Empower global learning with support for students this Giving Day

UCalgary Giving Day is underway, and this year, the Office of Signature Learning Experience is focused on supporting global learning experiences for students. Study abroad programs are often the highlights of many students' university journeys, offering invaluable personal and academic growth. Financial barriers, however, can prevent students from accessing these transformative opportunities.

UCalgary Giving Day is a crucial event for the university community, providing an opportunity to make a significant impact on students' lives. By donating to the Global Learning Access Fund, you can help ensure that more students have the chance to participate in study abroad programs, regardless of their financial situation.

Colleen Packer, Director of Global Learning, Office of Signature Learning Experiences at UCalgary, underscores the transformative power of global learning: “Study abroad programs provide students with unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in diverse cultures, gain fresh perspectives, and develop crucial skills. These experiences not only build international networks and boost career prospects but also cultivate a global mindset. By engaging with different cultures, students foster empathy and understanding, leading to more respectful and effective interactions with people from all walks of life; an essential quality in today's increasingly polarized world.”

“Studying abroad was incredibly valuable to me for several reasons. It immersed me in a new and drastically different environment, fostering intercultural growth, critical reflection, and challenged my worldviews, ultimately leading to significant personal growth. Additionally, studying abroad provided opportunities to network with peers and professors. I made lasting connections and even secured a position as a research assistant for one of my professors upon returning to Canada. Overall, studying abroad had a profoundly positive impact on both my university experience and my career objectives,” says Courtney Nwaerondu, a Social Work major who participated in the 2024 Community and Sustainable Development in India Social Work Group Study Program.

Jeannie Chhom, a third-year student in Motor & Psychosocial Aspects of Movement in Kinesiology, shares her experiences in Global Learning, "My semester abroad immersed me in a culture where work-life balance isn’t just a concept to strive for but a way of life that is actively prioritized. Living in Norway reshaped my understanding of what true balance looks like and set a new standard of how I want to live my life."

“I spent eight days backpacking in Norway’s largest national park, Hardangervidda. It was the most physically demanding yet mentally clearing experience I’ve ever had. With no phone service, no paved paths, and no one in sight for miles away, I had to rely on myself and my own abilities.”

The benefits of study abroad continues long past graduation. Learn more about the important role study abroad funding has played in students’ lives. 

Please donate to the Global Learning Access Fund and support future study abroad experiences. Your contributions will help remove financial barriers and provide students with life-changing opportunities. To make your gift, visit the Global Learning Access Fund donation page.