UPEI Students Begin Development Internships in South Africa
Third-year psychology student Sarah Simpson and political studies student Jason Arsenault are two of a growing number of UPEI undergraduates who are enjoying opportunities to study and work in countries around the world. The students left UPEI this week to begin three-month internships in South Africa that they will never forget. Working in conjunction with the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, they will take part in two community development projects organized by local non-government organizations (NGOs.)
Both internships are part of the Students for Development program provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) with the financial support of the Government of Canada. The aim of Students for Development is to prepare and mobilize young Canadians committed to sharing Canada's values and expertise to help build good governance in developing countries.
Under the guidance of Dr. Volker Wedekind, Sarah Simpson will work with community organizations to assist the Parental Involvement in Schooling Project which is funded by the National Research Foundation. The project will explore the forms and extent of parental involvement in schooling. In particular, it will examine their involvement in governance and identify any barriers to participation across different types of schools.
"I have no doubt that my time in South Africa will be a very rewarding and eye-opening experience, and will benefit both my further studies at UPEI and my counterparts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal," said Sarah.
Jason Arsenault will work with local NGOs, under the direction of Dr. Laurence Piper, on an ongoing project to examine the forms of participatory democracy that are built into the legislation governing local government. The project will compile information about the roles and responsibilities of ward committees and local councillors, and identify any barriers to participation.
"The chance to apply what I have learned at UPEI in the work field, through this internship, will greatly enhance my educational experience and increase future opportunities in my field of studies," said Jason.
Sara and Jason will share their experiences with the university and local communities after they return to Canada in December. The UPEI academic advisors for the two internships are Dr. Kim Critchley, Dean of Nursing and Dr. Graham Pike, Dean of Education.
"Increasingly, educational institutions have seen the need to prepare students to be culturally sensitive and culturally competent individuals," said Dr. Critchley. "International internships like this provide students with a unique understanding of the values of racially and culturally diverse populations."
"We are confident that Sarah and Jason will take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity and be excellent ambassadors for UPEI," said Dr. Pike. "Their project work will further enhance the strong partnership that we have developed with our colleagues at the University of KwaZuluNatal."
As a way of enriching and diversifying the educational experience, UPEI has been working to increase enrolments from other countries. In recent years the university has also created a wide range of opportunities for local students to study and work abroad while pursuing their degrees on Prince Edward Island.
