Libraries

A students’ first instinct for finding a study space is probably to go to the library, and that is a good thought! Students pay into the libraries and their services with their tuition, and they provide a lot of resources for students in addition to their stacks, from search aids, to support staff, to rooms to book.

The Elizabeth Dafoe Library offers a variety of options for study spaces beyond the common spaces on the first, second, and third floors. If the traffic of these areas is too much, or if arriving as soon as the library opens to get a good seat is not an easy task, fear not! The library provides some wonderful options.

The second floor of the library is designated as a “quiet zone” and the third floor is home to the Icelandic Reading room. Both locations are quite spaces where students are encouraged to work silently. Being on higher floors, these rooms are away from the bustling entrance on the main floor.

In 2024, the library introduced Quiet Pods to support students who need an individualized quiet space for calls, doing an online exam, or any other task that requires silence. Quiet Pods are located on the main floor of Dafoe and can be booked for a maximum of three hours at a time. They can be booked in advance through an online sign-up form.

For other bookings, the library also offers room bookings across the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses for group study sessions located, and study carrels for graduate students and President’s Scholars.

Other libraries offer study spaces and other services, and students are encouraged to visit different libraries to find the one that suits their needs and study requirements, as different libraries will offer different technological support and study space availability. Below is a list of libraries on both UM campuses with links to information on their study spaces:

• Architecture/Fine Arts Library (206 John A. Russel Building, 84 Curry Place)
• E. K. Williams Law Library (Room 401 Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Road)
• Eckhardt Gramatté Music Library (T257 Taché Arts Complex, 136 Dafoe Road)
• Father Harold Drake Library (Room 119, St. Paul’s College)
• Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library (2^nd Floor, Brodie Centre Atrium, 727 McDermot Avenue)
• St. John’s College Library (3^rd Floor, St. John’s College, 92 Dysart Road)
• Agriculture Building (66 Dafoe Road)
• Engineering Building (EITC E3 75B Chancellors Circle)

Other study spaces

Studying is not just limited to libraries. Although libraries offer an important space for studying, writing, and research all in the same space, sometimes all students need are a desk, a chair, and somewhere quiet.

Various faculties and departments have their own study spaces and lounges which students can use. The International Centre recently opened the Tony K. Lau Global Lounge. Located in room 541 in UMSU University Centre, this is a space for students and faculty to connect and study.

Different faculties will have different options for students. For example, the Faculty of Arts has a study space in Fletcher Argue near the Arts Students Lounge, and the School of Art allows for room bookings to support students in their studies.  Students are encouraged to reach out to their faculty or student associations to see if there are any spaces they can reserve for studying or for any other supports.

Other study spaces will pop up. Students should keep an eye out for renovations in the buildings they frequent. As the UM tunnel system was renovated, more tables and chairs were added to accommodate more options for students to study. As the UM grows, so to will its ability to help support students in their studies and their access to spaces that suit their needs.

Studying and preparing for exams can take its toll. The Student Wellness Centre is a space that students can turn to during their studies to help connect with peers and professionals for wellness support during the academic term. At the SWC, students can tend to their mental health and well-being during their studies. This space offers a break from the hectic pace of studying. After all, a key aspect of student success is a solid support system and confidence to pursue one’s studies. Student Wellness Centre hours of operation may vary during the exam period. Be sure to check their website or instagram (@healthyuofm) for hours of operation.

My name is Wura Dasylva, and I am the current Board Chair of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce and a partner at Miller Thomson LLP. My legal practice includes working with business owners through various stages of the business lifecycle – starting a business, growing the business by way of raising capital, expanding the business through partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other means; and finally the transition of the business to new owners or the next generation through succession planning. 

The Robson Hall Experience

Having studied and practiced law in Nigeria, moving to Canada for a fully-funded thesis-based master’s program at the University of Manitoba was exactly what I needed to advance my career. Not only did the scholarships eliminate financial stress, they also enhanced my competitiveness when I got into the job market. My experience at Robson Hall set me up for success in my career and other life ventures. I recall engaging in intellectually stimulating discussions in class and writing papers (and eventually, my thesis) which were often critiqued by my professors – all of which challenged by biases, sharpened my critical thinking skills and enhanced my writing style and soft skills. 

The pursuit of an LLM at Robson Hall with a research focus on mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) and alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) was a pivotal step in my journey as a legal professional. As I reflect on how the University of Manitoba shaped my career, especially through the guidance of my advisor, Dr. Jennifer Schulz, my other professors and the staff at the Faculty of Law, the International Centre and the Career Services Office, I couldn’t be more grateful that I chose Robson Hall or, to put it better, Robson Hall chose me. From conference opportunities to resume tips, the University of Manitoba gave me all the tools that I needed to succeed as an international student in a new country (and school).

Choosing Corporate Law

Wura Dasylva [LLM/17] is now a partner at the Miller Thomson Regina office, specializing in Mergers and Acquisitions and Alternative dispute resolution.

M&A is at the heart of corporate law, governing how businesses grow, consolidate, and navigate complex financial and regulatory landscapes. At the same time, ADR plays a crucial role in resolving conflicts efficiently outside the courtroom, making it a useful tool in corporate transactions. Corporate transactions often involve negotiations, potential disputes, and regulatory challenges that require both legal expertise and problem-solving skills. By blending these two research areas, my LLM program set me on the path to becoming a savvy M&A lawyer, capable of handling high-stakes corporate matters while mitigating risks and facilitating negotiations that aid seamless transactions.

As a foreign-trained lawyer, understanding the nuances of the Canadian legal system was essential. Robson Hall also gave me a strong foundation in this regard through various academic resources. After completing my LLM, I joined the Regina office of Miller Thomson, a national law firm with over 500 lawyers in 10 cities across Canada, bringing with me a unique combination of corporate law experience and strong academic background. As many would know, success in the legal profession, especially for an immigrant, requires knowledge, strategy, mentorship, hard work and resilience — but with the right foundation (which Robson Hall gave me), the possibilities are endless.

Community involvement

My role as Chair of the Regina Chamber of Commerce allows me to participate in business and policy decisions. Again, I have Robson Hall to thank for helping me to find my interest in Chamber of Commerce advocacy work which stemmed from my International Business and Trade Law class at Robson Hall, providing me with foundational knowledge on trade policies and agreements.

Having been a recipient of scholarships and excellent mentorship and support from Robson Hall, I am now paying it forward. In addition to serving as the Chair of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce, I mentor law students in various Canadian law schools through the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers / Black Law Students Association (CABL/BLSA) formal mentorship program. I have also acted as principal to articling students at my firm, in addition to mentoring other international students and foreign-trained lawyers. 

Until next time,

Wura Dasylva
Partner
MILLER THOMSON LLP

Between the International Centre coordinating funding and Community Engaged Learning helping them prepare as a team, the group of students was ready to take on the week. Regular sessions leading up to their departure helped this group of students – all from different cohorts across the university – prepare socially through icebreakers and team building. Thordarson recalls how Meghan Young, head of the Community Engaged Learning team, set them up for success, guiding them through the purpose of the program and what it would look like. He describes, “Meghan did a really good job at preparing us so that it wasn’t just this jarring experience. We knew we were all going there together, and that really built the trust so that from the second we stepped foot in the airport to getting back, we knew who our team was. We knew what they were like. We knew what worked and how to recognise stress and deal with each other.”

When Thordarson departed for Belize, he was first struck by the newness of it all. He explains, “The entire journey was insane. I had never been on a plane or seen the ocean, never left the province – so every bit of it was new for me.” Once there, speaking to community members and participating in their ways of life, it didn’t take long for the feeling of newness to give way to familiarity. Speaking to the common ground between their cultures, Thordarson describes how they are “so similar that it doesn’t feel like I’m talking with someone not from Canada, that our Indigenous culture is only that of an Indigenous Canadian, but there are some innate beliefs, like spiritual stuff or just relying on that symbiosis with nature that we’ve held and experienced being taken away from.” Through many conversations with community members, Thordarson learned the consequences of colonialism have been similar for their respective peoples, as well. Although the new environment was still jarring, he maintains, connecting with people was not.

The week of activities was led by the community, providing students with the opportunity to engage with Maya culture and the environment and exchange cross-cultural perspectives. “Every day was just jam-packed with stuff,” Thordarson describes, listing a range of activities: free-flowing conversations over home-cooked meals, birdwatching, medicine walks, and even exploring Mayan ruins. With the focus being foodways, the group experienced the production process from farm to table, and it was a far cry from the prairie agriculture Thordarson knew. “We did get to see one of the farms that they maintain,” he recalls, “it was like a hillside, jungle farm. It was nothing similar to what you would expect a farm to be. It was literally a giant trek into the mountains, too.”

Although the environment felt strange and harsh at times, the community was warm and welcoming. To Thordarson, the people seemed to have everything they needed: a loving community and fresh, filling food. He reflects, “That’s something that sticks with me a lot, because I feel like every time I talk about it with someone, they expect to hear me pitying people from a developing nation – but I felt like I would have killed for what they had.” Coming from an Indigenous and low-income background, he explains, he understands that these things cannot be taken for granted.

The group consisted of students from a range of subject areas at UM, and Thordarson was the only student from the Asper School of Business. “We were all students with different backgrounds and perspectives, so we all experienced the same thing but took different lessons from it,” he explains. Letting his own academic background and interests guide him helped him connect the experience to his studies and his future aspirations, such as addressing structural inequalities in Manitoba and contributing his own scholarship to economic theory. As Thordarson describes his position, “I approached this through the lens of someone who was genuinely interested in economic development and sustainable business.” That lens brought certain elements of the experience into focus, particularly the ways colonial economic systems change or threaten the Maya communities.

He connected what he learned directly in conversation with Maya people there to what he has learned from the scholarly theorists he studies: “I think it relates to economic theory, gives me more insight, and helps me understand why these old academic guys wanted to write about their observations.” Since returning home, Thordarson has invoked his experiences abroad to illustrate concepts to his peers. Explaining systemic problems Indigenous Peoples are subject to, he says, is much more effective when he is “able to guide them through a story” rather than “finding a citation in a textbook.” That kind of experiential learning, taking concepts from community engagement rather than solely from the classroom, is exactly what international mobility experiences are designed to provide.

The International Centre is here to help you enhance your learning by bringing your academic journey outside the classroom. They aim to make these experiences accessible to everyone in the UM community by connecting you with the resources to make it happen and supporting you at every stage of the process. You can also begin exploring other global mobility possibilities at UM’s International Centre homepage or reach out to international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca.

It was the second event for Reyes’ initiative called Port-a-Kindness. The first was a mobile campus hangout in collaboration with the International Centre in February.

Reyes’ unexpected entrepreneurial journey all began with an invitation to Better Together.

Better Together is a 2-day experiential learning opportunity to build entrepreneurial thinking skills and collaborate with others in interdisciplinary teams. Participants also engage in a rapid design sprint to develop and share a validated solution to a campus challenge. Over 150 UM community members – staff, faculty and students – have participated in the past two years. It is hosted by Janine Carmichael and Meaghan Ewharekuko from The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

“Originally, I thought Better Together was about starting businesses so I didn’t think it was for me. My friend encouraged me to come, and I learned that entrepreneurial skills can be used to address all kinds of problems, not just those of customers,” said Reyes.   

Reyes’ team worked on addressing theft at campus retailers, a challenge submitted by the University of Manitoba Students’ Union.

“At Better Together, the tables are set with big pieces of paper and supplies like sticky-notes, markers and fidgets. We started by deeply understanding the problem before brainstorming solutions and developing our pitch. I remember jotting down “mobile campus hangout” during the event. I even took a picture of it.” said Reyes.

After Better Together, the idea continued to percolate.

“I met Daniel Heschuk from the Faculty of Science Innovation Hub at Better Together. Like Janine, he has supported me with meaningful suggestions. I learned at Better Together about other entrepreneurial supports on campus and I’m now taking SCI4000: The Entrepreneurial Mindset for Scientists and Engineers. This course has been very timely for this season of my journey. My instructor, Joshua Zaporzan, has helped me develop my idea, too,” Reyes added.   

After Better Together, Reyes connected with others on campus, including the International Centre, Science Students’ Association, UMSU, and IDEA START. Rajeev Koyal, Program Manager at IDEA START, invited her to set up her initiative outside their space in UMSU University Centre.

“So many people are longing for meaningful connections with others. Our mobile campus hangout helps with that. And our gratitude wall helped the UM community take a moment to reflect on what is good. Gratitude and connection are like an antidote to uncertainty and loneliness.”

Reyes is grateful for the support she has received from many entrepreneurial supports on campus.

“Not only that, many other people stopped at the gratitude wall to offer to be involved. This may just be the beginning.”

Got an entrepreneurial idea? Not sure where to go for assistance?

IDEA START is UM’s new unit dedicated to ensuring entrepreneurial thinkers and doers are connected with the right support at the right time. That may be the Faculty of Science Innovation Hub, Partnerships, Knowledge Mobilization and Innovation, The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, UMSU Ventures, or other supports on and off campus.

If you are a student, staff, faculty or alumni reach out so the UM community can support you.

Similarly to the Fort Garry Campus, international students can seek general support as well as immigration support from advisors at the Bannatyne Campus through Student Services. International Student Advisors (ISAs) provide support and guidance on the status of international students and help students navigate the legal and intercultural barriers that students may face during their transition at UM.

ISAs can meet with students to discuss study permits, post-graduation work permits, and answer questions regarding immigration. Recently, ISAs have received the Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor designation. Speaking to ISA Rebecca Irvingshe explained that this designation “has allowed us to legally give students immigration advice and guidance (within the scope of our designation) on their individual situations and provide more clear and direct information during our Advising meetings.”

Through the International Centre, ISAs also offer immigration information sessions and provide resources for students online and in-person. By meeting with an ISA, students can get assistance navigating both UM and government services and understanding their status as international students.

In 2024, international students accounted for roughly 21% of the student population and roughly 20% of first-time admissions, according to an institutional analysis by UM. These trends are increasing, and the IC and the ISAs play an important role in supporting this population. Referring to the expansion of advising to the Bannatyne campus, Irving states that “these enhanced services from our ISA team have been important to better help our growing international student population, especially in light of the numerous changes that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have recently made that impacts study permit holders in Canada.”

The ISA service at the Bannatyne Campus also helps mitigate one of the barriers that some international students may face, which is simply knowing that these resources exist and being able to find them. Through social media and referrals by other supports, such as the Student Affairs Connect Desk on the 1st floor of UMSU University Centre, international students are referred to the IC and ISAs. By adding International Student Advising to the Student Services at Bannatyne offices, the in-person presence ensures an equitable level of support.

For international students who may not have seen an advisor recently, Irving stresses that students should seek out an advisor as early as possible: “even if a student isn’t sure if they’re coming to us at the right time, or if we can answer their entire question, we encourage students to reach out as soon as they have a question so that they can plan ahead and we can make a referral to another UM office, if needed.”

Students at either campus wanting to make an appointment with an International Student Advisor can do so through the International Centre. Students at the Bannatyne Campus can also reach out to Student Services at Bannatyne via e-mail at bcstudentservices[at]umanitoba[dot]ca or by phone at 204-272-3190.

The International Centre is located in Room 541 UMSU University Centre and is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and can be reached via e-mail for inquiries at international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca.

The experience was part of the Pathway to Indigenous Nursing Education (PINE) program at the UM, collaborating with researcher Dr. Wanda Phillips-Beck and the International Centre (IC), which oversees all international mobility experiences for students. The IC was instrumental in arranging the program, particularly with regards to funding.

At Whitireia, Braun and his peers joined nursing classes, engaged in group discussions, and participated in activities where they could learn from Māori community members. One activity that stands out for Braun was going out on the water in wakas ¬– a type of Māori boat – where they received teachings about traditional ways of navigation and the environment around them. According to Braun, their hosts reciprocated their eagerness to learn:

“Everyone was super nice and welcoming and wanted us there, you know? And very happy to share space and excited to learn from us as much as we were from them, because it’s like new people are pulling up from the other side of the world, like, ‘what are you guys up to?’”

The experience also exposed Braun to new innovations in nursing that resonated with his values in community-based healthcare. In particular, he recalls how their use of take-home medical testing alternatives to in-clinic care responded to some community members’ distrust of the mainstream healthcare system. “That was one important day for me,” he remembers, elaborating that this kind of practise supports are a “way of fighting for health equity” that he is passionate about.

However, community health and equity were not always Braun’s focus. Rather, he attributes his interest to his education at UM and the broadened perspective he has gained thought it over the past few years. Before university, he was unsure of what to pursue but followed his people-oriented nature and desire to help. Braun recalls learning through his practicum:

“… You work with the public, and you’re like, ‘oh, these are all of the different lives that are possible,’ and I am now aware of it, and I’m now working with these people, and I am now part of and privy to their pain … It changed my values a lot throughout three years of nursing school, for sure.”

Now, he is invested in working on upstream change in community health, mitigating risk factors and responding to community needs before they turn into crises. Travelling to New Zealand to discover a new world of possibilities in community health approaches was the perfect cap to those years of learning. Since completing the nursing program, he is taking those insights with him into his career. Looking to the future, Braun sees himself “continue to be driven by that want for health equity and working with other people that have the same vision and passion for it.”

Braun also learned a bit about himself along the way. Embarking on such a major excursion made him realise how much he values the company of others and sharing experiences like this with them. He recalls, “my values had kind of shifted,” as he replaced a more individualistic outlook by realizing “people are kind of my main priority.” Furthermore, this experience spurred him to begin considering new potential directions for his career:

“One other thing that came from the trip is I had never considered a masters [degree] before, and after working and seeing what a nursing researcher does … it seems like if I want to work for bigger systemic changes, then that’s a route I would have to go down … and that’s something that was like 100% off the table prior to the trip.”

Ultimately, whether looking internally or externally, to the past or to the future, going to New Zealand as part of the PINE program was hugely impactful for Braun. In his words, the experience made him “reflect on a lot about my Indigenous identity, where I come from, where I see myself going, and my place in nursing as an Indigenous nurse.”

If you are interested in incorporating this kind of immersive learning experience into your degree, look no further than the International Centre. Their mobility team is singularly focused on connecting students with global experiences, supporting them along the way, and ensuring they are accessible to all.

At UM, global mobility experiences encompass a wide variety of programs that take students’ learning around the world. Experiences can include student exchange programs, studio trips, and even fieldwork courses like Asham’s. Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) funding is available to help students participate in these programs if they belong to a demographic that is underrepresented in global mobility experiences. Asham is of Ojibwe and Nakoda descent and is a proud member of Peguis First Nation, so she applied for GSO funding through the Indigenous student category when Dr. Waterman brought the opportunity to her attention.

Next, Asham connected with the UM’s International Centre (IC), where staff led her through the GSO application process. She reflects on the meeting portion with Naomi Fujiwara, part of the IC’s mobility team: “I was actually nervous at first, but when I got into speaking to her, she was like, ‘no, it’s nothing to be worried about! It’s just getting to know you, what you’re doing…’ That’s all it’s basically about.” With the support of IC and her professor, the logistical considerations for travel and accommodations were arranged with minimal stress. GSO funding is flexible, and recipient students can use the amount they are awarded towards a variety of costs relating to their experience. For Asham, she needed help to cover the cost of her flight to South Africa, and her GSO funds fit that need.

Once there, Asham began a rigorous but rewarding period of research work at the S.A. Lombard Nature Reserve studying Cape ground squirrels. “They’re super social – they’re like a different kind of squirrel in that sense… It’s so interesting what they do. They’re so cute!” Asham would set traps to capture the squirrels and bring them for different kinds of data collection, like taking measurements or checking for parasites. She even developed her own research question around the impact of parasite abundance on the squirrel populations and presented her findings at a conference once she returned home to Winnipeg!

As demanding as the research was, Asham and her team made time to bond and experience other sides of the nature around them. The first highlight was a week-long safari at Kruger Nature Reserve Park. She recalls many new images in the natural environment that brought her to tears, from her first elephant and lion sightings to the breathtaking sky. “Nothing can beat an African sunset. It’s so crazy. It’s so beautiful,” she reminisces. The second highlight was the friendships she forged with her peers. “I found many great friendships out there; I’m still friends with them today,” she explains. Getting to connect with those peers, who were PhD students, inspired Asham to consider continuing her education at a graduate studies level, too.

Global mobility experiences such as fieldwork courses are the kinds of exceptional learning events that change the trajectory of students’ lives. For Asham, this experience in South Africa and the GSO funding that brought her there helped her find and confirm new directions to strive towards in her education and career. “I will be wanting to go back,” she explains, “so it really did spark a lot of love to go back, and for the work that they do; I really enjoy it.” A temporary international outbound mobility experience like this can help students push the boundaries of their comfort zones and try out possibilities. As Asham describes:

“It really did solidify everything that I was thinking already, and I felt in my heart that I wanted to do. Then when I did my research, I got a big taste of what life would be like for an extended period of time doing data collection. But when I came home, I also had to do the stats for it, the presentation for it, and brainstorming with not just myself but with my supervisor and colleagues – I really enjoyed everything about it.

If you are excited by the academic possibilities and personal fulfilment an experience like this can bring, be sure to check out the International Centre homepage or contact international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca to learn about international outbound mobility opportunities including student exchange and McCall McBain International Fellowships.

Williams is in her fourth year at UM, studying environmental design in the Faculty of Architecture. She describes how she has always “felt very strongly about advocating for the land itself,” so the landscape stream was the natural choice as she progressed through the program. Fourth-year students in the “Landscape of Urbanism” course are encouraged to participate in a mobility experience across several countries in Europe, exploring how other nations and cultures have approached landscape design. Through this trek, Williams found new inspiration to incorporate into her vision for land advocacy back home in Winnipeg.

This experience took Williams and her peers on a tour that included Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. From late August to early September 2024, they explored a variety of public spaces that demonstrate unique landscape design elements, from housing complexes to parks and playgrounds. These sights were as beautiful as they were academically enriching for Williams, since she was exposed to ideas that she could not have seen by staying at home in Canada. “We don’t really have access to these really formal or experimental parks that have been around in Europe for however many years; they just have a very different mindset about what’s important,” she describes – adding that while she loves our landscape features in Winnipeg, it is important to see other examples!

More than any other site, Williams took inspiration from Fuglsangpark in Denmark, a community built around the idea of social housing. She describes the beauty of the site and the way it seamlessly transitions from public to private spaces, incorporating gardens, playgrounds, residences, and school buildings. The design itself facilitates a community of people who care for the space and for each other, which inspires Williams to reimagine how spaces in Canada, such as reserve communities, could be better designed. Considering this example, she says:

“…All of the questions that are asked of me as an Indigenous designer focus on land use and this idea of not walking into a room and not acting like I know what’s best for someone. Instead, it’s changing the approach and sitting down with the community or client and being able to talk to them and say, ‘What do you need? What are you like? What is important to you?’…And then taking that and really including them by making these spaces for them to speak.”

Though the days spent hopping from one location to the next could be exhausting, Williams and her class maintained their perseverance. “There’s a lot of people who surprise themselves on that trip,” she explains, reflecting on the endurance they developed while travelling. Despite the demands of their packed schedule, Williams was “still be able to come out on the end being so happy and excited for all the things that [she’s] seen.”

Even in the planning stages of this experience, Williams recalls feeling both supported and encouraged thanks to the amazing staff and resources at the International Centre (IC). Hesitant at first to apply for GSO funding, the IC’s mobility team provided much-needed reassurance for Williams. She recalls worrying that she might not be as deserving of these funds as other students, but thanks Naomi Fujiwara at the IC for convincing her that she should ignore the doubts and apply anyway. Williams wants to assure prospective applicants that the staff will not “look down on you” for requesting financial aid: “They want to see people have these experiences, and they want to see our university communities thrive because of it.”

Students seeking inspiring experiences such as Williams’ can email GSO[at]umanitoba[dot]ca for an application form. You can also begin exploring other global mobility possibilities, such as student exchanges or full year international experiences through the McCall MacBain International Fellowship, at UM’s International Centre homepage or reach out to international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca.

Indigenous students are invited to attend a celebration and learning event on December 6. Attendees will enjoy lunch from Daily Bread and hear the stories of Indigenous students who have recently participated in global mobility programs in a peer-facilitated session.

This session, hosted by the International Centre and Student Affairs Assessment, Communications and Outreach will provide information about international opportunities and the associated funding supports that are available to UM Indigenous students.

One of the students who will be sharing their experience in one of the global mobility programs is Faith Bergman. Bergman is a Métis student in the Faculty of Arts studying Advanced Psychology. She participated in the International Centre (IC) exchange program, which took her to Adelaide, Australia for most of the Winter 2024 term. Support from IC and Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) funds allowed Bergman to make the most of her time. She shared how the experience brought her new appreciation for her studies. She notes that, “You’re gonna have to work with clients who have various different perspectives – like cultural perspectives that affect their lenses on different topics – and so I think that going to some countries that are very different than Canada … I can understand where they’re coming from a bit more.” These same experiences held further value as well. Bergman shared, “It made me just feel more excited to connect with my culture, because I hear people talking about their cultures and practices and how excited they are about them.” Read more about Bergman’s experience.

Kaidence Kalcsics, who participated in the Asper exchange, will also be sharing stories and benefits of the global mobility programs. If you would like to hear more about these experiences, register for this event in advance.

Event:
Friday, December 6, 2024
12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Migizii Agamik Circle Room

Global Mobility Programs

If you would like to learn more about the global mobility programs and how they could benefit you in your studies, as well as whether you might be eligible for funding, visit the International Centre homepage. You can also reach out directly to the International Centre with any questions or to discuss your options at international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca. If you are eligible and would like to pursue GSO funding, contact GSO[at]umanitoba[dot]ca for an application form.  

Bergman used GSO funds to make the most of her Winter 2024 term at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia! “The GSO definitely assisted in allowing me to take this experience to the fullest and do everything I wanted to do,” she explains. Not only did Bergman study in Adelaide, but, like many exchange students, she used the opportunity to experience a variety of other locations including Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane in Australia, and Vietnam and Bali in Asia! GSO funds can cover from 30–80% of costs associated with the outbound program students are embarking on. For example, Bergman was able to use GSO funds to cover a significant portion of her rent costs.

At the University of Manitoba, Bergman studies Advanced Psychology and is considering a career in the field of social work. She explains how studying abroad brought her a renewed appreciation for her studies. “Academic-wise, it was really good to go to a different university and see how their education is there … it made me feel more confident in my degree; it’s just a different perspective out there.” She also contemplates how her new experience interacting with a variety of cultures might help her in her future career in social work. “You’re gonna have to work with clients who have various different perspectives – like cultural perspectives that affect their lenses on different topics – and so I think that going to some countries that are very different than Canada … I can understand where they’re coming from a bit more.” Those cross-cultural experiences had personal value for Bergman, too. “It made me just feel more exited to connect with my culture, because I hear people talking about their cultures and practices and how excited they are about them.”

Another great benefit of Bergman’s overseas experience is the friendships she forged. She paints a beautiful picture of what her day-to-day looked like through the term: “Often my weeks would look like going to work and maybe meeting up for dinner, meeting up for drinks at a patio – because everything’s walking distance – just to connect and meet new people. But on other days it was often schoolwork, getting coffee, and going a walk down the river with my roommates. We did that a lot, actually. It’s a really nice river!” In addition to her roommates, Bergman made new friends from working at a café near her apartment. She came to describe these new connections as her community out in Australia. Reflecting on the overseas friendships she has maintained since coming home, she calls it “a different type of friendship that’s definitely lifelong.”

Of course, there were also challenges to overcome during her term abroad, but Bergman used them as learning opportunities. When she experienced a bout of homesickness, she reached out to the counselling centre at Flinders University and was met with a surprise. “The counselling was randomly paired, but she actually lived in Winnipeg for like 5 years. It was really funny; we were laughing about it!” In the end, Bergman found that her homesickness was short-lived and grew to appreciate it. “With the whole homesickness thing, it’s like a necessity, I would almost say … I’ve always been an independent person, but this challenged me in the way that I needed, she reflects.”

The UM International Centre (IC) was another invaluable support for Bergman. In the initial stages of planning for her student exchange, she recalls how the IC’S Mobility Team made preparation easier and less stressful by breaking up tasks into “bite-sized” pieces. “You are given so much time to prep and work,” explains Bergman, “…I found with the time given, almost a year of knowing… it’s actually very achievable.”

For Bergman, this exchange was something she wanted to do at the right point in her education. She describes wanting to travel more but not delay her degree and having countries she wanted to visit in her twenties. “It’s honestly a perfect time to chip away at your education but also enjoy things other than Canada.” With the GSO, she was able to accomplish her goals at the time that felt right for her instead of waiting until she could afford everything she wanted to do with this experience. “You can’t just bank on doing it one day,” she advises.

If you are seeking a challenging, skill-building, and friendship-forging experience like Bergman’s, what are you waiting for? The GSO can help you on your way, so don’t be afraid to apply! At the International Centre homepage, you can find information on all kinds of global mobility programs for students. A student exchange is only one of many possibilities! Don’t hesitate to reach out to the International Centre directly to ask questions and discuss your options at international[at]umanitoba[dot]ca. If you find a program that piques your interest, and you belong to one of the eligible categories for GSO funding, be sure to contact GSO[at]umanitoba[dot]ca for an application form!

For Indigenous students interested in learning more about the Global Skills Opportunity and its opportunities abroad, there is an information session on December 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Migizii Agamik in the Circle Room.