Waap Amgam (House of Cedar) in Terrace.
Northwest BC -- Traveling to other countries as part of one’s education is an opportunity that many people never get to experience. This can be especially true for young adults as they step into the world, ready to take their own paths and make their own decisions. But now, students at Coast Mountain College (CMTN) will have opportunities to explore new sights and cultures through the Western Canada Mobility Network (WCMN), a new network linking colleges around the province that provide students with study abroad opportunities every year.
Established in 2023 by Douglas College, with funding from the Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund, the WCMN is a collaborative effort of nine institutions that recognize the barriers to entry most students face when pursuing studies overseas. The WCMN offers attending students access and means to participate in their studies abroad while earning full academic credit through the BC Transfer Guide (BCTG). [Source: Douglas College.]
In June 2024, CMTN student Francess Ogie was selected as one of 10 students from British Columbia to participate in a two-week experiential program to learn and study in Mexico City and Cuetzalan, Mexico.
Francess, a first-year business administration student, has always had a passion for impacting the world but had limited access to resources in her home country of Nigeria. She says, “I've always wanted to participate in anything that involves programs… that allows people to express their views and how things can move better, and to help save the planet.”
The Climate Action Field School Francess attended was geared towards solving climate-related challenges, such as climate justice, sustainable land and water use, circular economies, ecological preservation, and Indigenous-led learning focused on resource preservation and conservation issues. Students explored unique locations in Mexico while at the same time working as diplomats for climate change.
CMTN’s continued involvement with the WCMN provides a distinctive and added benefit to students in the Northwest. The College’s values for experiential learning go beyond discovery within the communities served; they also help students reach out to impact the world.
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Media Contact:
Heather Bastin
Executive Director, External Relations
hbastin@coastmountaincollege.ca
Tel: 250-635-6511 Ext. 5494