5 June 2019 at 9:00 am
Exploring indigenous exchange programmes and internships
Five Māori students will join five First Nations students from Canada at the Global Internship Conference (GIC) in July to discuss reciprocal, short-term learning abroad opportunities for indigenous students.
The students, from University of Auckland and AUT, are part of the British Columbia & New Zealand Indigenous Student Mobility Project,a two-year programme that aims to provide reciprocal, short-term learning abroad and professional development and networking opportunities for indigenous students. The students will be joined by five First Nations students from Victoria University (UVic) in Canada, who are also part of the programme.
Next year the Kiwi students will travel to Vancouver and be hosted by UVic for the 2020 GIC. UVic is a leader in the Canadian Co-Op model, where an internship is a required component of the university degree.
“Increasing access to international learning opportunities for all students, and in particular our Māori and Pasifika students, is an important goal for the University of Auckland,” says Brett Berquist, University of Auckland’s Director International.
“Community and family are key to this strategy, and the chance to share and learn from First Nations students and academics at UVic is a great opportunity for our students.”
The Student Mobility Project aims to engage indigenous students in immersive experiences that help them to establish and maintain relationships with other indigenous students and communities, industry, academics, and higher education professionals. It intends to provide a forum for indigenous students to present their perspectives and experiences, facilitating an exchange of ideas and networks.
At the GIC, the students will share their perspectives and experiences on how international experiences benefit indigenous communities, how to best connect indigenous communities internationally, and how work placements and co-operative education have influenced their lives and careers.
Karima Ramji, UVic’s Manager of International Programmes will also discuss critical success factors in developing indigenous international work-integrated learning exchange programmes.
The GIC will feature further perspectives on global internships via a panel of University of Auckland Māori and Pasifika awardees of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships funded internships in Asia and Latin America.
The 2019 Global Internship Conference will take place on 2-5 July, hosted by the University of Auckland. To register or to find out more, click here.
