UNBC get an opportunity to learn abroad

Mar 2, 2022 | 2:38 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Any one of these students could be heading abroad to further their education with a new program at UNBC called Travelling Knowledges. With financial support ranging from a thousand dollars to 10-thousand dollars, up to 62 students will be able to take part in international field schools or other travel for course credit all over the world.

“We’re partnering with a bunch of colleagues that UNBC researchers have across the world and we’re providing students with opportunities to travel, experience an internship, maybe experience an immersion in another country and another language.,” explains Dr. Agnieszka Pawlowska-Mainville, First Nations Studies Associate Professor who also serves as a member of the Travelling Knowledges project committee. “Anything from a three-week course to a one-year-long stay with funding for UNBC credit.”

There is also funding available for what are called virtual mobility classes which opens up a unique opportunity for these students.

“We’re convening an international school right here,” explains Dr. Jacqueline Holler, Chair of the Global and International Studies. “So we’re going to have a global governance course this summer. And students will be able to learn here at UNBC but, virtually, we will be bringing in all forms of global governments from all around the world.”

Dr. Holler says, for the obvious reasons, there haven’t had field schools in some time. But that’s changing.

“So we’re anticipating that UNBC’s field schools will start next year,” says Dr. Holler. “Under this program, we’re looking at organizing field schools in the coming five years. And those will be to places we haven’t gone before as UNBC. So, for example, we have partners in South Africa, we have partners in Poland, in Norway, New Zealand and India.”

Deadlines for Applications:

* For travel between May and August : April 4

* For travel between September and December: June 15

* For travel between January and April: October 15

There is half a million dollars available for the program to be used between now and 2026 and it is primarily, though now entirely, targetting a certain demographic.

“A lot of the funding is targeted towards students who don’t get an opportunity to travel, says Dr. Pawlowska-Mainville. “So that tends to be students who are of Indigenous descent, students who are low-income, students who have disabilities.”

If you are interested in the programs, there is an open house on Friday, March 11 from 1:30 – 3:00 in the Bentley Centre.