CREDIT: Fanshawe College
Nearly half of a million dollars has been granted to the school for support in studying abroad.
As part of a pilot program, Fanshawe has received $464,500 in grant funding through Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan). The grant will help encourage students to take part in the Go Abroad program for their studies.
After the college was approved in September, the grant will aid students with help for additional opportunities and financial assistance.
The grant funding will continue for students seeking an international studying experience until the 2025 winter semester.
Caitlin Smith is the International Projects and Exchange Coordinator at Fanshawe College, with excitement for this opportunity for students.
“Yeah, we’re thrilled. Obviously not only at the grant but just at the recognition of the importance and the value of international learning from the Canadian government. Because this grant is just one piece, this Global Skills Opportunity Program is just one piece of Canada’s five-year international education strategy.”
With financial barriers, the grant can assist in eliminating those struggles. A common obstacle many students face with wanting to go abroad.
“For study abroad opportunities, or international opportunities, those can be number of different experiences. Things like a semester exchange, doing a co-op abroad or maybe doing a faculty-led trip where a group of students travelling with a faculty member, for like a shorter learning experience, usually they would be volunteering in that location or doing some sort of project with a local agency.”
CREDIT: Roberto Figueroa
A key element of studying abroad Smith shares includes the outcomes students achieve involve crucial skill development.
“Things like being comfortable with the unfamiliar and problems and solving critical thinking, cross-cultural communication strategies and being able to work with really diverse groups and diverse clients. The list goes on and on, and all of these skills and experiences that students have also helped the Canadian economy because each graduate that’s returning and has now a greater global outlook,” shares Smith. “Maybe ties to different parts of the world, different networks have been developed, that contributes down the road, right when you’ve got someone who maybe studied in Brazil for a semester and after graduation five years later, is working with Brazilian clients that’s boosting the Canadian economy and globalizing our own ties.”
In crafting skills abroad, the Global Skills Opportunities grant will quickly allow more students to participate.
The funding is open to all Canadian and permanent resident students. Additionally, there is special funding set aside for students with traditional barriers in front of them to participate in study abroad opportunities.
“Those include students who maybe are considered low-income, Indigenous, or students with disabilities. So there’s even kind of an extra boost for those from those target groups.”
With the Canadian government and Fanshawe advocating for the benefit of these programs, every student has the opportunity to go abroad.
“You can do a short-term three, four or five-week program in the summer, get elective credits and be really immersed abroad, and that host culture. One of our partner institutions, or maybe you’re in a co-op program. We’ve had students do their co-op or their placements all over the world. China, Germany, Costa Rica, South Africa, the sky’s the limit.”
Base requirements to study abroad include a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no academic transgressions as a full-time student.
Smith encourages students curious can find more information about the program online.
“I would say look into it because it’s life-changing and it’s career impacting and it’s such a good opportunity for everyone.”
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