Travel Grant Reports

Supported by VIU's Global Engagement Travel Grant, VIU faculty and staff have been exploring the world in the pursuit of quality international teaching and learning opportunities that directly benefit the VIU community. Read about how past Travel Grant recipients have put their funding to use and consider the opportunities that may be available to you.

2019 Travel Grant Reports

RecipientDepartmentAffiliationDetailsReport
Melanie O'NeillPsychologyVIUFAThe Fear and Anxiety research lab, along with upper-level psychology students, attended the 9th World Congress of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies in Berlin, Germany. Travel Grant Report - M. O'Neill
Jeanette SchmidSocial WorkVIUFAStrengthened relationships with South African partners as part of the South African-Canadian Contextualized Social Work Education research. Travel Grant Report - J. Schmid
Julie Froekjaer-JensenProfessional Development & Training, Powell RiverCUPEParticipated in an international forum to help enhance VIU's capacity to engage and implement the UN's Sustainability Goals of a wider international learning community.Travel Grant Report - J. Froekjaer-Jensen
Leslie SundbyFaculty of Health & Human Services - BSNVIUFAMet with local community and University of Hawaii partners to explore joint projects, and attended the 6th annual Cross-Cultural Health Care Conference. Travel Grant Report - L. Sundby
Ashraf HassibFaculty of Management - HospitalityVIUFAVisited CPH Business Academy in an effort to internationalize the curriculum. Travel Grant Report - A. Hassib
Lauren MayesCriminologyVIUFAOrganized a field school in Philadelphia to expose Criminology/other Social Sciences students to the US criminal justice system, which heavily influences Canadian criminal justice. Travel Grant Report - L.  Mayes
Elsie ThyssenInternational EducationCUPEParticipated in the Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) to broaden connections with international colleagues and to acquire new skills from leaders in student services and international education finance.Travel Grant Report - E. Thyssen
Aggie WeighillRecreation & TourismVIUFAConnected with both current and new incoming VIU Students in Tanzania as well as connected with existing academic partners in Tanzania. Travel Grant Report - A. Weighill
Heather Pastro & Nadine CruickshanksEducationVIUFAVisited Nyaka school in Uganda as part of 'The Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project' and established a field school for Faculty of Education student teachers.

Travel Grant Report - H. Pastro & N. Cruiskshanks

Warren HeitiLiberal StudiesVIUFAParticipated as a faculty member in Liberal Studies Abroad, a field school in Florence focused on the Italian Renaissance.

Travel Grant Report - W. Heiti

 

 

"Going beyond our local boxes helps us to re-interpret our direct experience and to interrogate it from alternative perspectives. Such critical thinking is always useful."

                 - Jeanette Schmid, Global Engagement Travel Grant Recipient

Global Engagement Travel Grant Story Slam!

Learn about teaching and learning opportunities supported by VIU's Global Engagement Travel Grant and undertaken by VIU faculty and staff through these short recorded presentations of 2016 grant recipients.

Terri Doughty,

English

Eric Demers,

Biology

Elizabeth McLin, Criminology 

Sylvie Lafreniere, Sociology

Mary O'Neill,

Education

Eliza Gardiner,

Theatre

Ashraf Hassib,

Hospitality and Tourism Management

 

Travel Grant Photo

"It is important to continue building relationships at every opportunity in order to share ideas and resources and to remain motivated and inspired by others who strive to meet similar goals worldwide. This experience was time, energy and resources well spent."

                  - Dr. Pamela Shaw, Global Engagement Travel Grant Recipient

Highlights from Previous Years

 

RecipientDepartmentAffiliationYearDetailsReport
Pamela ShawGeographyVIUFA2015Presented on the evolution of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MAB Conference) in Estonia.Travel Grant Report - P. Shaw
Mackenzie SillemInternational EducationCUPE2015Attended "Learning at Intercultural Intersections" conference at Thompson Rivers University to develop the capacity of the retention team in working towards its mandate to "support institutional change that supports international student retention".Travel Grant Report - M. Sillem
Lynda RobinsonManagement VIUFA2015Attended Intercultural Communication Institute training program in North Carolina to develop and implement curriculum and activities to foster intercultural competency for co-operative education students within Faculty of Management.Travel Grant Report - L. Robinson
Suzy NachtsteimInternational Education BCGEU2015Traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the NAFSA (Association of International Educators) Management Development Program, a workshop that focuses on management challenges specific to international education.Travel Grant Report - S. Nachtsteim
Leslie BarclayInternational Education BCGEU2015 Traveled to China to continue research into international learner interactions with technology, and enhance internationalization and VIU's relationship with Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce.Travel Grant Report - L. Barclay
Leanne RoseChild and Youth CareVIUFA2014Embarked on an exploratory trip to Belize to build international relationships and identify opportunities for CYC/HS students to engage in a filed school and/or practica placements.Travel Grant Report - L. Rose
Jennifer ChristoffersenAboriginal Studies VIUFA 2013Learned how Maori knowledge, tradition and culture are integrated into graduation ceremonies and Unitec's Prior Learning applications in New Zealand.Travel Grant Report - J. Christoffersen

Deanna

Littlejohn

ElectricalBCGEU2013Continued to build a relationship with the Bahamas Technical Vocational Institute. Conducted a gap analysis of electrical students who wished to pursue the Canadian Electrian Red Seal Certification. Met with Iva Dahl, interim president of BTVI to exchange ideas of future programming and funding possibilities.Travel Grant Report - D. Littlejohn
 Shelley JohnstoneCommunicationsCUPE2013Taught Guatemalan youth design to help students develop employable skills and increase my international awareness, enhancing my understanding of different cultures.Travel Grant Report - S. Johnstone
 Dan MacDonaldRecreation & TourismVIUFA2013Traveled to New Mexico as a visiting scholar in both Tourism & Native Studies at New Mexico State University.Travel Grant Report - D. MacDonald
Caroline BurnleySocial Sciences VIUFA2011Traveled to Uganda to build on our understanding of the contextual nature of resilience. Understanding resilience in AIDS orphans and their caregiver grandmothers.Travel Grant Report - C. Burnley
Nadine CruikshanksEducationVIUFA2011Determined viability of field school in Ghana.Travel Grant Report - N. Cruikshanks
Aggie WeighillRecreation & TourismVIUFA2011Traveled to Ghana to develop study tour.Travel Grant Report - A. Weighill
Barry OstrandForestryVIUFA2009Traveled to Nepal to assess and develop a joint proposal for a partnership with the Institute of Forestry.Travel Grant Report - B. Ostrand
Brian DickPhysics/ Engineering/ AstronomyVIUFA2009Traveled to Tra Vinh University in Vietnam and Asia University in Taiwan to research collaborations.Travel Grant Report - B. Dick