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THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

TRU’s new Global Skills Opportunity project to help 150 students gain international study experience

Nov 3, 2021 | 12:41 PM

KAMLOOPS — Nearly 150 Thompson Rivers University (TRU) students will be gaining global skills through the newly launched guided short-term outbound mobility project.

The international study opportunity has been made possible by the Government of Canada’s new Global Skills Opportunity program. TRU received $500,000 of funding.

The project will support students in their study abroad journey by providing short-term funded field trips to different partner institutions around the world.

Students will participate in a tuition-free Prepare to Study Abroad program where they will gain basic intercultural communication and language skills of their choice. Options include Japanese and Spanish, with more to come as the program progresses.

Students will then travel to one of TRU’s partner institutions where they will take part in a one- to four-week language and culture program and experience what it’s like to study in a different country.

While open to all Canadian post-secondary students, the national program targets groups for whom international experiences have traditionally been less accessible — specifically Indigenous students, students from low-income backgrounds, and those with disabilities. It also aims to diversify destination countries where Canadian students pursue international learning.

According to TRU, compared to similar countries, fewer Canadian students – only about 11 per cent of university undergraduates and three per cent of college students – participate in work or study abroad experiences during their studies.