Vancouver, BC — The BC Council for International Education and the University of Auckland announce a new mobility partnership that aims to provide reciprocal, short-term learning abroad and professional development and networking opportunities for Indigenous students from British Columbia and New Zealand.

In partnership with the University of Victoria (UVic) and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), the two-year British Columbia & New Zealand Indigenous Student Mobility Project will send five Indigenous students to travel to Auckland to participate in the 2019 program.

These five students will join five Māori students from the University of Auckland and AUT in attending the Global Internship Conference (GIC), and the Native American & Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) Conference, as well as participating in a facilitated Indigenous leadership development program.

In 2020, UVic will select five Indigenous students and host five Māori students from New Zealand to attend the GIC in Vancouver, which will include an Indigenous leadership development program to be delivered in Victoria prior to the GIC.

Quotes:

Randall Martin, Executive Director, BC Council for International Education

“We are honoured to be partnering with the University of Auckland to provide students with an opportunity to establish and maintain relationships with other Indigenous students, communities, and international educators as well as promote capacity building for their increased involvement in leadership and programs to support their future.”

Brett Berquist, Director International, University of Auckland

"Increasing access to international learning opportunities for our Maori and Pacific Islander students is an important goal for the University of Auckland. We’ve made some progress as evidenced by the Excellence Award from the Diversity Abroad Network for our outreach efforts. Community and family are key to this strategy He Waka Eke Noa and the chance to share and learn from First Nations students and academics at the University of Victoria is a great opportunity for our students. We’re grateful for BCCIE’s support and assistance to facilitate this initiative."