The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) launches Learning Beyond Borders initiative

Ottawa, February 23, 2017:  CBIE has launched Learning Beyond Borders, an initiative to get more Canadian students to take advantage of #LearningAbroad experiences in other countries.

Reports indicate that annually only 3.1% of full-time Canadian undergraduate university students have an education abroad experience. The number is even lower for full-time college students, at 2.5%. This, despite reports from the students on the transformational nature of the experience, its many contributions to their academic and career achievements and its value in enhancing their communication skills, self-awareness and adaptability.

Other countries are doing much better. The US has the Generation Study Abroad campaign; the European Union’s Erasmus Program has been active for more than 25 years and Australia has the New Colombo Plan, to name just a few.

‘Canada is faced with the challenge of getting more of our students to take advantage of learning experiences in other countries,’ said Karen McBride, President and CEO of CBIE. ‘It is time to leverage the leadership role of education institutions in a concerted and coordinated effort to give our generation of young leaders the knowledge, skills and global outlook they will need to thrive in our interconnected world.’

CBIE has invited educational institutions representing all levels of education including universities, colleges, polytechnics, cégeps and K-12 school boards to get involved in the national conversation on learning abroad and become champions for change.

Institutions may be able to get involved in two ways: As a partner in Innovation, CBIE member institutions commit to addressing internal barriers to learning abroad and to participating in peer discussions with institutions across the country that are tackling similar issues and challenges.

Member and non-member institutions may engage in Promotion by communicating the value of learning abroad to students and other stakeholders by creating and disseminating shareable content on the impact and outcomes of learning abroad.