(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – October 4, 2022: Following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students at Algoma University are finally able to return to study abroad. This fall, three Algoma University students departed to partner universities in the United Kingdom and Austria. Students earn credits towards their degrees while attending a partner university for one or two terms.
Student mobility is a foundational pillar of Algoma University’s Internationalization Strategy, as students who study abroad gain invaluable skills, networks, and intercultural competencies. Study abroad is often a transformational experience, as students learn to communicate across different languages and cultures, tolerate ambiguity, and build self-confidence as they navigate new environments. Students at Algoma University may study in more than 15 different countries, including Belgium, Finland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland.
“I’ve seen first hand the transformational impact study abroad has on student’s lives,” shared Dawn White, Director, Experiential Learning and International Affairs. “Study abroad is perhaps one of the best examples of experiential learning. Students must adjust to new cultures, build new friendships, and respond to unanticipated problems in creative ways. Over the course of one or two terms, students build self-confidence, maturity, and a global mindset – all skills which will serve them well in their future careers or graduate studies.”
“Being in the United Kingdom has been an amazing experience so far,” shared Asha Leahy, a second-year Algoma University Psychology student. “It has been wonderful to meet so many new people, both from Canterbury and around the world. I have made many friends in my program and hope to continue making more as I travel. It has been great living with other people from England who have been so welcoming and great at helping me learn about the cultural differences here.”
This year, students have received scholarships 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. Global Skills Opportunity 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 more information about Study Abroad, please visit the Algoma University website.
For more information about Global Skills Opportunity, please visit GSO website.
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