$25,000 award to fund ten student Global Learning Ambassadors as part of Intercultural Learning for Students by Students project

Saint Mary’s mandate to foster intercultural education got an important boost this month with the news that a grant application submitted through the Office of Global Learning and Intercultural Support had been successful, paving the way for the University to hire ten student Global Learning Ambassadors.

As part of Canada’s International Education Strategy 2019-2024, Universities Canada launched the Innovation Fund as part of Canada’s new Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program, which includes provisions to fund innovative outbound student mobility projects across the country.

“Our successful application included a proposal to launch Intercultural Learning for Students by Students, a peer-support project designed to help students develop intercultural competencies while they research access to international opportunities,” says Miyuki Arai, the Director of Global Learning and Intercultural Support. “The $25,000 award attached to the Innovation Fund will be used to hire ten students as part-time Global Learning Ambassadors, so we see this as an exciting investment in interculturalism and student mobility for our whole university community,” she adds.

Saint Mary’s new Global Learning Ambassadors will participate in knowledge creation and sharing, community outreach, and intercultural relationship-building initiatives guided by the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on enhancing the accessibility of international opportunities for students from historically marginalized groups. Stakeholders include students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local organizations that tackle a range of systemic social and environmental issues.

A second Universities Canada funding application, submitted by a consortium of universities in Atlantic Canada including Saint Mary’s, was also successful. The $40,000 project “Increasing International Student Mobility in Atlantic Canada: Reducing Barriers and Enhancing Capacity to Deliver Programs” will be led by UNB.

“While the pandemic has interrupted study abroad opportunities all over the world this year, it feels like the news of this award is a harbinger of the wonderful intercultural learning opportunities that lie ahead for our students,” says Ms. Arai.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program.

Calling all aspiring global citizens!

The Global Learning and Intercultural Support Office is hiring ten Saint Mary’s students to work part-time as the Global Learning Ambassadors. The position is suited for those who are interested in researching international learning opportunities and enhancing accessibility, while gaining valuable skills and knowledge through mentorship and training on intercultural issues and Sustainable Development Goals. We want to form a diverse team and welcome applications from students with disabilities, indigenous students, low-income students and students of any race, nationality, sexual orientation and gender identity. For details, please visit  Career360 and search “5818 - Global Learning and Intercultural Support Ambassador”. Applications are due at 11:59pm on Thursday December 17. Inquiries can be directed to Miyuki.arai@smu.ca.”