New investment strengthens global experiences for Canadian students

OTTAWA, June 23, 2011 – International development experiences for Canadian university students received a major boost this month, thanks to new CIDA-funded projects administered by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) through its Students for Development (SFD) program.

Thirty-seven Canadian university projects have been selected for the new SFD program. These projects will see 660 Canadian university students spend at least three months over the next four years working with 100 partner organizations abroad – including universities, NGOs and government agencies – and 100 students from overseas spending an academic term in Canada. The partner organizations are in 22 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas; 64 per cent of the projects are with partners in Africa.

“Canada’s universities are keen to provide their students with the kind of international experiences that will prepare them for leadership positions in our changing world,” says Paul Davidson, AUCC President. “At the same time, all Canadian university students will benefit from bringing students from developing and emerging nations to our campuses. This is an important step forward in the internationalization of Canada’s universities and their work in international development.”

This new SFD funding will also see students at 22 Canadian universities connect with students at overseas institutions through the use of new technologies.

Since its launch in 2005, nearly 1000 Canadian students from over three-quarters of Canada’s universities have participated in internships in developing and emerging countries through AUCC’s Students for Development (SFD) program.

Background information: 
Details on Students for Development’s new projects.
List of 2011-2015 projects
2011-2015 project profiles

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For more information or interview opportunities:
Helen Murphy
Communications Manager
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Email: hmurphy@aucc.ca
Tel.: 613-563-3961, ext. 238