbia, Coast Mountain College, North Island College, Northern Lights College, Selkirk College and Vancouver Community College – can apply for WCMN programs offered through the partner institutions and receive full academic credit.
“Our collaborative approach makes opportunities to study abroad possible for students at colleges that are too small to fill travel study programs,” said Pari Johnston, President and CEO of CICan. “WCMN ensures that colleges and institutes across Western Canada will be better equipped to deliver safe, enriching and accessible opportunities for their students.”
The first WCMN program, the Climate Action Mexico Field School, will run this summer through Douglas College and its partner school, Universidad Iberoamericana, in Mexico.
“As the largest College in BC, our robust international network can help make international educational experiences more accessible,” said Leonel Roldan-Flores, Associate Vice President, International Education at Douglas College. “During a time when sustainable land and water use is more important than ever, this upcoming field school to Mexico will provide students in the network with hands-on experience focused on climate justice, ecological preservation and Indigenous-led learning that they may not otherwise have access to.”
Douglas College is the largest degree-granting college in B.C., combining the academic foundations of a university and the employer-ready skills of a college to graduate resilient global citizens who adapt, innovate and lead in a changing world.
For more information, visit douglascollege.ca
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Contact
Aline Bouwman
Communications Officer
bouwmana@douglascollege.ca