More than 100 Niagara College students are packing their bags for a new global learning experience this mid-term break.
NC is offering several Be World Ready (BWR) International Field Study (IFS) trips for the 2019 winter term. These international adventures provide students and staff with opportunities to become more world-ready and work-ready as they expand their intercultural skills through travel.
“NC’s IFS trips offer culturally diverse applied learning environments that are infused with unique opportunities to grow professionally and personally,” said Maxine Semple-Ozog, cultural and global engagement manager. “The program aims to give NC students the competitive edge to launch their careers as they heighten their cultural intelligence, while developing a variety of soft skills. One of the many skills the students will enhance is becoming more adaptable to new ideas, practices and systems in a changing environment with varying cultural contexts.”
Peru LEAD: Leadership and Youth in Action – February 23 to March 3
Focusing on youth and student engagement, the IFS trip to Peru is infused with opportunities for students across various schools of study to further develop leadership skills. This trip marks the first IFS partnership with the Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) program through the College’s Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership (CSEL), which aims to provide students with opportunities to explore and further develop their leadership skills. This learning adventure, led by student engagement leadership program coordinator Sarah Singleton, will expose nine NC students to Peru’s rich history and natural wonders.
Ecuador: Me to We – February 23 to March 3
Students from the School of Justice Studies will learn more about conservation and rural development challenges during an IFS trip to Ecuador. Approximately 20 NC students will work on a grassroots community-building project with Me to We and help remove barriers to education for youth. Police Foundations program coordinator Jim Norgate and School of Justice Studies staff member Kathryn Beacham are leading this trip. View Feb. 14 media release: Going the distance to help others on mid-term break.
Los Cacaos, Dominican Republic – February 23 to March 2
Fifteen students – from NC’s Greenhouse Technician, Landscape Technician and Horticulture Technician programs – will gain exposure to the Dominican Republic’s fair-trade coffee production, greenhouse production and environmentally sustainable growing methods. Led by School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies professor Bill MacDonald, a main component of this trip will be the construction of a steel framed greenhouse.
Costa Rica: Environmental Studies – February 24 to March 3
This trip will introduce a group of Environmental Studies students to the natural environment of Costa Rica, and how its unique wildlife and ecosystems are preserved. Led by School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies professor Katie Altoft, nine students will tour major ecological features, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of issues surrounding ecosystem restoration or environmental sustainability.
Costa Rica: Hospitality and Tourism – February 24 to March 3
School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport students will explore the rich history and culture of Costa Rica. On this IFS trip, led by professor Agnes Nowaczek, 17 students will learn best practices among mass tourism operators, including spa, food and beverage, and hospitality and tourism.
New York City: From NC to NYC – February 25 to March 2
School of Media Studies professor Alicia Tyson and international mobility assistant Rebecca Morrison will lead a group of more than 30 students from various schools of study to become further culturally engaged by visiting New York City. Students will have the chance to visit iconic locations such as Times Square, the Empire State Building and Chelsea Market, and explore some of the many world-renowned museums NYC has to offer, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
For more information about Niagara College’s Be World Ready program, visit international.niagaracollege.ca/
