The Department of Global & International Studies and UNESCO Chair in Living Heritgae & Sustaianble Livelihoods supports international student mobility initiatives (such as CCIKE, Travelling Knowledges, and Knowledge That Moves) that provide students (from UNBC and coming to UNBC as part of an exchange) from diverse disciplines with opportunities to gain academic credit through study, research, internships, and field schools abroad. These programs emphasize experiential and place-based learning, allowing students to engage directly with culture, language, and community contexts outside Canada.
Funded through competitive grants since 2021, these international student mobility initiatives have supported more than 72 UNBC students in undertaking international learning experiences that integrate academic study with hands-on engagement. Students have the option to explore work related to cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and heritage-language safeguarding or revitalization, including participation in community-based projects, cultural documentation, educational programming, and language-focused initiatives. This flexibility allows students to align their mobility experiences with academic interests in heritage studies, Indigenous and minority languages, sustainability, education, and cultural policy.
International student mobility enhances academic learning by combining theory with practice and by fostering intercultural competence, ethical engagement, and collaborative research skills. Through immersion in diverse cultural and linguistic environments, students develop transferable skills, deepen scholarly understanding, and build meaningful connections with local communities and institutions. These experiences also contribute to academic diplomacy and cross-cultural understanding, strengthening global networks and mutual learning.
By integrating funded international mobility into their academic pathways, students gain enriched educational experiences while contributing to the safeguarding and transmission of cultural heritage and linguistic diversity worldwide.
