CNA students head to Belgium for work term
2/12/2010 9:38:05 AM
Four College of the North Atlantic (CNA) students will be heading to Ghent, Belgium this spring for a six-week field placement exchange. The group will include Community Studies students Dawn Thibodeau, from Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia, Samantha Long, Bishop’s Falls, Karen Smith, Corner Brook and Film and Video Production student, Steven Gosse, from St. John’s.
Advocacy and Leadership is the title of the exchange project, which is sponsored by the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada through the International Academic Mobility initiative. The project mandate is to enhance educational and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and/or for persons who seek employment in a disability related field/human services field.
The exchange will prepare students for advocacy and leadership in their educational environments and communities. It will also provide an opportunity to view disabilities from another culture’s perspective.
The program is normally open to first year Community Studies students; however Film and Video production students are also eligible this year. Students must be between the ages of 18 and 29 and in good academic standing.
“The opportunity I have to go to Belgium for my work term is a great,” states Dawn Thibodeau, I didn’t think that moving to Newfoundland from Nova Scotia to do my schooling would present me with an opportunity such as this one.
“This trip will show me the different areas I can work in and in different countries around the world. It will also let me see the difference between how situations are dealt with in Belgium compared to here in Newfoundland. I am super excited about this trip and cannot wait.”
Karen Antle, coordinator of Disability Services at CNA’s Grand Falls-Windsor campus, believes this program will offer students significant benefits.
“This is an exciting opportunity for students who will be completing a required component of their programs in Ghent, Belgium. They will be connecting with other Canadian students and faculty and will have the opportunity to do some travel while they are there,” says Antle.
“These kinds of projects offer tremendous benefits to both students and staff and significant international exposure to the college as students leave their mark on the places they visit. I hope this is just the beginning of many other such opportunities as we see the very positive impact it can have on students and on our college.”
In May and June of this year, CNA will be hosting five Outdoor Education students from Bedford, England as part of the exchange program. The Bedford students will be in Newfoundland to complete the six-week component of their program.
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Media Contact:
Pamela Spencer
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7928
pam.spencer@cna.nl.ca