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Advancing BC Study Abroad
Despite widespread evidence as to the personal, academic and societal benefits of students completing study abroad programs, and the numerous studies detailing substantial advantages for Canadians to engage in short-term international studies, participation rates fail to reflect an enthusiastic appreciation of these advantages. A World of Learning (CBIE 2012) notes that Canada continues to struggle to capture student interest in studying abroad, and outbound numbers have remained low. Canada’s low study abroad participation rates impact our economic development, international trade opportunities, and access to overseas markets as well as affecting students’ ability to fully engage in multicultural settings here at home.
BC’s International Education Strategy (2012) is committed to increasing opportunities for students, faculty and staff by enhancing scholarships, bursaries and employment incentives for students who pursue study abroad. Institutions and increasingly schools and school districts are engaging in their own study abroad activities in varying degrees. Recently however the BC Study Abroad Consortium (BCSA) www.bcstudyabroad.ca was updated and re-launched to increase coordination, access and information on post-secondary study abroad opportunities and benefits.
Please join us for this initial roundtable discussion on Study Abroad in BC. We envisage this roundtable as being the first in a series of discussions concerning outbound student mobility. At this event, participants will have the opportunity to hear what others have been doing to advance study abroad at their schools as well as participate in important dialogue on:
- What is working well?
- Where are the opportunities in BC with regards to outbound student mobility?
- What are the challenges?
- How have, or can these, be overcome?
Attendees will come away from this session with a better understanding of:
- The opportunities and challenges that the study abroad sector faces in BC
- The support networks in the province to assist in study abroad
- The BC Study Abroad Consortium and how to better be involved
- Government initiatives and support for BC students studying abroad
- Different models used to establish short-term study abroad programs.
This is a non-paid BCCIE event open to BC public school districts, recognized independent K-12 schools and EQA designated post-secondary institutions and languages schools.
To attend this event please register specifying your name, position and email address to BCCIE Events at events@bccie.bc.ca by January 27th, 2014.
For more information please contact BCCIE at events@bccie.bc.ca.