This summer, Algoma University students participated in transformative international learning experiences, building their global perspectives, professional skills, and cultural understanding through programs in Belgium, Fiji, Germany, and South Korea.
Four Algoma University students embarked on a month-long internship in the rural villages of Fiji through the Think Pacific program. This experience allowed them to immerse themselves in local communities, mental health, sports development, youth empowerment, and community-building initiatives, further enhancing the employability of Algoma U students by providing them with hands-on international learning.
Similarly, another group of four students, accompanied by Arts and Humanities assistant professor Deb Woodman, travelled to Vechta, Germany, to participate in a week-long course titled ‘Cultural and Social Well-Being, Identity and Participation’. This intensive program, hosted by the University of Vechta, offered students the opportunity to engage with peers from various countries and learn about the diverse social pedagogy traditions and the role of arts education in Europe.
Additionally, an Algoma University student studying Accelerated Online Bachelor of Computer Science participated in the 2024 Kyungpook National University (KNU) Summer School program in Daegu, South Korea. From August 5 to 16, the student experienced an enriching program that provided Korean language classes and unique cultural experiences, such as exploring the industrial core of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, visiting the Daegu National Art Museum, staying at a temple, and experiencing Buddhist culture.
Algoma University’s International Affairs Office collaborates closely with KNU to encourage participation in enriching student experiences, including exchange programs and international summer camps, which foster global connections and learning.
Likewise, an Algoma University student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology completed a three-month internship in Belgium from May to July 2024. Working alongside a cancer research specialist at KU Leuven in Geel, Belgium, the student gained hands-on experience and academic credit through Algoma University’s Biology Internship course. Supported by the Global Learning Leadership Skills Development Program (GLLSDP) and the GSO grant, this internship offered a deepened expertise in cancer research and an enhanced global learning experience. Algoma University’s longstanding partnership with KU Leuven and Thomas More University in Belgium has made this internship an annual opportunity for students since 2022.
These international experiences underscore Algoma University’s commitment to providing its students opportunities to expand their horizons and develop skills that will serve them in their future careers.
This experience was made possible through Global Skills Opportunity (GSO), the Government of Canada’s national outbound student mobility pilot program, which aims to empower post-secondary institutions to increase the participation of Canadians in international learning opportunities. The program has a focus on students with disabilities, Indigenous students and those from low socio-economic backgrounds who have traditionally faced barriers to participation in similar programs. GSO is an integral component of the Government of Canada’s International Education Strategy, and is administered jointly by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada.
For testimonials from the international summer experience participants, please read more here.
For more information about International Learning, please visit the Algoma University website.
For more information about Global Skills Opportunity, please visit the GSO website.
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