Exchanges and Study Abroad
Check out current opportunities below.
Contact Dal AC International for latest information on all opportunities.
Ready for the next step: Apply here.
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Step Into Community Agriculture - The Field Course
A program for African Nova Scotians or people of African descent in Nova Scotia
Are you aware of the issue of food insecurity and its connection to the racial disparities in African Nova Scotian (ANS) Communities?
Do you want to be part of real-life solutions to eliminate food deserts in your community?
Are you alumni of the Bridge into Agriculture program?
If so, then the Step into Community Agriculture Field Course may be a match for you!
What is Step into Community Agriculture- The Field Course?
Hosted by Extended Learning and Dal AC International, Faculty of Agriculture, this 4-week program is designed to empower participants of African descent in Nova Scotia with the knowledge and skills needed to address the critical issue of food deserts in local communities.
This course will build on the success of Bridge into Agriculture: A Program for African Nova Scotians, which was developed to bridge the gap between African Nova Scotian communities and agriculture through the production of a small vegetable garden. This new course will action what students have learned and guide them through the next steps of exploring community supported agriculture programs and putting what they have learned into practice.
Alumni of the Bridge into Agriculture program will travel internationally to explore successful community programs that address systemic racism, food desertification and food security and bring lessons learned back to their Nova Scotian communities. Each student will explore their own goals for community engagement and develop a plan of action for sustainable programs and activities that support food sovereignty in Nova Scotia.
Program Details:
· Duration: 4 weeks
· Potential course dates (TBC):
- Week 1: August 18-24 (Approximately 10 hours of online, self paced study with one live evening class with the course facilitator)
- Week 2: August 25-31 (Approximately 10 hours of online, self paced study with one live evening class with the course facilitator)
- Week 3: September 1-7 (travel week- final destinations to be determined. Tentatively New York State, Toronto)
- Week 4: September 8-14 (Approximately 14 hours of online, self paced study with one live evening class with the course facilitator)
· Location: Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia (Hybrid Delivery- Online and In-person)
· Eligibility: Participants who have completed the Bridge into Agriculture program or are actively involved in community initiatives
· Fee: Tuition and travel expenses will be covered by the program.
o Please note: students will be responsible to pay for meals during travel and will be reimbursed with a daily per diem upon return. The daily per diem rate allows for meal claims up to $111.95/day or $783.65/week. Students should budget for approximately $111.95 in food costs per day which will be reimbursed upon their return.
Please note, applications are not yet open for this course. The team is finalizing details and is accepting expressions of interest from those who are interested, available to travel, and within the eligibility parameters.
For more information please contact Extended Learning at extended.learning@dal.ca or 902-893-6666.
To express your interest, please complete the application at the top of the page.
Course breakdown
Weeks 1-2: Orientation to Food Deserts
During the first two weeks, you'll dive into understanding food deserts in Nova Scotia, exploring topics such as the history of agriculture in the ANS community and the subsequent racial disparities in food access, the Canadian perspective on the issue, and developing cross-cultural understanding when engaging with diverse communities. Through group discussions leading to an increased awareness of local community initiatives, you'll gain valuable insights into the root causes of food insecurity. You will be given an opportunity to share your ideas and opinions in group forums.
Week 3: Explore Real-Life Solutions
In the third week, you'll embark on an eye-opening journey to New York City, Albany, Chicago, and Toronto (destinations to be confirmed and are subject to change), where you'll visit locations implementing effective solutions to combat food deserts. Learn firsthand from community organizations working tirelessly to address food insecurity and examine the connection between racism and food deserts.
DRAFT Itinerary (TBC, subject to change)
*Please note: these are proposed destinations and are subject to change based on availability.
Location |
Day |
Organization |
Suggested Workshop Theme/Activity |
New York City |
1 |
Harlem Grows |
To Be Confirmed |
1 |
Black Joy Farm |
To Be Confirmed |
|
Albany |
2 |
Black Yard Farm Collective |
To Be Confirmed |
3 |
Soul Fire Farm |
To Be Confirmed |
|
|
4 |
Chicago’s Community Growers Program |
To Be Confirmed |
5 |
Hermitage Community Gardens |
To Be Confirmed |
|
5 |
Urban Growers Collective |
To Be Confirmed |
|
Toronto |
6 |
Toronto Metropolitan University |
To Be Confirmed |
|
6 |
Black Creek Community Farm |
To Be Confirmed |
Week 4: Proposal Development
Upon returning, you'll have one week to synthesize your experiences and develop a comprehensive proposal on how to implement or contribute to similar initiatives in local communities. Your proposal, which accounts for 70% of your grade, will be a blueprint for action to eliminate food deserts and instability in the province.
Why Join?
· Gain invaluable knowledge and skills to make a real difference in your community
· Network with like-minded individuals and experts in the field
· Receive hands-on experience and support from experienced educators and mentors
· Put your plans into action and contribute to meaningful change in Nova Scotia
Step into community agriculture and shape a brighter future for Nova Scotia!
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Travel Abroad Experience in Saint Lucia
Deadline to apply: Applications Closed
Trip Date: May 18th-May26th 2024
Cost: Fully Funded
Dalhousie University and Algonquin College in partnership with SALCC and NSDC are developing gender-transformative, standards-based, industry-driven programs to meet local labour market needs and to deliver them to a wide range of learners, including workers, women, unattached youth and persons with disabilities. Dalhousie is guiding the development of climate-smart crop production curriculum, technical training and CBET/pedagogy training while Algonquin is developing and delivering the student support services activities (gender equity, inclusion/vulnerable populations, career guidance). Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) is a six-country project, managed by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and funded by the Government of Canada.
Student Learning Outcomes:
The successful Dal AC student will gain both travel and technical experience related to SAGE-06 project activities in Saint Lucia. The student will receive pre-departure and risk assessment training prior to travel to St. Lucia and will acquire experience in supporting training delivery in an international setting. The student will learn about entrepreneurship and community engagement in the St Lucian context.
Eligibility:
The successful student must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and must possess a valid passport at the time of application.
Preference will be given to students with academic and/or practical experience in the areas of crop production and/or agribusiness and entrepreneurship.
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Dominica Tropical Rainforest Study Tour
A Jungle Plant Crafting Tour Through an Indigenous Lens
Deadline for Application: Closed
Trip date February 17-25, 2024
Dominica is a small island nation in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. Students will travel to Dominica State College in Stockfarm and explore the island’s tropical forests through an Indigenous lens. Topics covered include:
- community adaptation strategies;
- the roles of traditional Indigenous knowledge as it relates to environmental stewardship;
- social resilience in Dominica and the resilience of cultural traditions;
- cultural heritage.
This opportunity is aimed to foster a cross-cultural dialogue in the promotion of social justice and empower students by developing their knowledge and skills to address social issues that affect Indigenous communities.
Cost and Student Funding:
Estimated cost per student is $6000.
Partial funding ranging from $2500 up to $5000 is available to students who meet the eligibility criteria. Costs will be refined and confirmed as the trip planning continues.
Eligibility:
To receive funding, students must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
The higher funding amount is for students who identify as Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, persons with a disability/academic accommodation, and/or low income.
More information will be provided at an information session. Stay tuned, the time and date of this session to be posted soon!
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Hartpury Study Abroad – Equine Focus
Deadline to apply: Application Closed
Travel dates: reading week 2024 (Feb 17-24)
In partnership with Hartpury University in England, UK, Dal AC students that are at least in their second year of study and have good academic standing will have the opportunity to travel to Hartpury to meet counterparts with whom Dalhousie has established a partnership. Hartpury’s campus is similarly focused on agriculture and environmental stewardship and will serve as the centre from which the exchange will take place. Day trips are planned to community and industry sites, but the majority of the opportunity will be held at Hartpury campus, attending lectures, research presentations, equine therapy centre and racing simulator. The study abroad opportunity will be linked to students’ academic transcript through a co-curricular record.
Students will:
- Participate in equine research activities
- Experience and equestrian sports simulator
- Visit a stallion farm and a polo match
- Do sightseeing around England
- Visit an equine hospital
Eligibility: Open to all Dal AC students
Funding assistance may be available: To receive funding, students must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident. Higher funding will be available to students who identify as Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, persons with a disability/academic accommodation, and/or low income.
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Departmental Exchanges
You can participate in a formal student exchange and spend one or two semesters - or even a summer - in another country.
We have some amazing opportunities specifically for Dal AC students at Hartpury Agricultural University in the UK. There are also many semester and summer exchange programs you can apply to through the Halifax International Centre in countries as diverse as New Zealand, Morocco, India and France.
Contact us to set up an appointment with our Global Education & Engagement Coordinator and find out more!
Departmental Exchange: Hartpury, England
Deadline to apply: Wednesday, January 31st, 2024
Note: To participate, students must be 2nd-year standing.
Hartpury University and Hartpury College, based in the heart of Gloucestershire, offers courses (programs) in various areas of agriculture, animal, business, equine, sport, and veterinary nursing. Dal AC students have the opportunity to spend a semester at Hartpury while earning credits towards their degree at Dal.
Cost and Student Funding
While participating in an exchange program, you pay tuition fees to your home university (Dalhousie), while studying at the partner institution. You are responsible for paying for your travel costs, accommodations, and all other expenses while living abroad.
Funding up to $6,000 is available to exchange students who meet eligibility criteria. The Government of Canada, through Colleges and Institutes Canada, has made funding available for the following underrepresented student groups: Indigenous students, low-income students; and student with disabilities (including academic accommodations). Students must also be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. For more information on funding, please contact Dal AC International.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to all campus students.
Contact Dal AC International to set up an appointment with our Global Education & Engagement Coordinator and find out more or apply here!.
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Aeres Dairy Facility and Waste Management, Netherlands
Application closed Sept 24, 2023 at 11:59PM.
Interested students from the Business Management Dairy (DBM) program will be traveling to Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Hogeschool Dronten in Netherlands during the 2023 fall break. The University will serve as the centre from which the exchange will take place, with day trips planned to various unique farm and environmental management sites particular to Holland.
The itinerary is not yet confirmed, but example of sites that will be visited include:
- floating farms;
- farms with highly specialized and integrated waste management systems;
- a tour of the working university farm;
- site visit to Attero Waste Management Facility;
- culturally important sites in and around the capital city of Amsterdam.
As this is an educational trip, students will be expected to complete the following objectives:
- A pre-trip Collaborative Online Integrated Learning (COIL) experience that will engage students in comparing Canadian and Dutch agricultural production and environmental management practices.
- After returning, students are expected to complete a follow-up project, where they will present how their perceptions were met once on the ground in the Netherlands, and if they have any relevance or implications on agricultural practices that can be applied back home. Students are also expected to highlight Canadian practices that may be more advanced and suggest implementation strategies in Dutch production systems.
Cost & Student Funding:
The estimated cost for this opportunity is $4500. Partial funding is available to students who meet the eligibility requirement. Costs will be refined as the trip planning continues.
Eligibility:
To receive funding, students must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.
This application is open only to students enrolled in APSC0200 Environmental Management. Priority will be given to Indigenous students, low-income or persons with disabilities.
More information will be provided at an information session. Stay tuned for when the time and date of this session is announced!
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