Funding helps Durham College boost participation in international learning opportunities

Global Skills Opportunity grants over $38,000 to help eliminate work-study abroad barriers

Even more Durham College (DC) students will benefit from the invaluable opportunities to study abroad, thanks to $38,352 in funding from the Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund. The funds will be divided between two initiatives to support and enhance participation in international learning experiences.

The first half of the funding will help reduce financial barriers for low-income students, students with disabilities and Indigenous students, to help them access opportunities to gain international experience.

The second half of the funding will support DC’s Support and Sustain: International Work-Integrated Learning project by providing a multi-tier solution for work-study abroad offerings that increase peer participation and test innovative approaches to reduce barriers to study and work abroad opportunities. Student researchers will play a crucial role in developing research strategies, ensuring that the program development is grounded in the actual needs of students.

“The funding for this project will provide invaluable experience for our social service worker students,” said Lorraine Closs, social service worker program professor at DC. “International work-integrated learning experiences will create the link between classroom learning and practical application. Our students will gain exposure to diverse populations and this will foster both cultural sensitivity and competency that they can take with them as they enter the workforce.”

Over the past few years, travel disruption has impacted international study and also reinforced the importance of global connections inside and outside the classroom. Together, these initiatives position DC as a leading post-secondary institution that effectively reduces barriers to participation in international work-study programs.

“We are grateful to Global Skills Opportunity for their continued support of innovative international experiences for Canadian students,” says Janine Knight-Grofe, director, International Education at DC. “This funding allows us to both support students in gaining meaningful international work-integrated learning experience and conducting the needed research so that other students can also benefit from internationalization.”

The Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund is an Employment and Social Development Canada initiative from the Government of Canada’s International Education Strategy.

Learn more about DC’s education abroad opportunities.