Purpose: The President’s Grant for International Community Engagement seeks to encourage greater Interest in and understanding of less developed countries by supporting students who want to participate in an international development experience. The grant will provide up to $5,000 for students to spend an extended period of time (minimum 6 weeks) working in a paid or volunteer role in a developing country on a project or projects that encourage educating and sharing of knowledge.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be continuing students (undergraduate or graduate) and must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. In addition, students must secure a faculty mentor prior to applying. Applicants must be able to demonstrate an existing network or evidence of partnership with an organization in the developing country, either through their own involvement or through their supervising faculty member.
Application process: Applications must include the following:
- Proposal (maximum 2 pages) outlining the student’s interest in and commitment to international work, intended academic or professional outcomes of project, a description of the placement and the nature of the work to be undertaken, including the nature of the network or partnership, any preparatory activities to be undertaken prior to departure, and the proposed timeline or tenure of the project.
- Budget (maximum 1 page) detailing the expected costs associated with the project.
- Faculty statement of support (maximum 2 pages) outlining the student’s interest in and commitment to the project, well as an assessment of their capability to succeed.
- Risk management assessment.
Criteria: Applications will be judged on the strength of the proposed project, the network within which the applicant will work, the evidence of partnerships within the developing country and the potential for strengthening international networks, and capability of the student to undertake the project. Successful applicants will be required to submit a report and/or prepare a public presentation for the University community and must be willing to be profiled in University publications.
Application Deadline:
Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m on the day of the deadline to the School of Liberal Education (attention: Bev Garnett), A812 in University Hall. Applications not received by that date will not be accepted. Late or mislaid applications, whether in campus mail or any other delivery mode, will not be accepted.