Stories to Inspire

Last Friday, a group of exchange students convened with future study abroad participants online to share their experiences of global adventure. This "Stories from Overseas" event, part of a Summer Pre-departure series, offered invaluable firsthand accounts from six recently returned students who had studied in Japan, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Colombia.

Outbound students (heading to Scotland, the Bahamas, and France) along with other Saint Mary's University students curious about international study heard insights from those who had already navigated the challenges and triumphs of living and learning abroad. Rita, Johnny, and Miyuki from the Global Learning Office facilitated this session, which was designed to foster an open dialogue to allow returnees to delve into their unique experiences.

This session allowed for an insightful exchange of information, providing future study abroad students with practical advice and a realistic preview of what to expect. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the returnees, asking questions and sharing their own takeaways from the experience of venturing abroad as part of their degree program as SMU. By connecting past, present, and future global learners, the Global Learning Office continues to foster a supportive community for those embarking on international academic journeys.

Pre-Departure Sessions Prepare Exchange Students for Success

"To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail," goes a quote often (perhaps apocryphally) attributed to Benjamin Franklin that encapsulates the spirit of the pre-departure workshop hosted this week by The Global Learning Office. The session focused on risk management for students participating in international travel and study abroad experiences, underscoring the importance of proactive preparation, not just in anticipating tangible risks, but also in developing the intellectual and emotional resilience necessary for navigating unfamiliar environments and unexpected challenges.

The first part of the workshop focused on an approach that explored how a lack of personal reflection and self-awareness hinders personal growth and rewarding international sojourns. The discussion highlighted how embracing discomfort, fostering critical thinking, and bridging diverse perspectives are essential for resilience, independence, and effective cross-cultural engagement, all vital qualities for a successful study abroad experience.

Later in the session, participants focused on elements of risk management aimed at mitigating harm, loss of property, and legal issues. Various categories of risk associated with international travel were discussed, including security, personal, health, political, environmental, and legal concerns. The session emphasized proactive measures like thorough research, planning for contingencies, and practicing self-advocacy. The Ethical Decision-Making Model and the Study Abroad Code of Conduct were introduced as frameworks to guide students in making responsible choices abroad, with a real-world example illustrating the serious consequences of poor decisions.

Participants in the workshop explore elements of critical thinking

Celebrating the Success of the Global Skills Opportunity Program

Although it was organized to mark the end of the program, this week’s Global Learning Opportunities (GSO) Celebration was just that: a celebration of the tremendous success of a groundbreaking international student mobility and intercultural initiative at Saint Mary’s University. 

In 2021 and 2022, the Studio’s Office of Global Learning and Intercultural Support was awarded GSO funding totaling just over $875,000 to support student mobility and innovative practices under the Federal Government’s five-year International Education Strategy (2019-2024). The successful funding application, led by Miyuki Arai, proposed responding to the pervasive gap in international mobility opportunities for all Canadian undergraduate students but especially Indigenous students, low-income students, and students with disabilities. “It’s always wonderful to see our students take their studies to all corners of the world, but tonight I’m reminded that over the past four years we’ve been able to support many students for whom international exchanges would otherwise have been out of reach,” said Miyuki. Indeed, more than 70% of the grant funding directly supported students from these backgrounds who traveled to some of Saint Mary’s 130+ partner universities around the globe and beyond. 

The GSO Celebration included a Student Expo featuring a dozen interactive presentations hosted by students who benefitted from GSO funding. Many of the visitors from the university community in attendance were students considering future study abroad options, so they had the chance to speak directly with peers and hear about study programs in South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Complementing the student presentations, representatives from Saint Mary’s Career & Experiential Learning Office were in attendance to describe how students can use what they learn on international learning programs to open new doors upon their return to Canada. And finally, Dr Cathy Conrad and Prof Greg Baker (still feeling the effects of jet lag after a long journey home from West Africa) brought the evening to a close with a lively presentation describing their latest highly successful field school in The Gambia, supported in part by GSO funding. 

The GSO projects could not have been possible without the support of a dedicated team of GSO ambassadors. They facilitated many activities and workshops to provide wraparound supports for GSO awardees in all stages of international learning. They themselves were on their own intercultural learning journeys through their involvement in GSO and cultivated much needed skills and competencies in the area of leadership, cross-cultural communication, teamwork, problem solving, empathy and more. 

The journey from writing the grant proposal to celebrating the life-changing opportunities it brought to so many Saint Mary’s students was a long one, and the challenges of administering this program were formidable. For this reason, the roaring applause in appreciation for the vision and dedication of Miyuki Arai were well deserved! 

To learn more about the GSO program and its legacy at SMU, please visit our website. 

This Project was funded by the Government of Canada through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

Photo Highlights: GSO Celebration

SMU Hosts Government of France Delegation

Avenues for innovative academic and scientific collaboration between Canada and France were on the agenda of a meeting held at Saint Mary’s on Friday, November 29, where new and ongoing research and mobility initiatives between France and Canada were discussed.

The visiting delegation included Jean-François Doulet (Attaché for Scientific and Academic Cooperation), Denis Quenelle (Attaché for Cooperation and Culture in the Atlantic Provinces), and Maureen Berthelot (Chargée de mission, Embassy of France in Canada). The group was received by several Saint Mary’s Deans and department heads led by Dr Jean-Jacques Defert and Dr Sophie Beaulé of the Department of Languages and Cultures.

Maureen Berthelot (left), Jean-François Doulet (centre), and Denis Quenelle (right)