Members of the Niagara College community will enhance their global competencies this winter through five Be World Ready (BWR) International Field Studies (IFS).
Itineraries in Costa Rica, Hawaii, Japan, Portugal, and Spain will offer students, faculty, and staff unique professional and personal development opportunities from February 22 to March 2.
During the BWR IFS experiences, students can use their break weeks to learn and earn course credit outside the walls of their classrooms. Students interested in joining a BWR IFS must complete the Be World Ready Course, aimed to foster intercultural competencies, global leadership and global employment skills of students, preparing them for the experience abroad.
As IFS leaders, faculty and staff support student coordination, logistics, and inquiries while abroad, in addition to being ambassadors for NC, which presents an opportunity for faculty and staff career growth. Individuals interested in becoming a lead should read our Lead FAQs.
These opportunities are funded in part by Global Skills Opportunity, the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program, and in part by the Be World Ready program.
Below is an outline of the Winter 2025 BWR IFS and leader insights.
While abroad, students receive support from faculty and staff serving as IFS leaders.
Costa Rica
The San Jose, Costa Rica: Rancho Margot itinerary will offer NC students in Horticulture and Environmental programs the chance to gain hands on experience and knowledge to design, plant, and maintain a native pollinator garden locally.
Co-leader of the IFS, Paul Zammit, School of School of Environment & Horticulture Professor, is looking forward to witnessing how students will react to the experience in a new living classroom.
“As I teach the Sustainable Landscape Management course, I am also curious to see how local and global sustainability issues are being addressed in Costa Rica and how these applications might offer insight into some potential actions in Canada”, said Zammit. ”
The chance to support students in a life-changing experiential learning endeavour inspired Mae Lannan, Energy Analyst, to become an IFS leader.
“I am thankful for the incredible learning moments I gained through field study opportunities as a student, which inspired me to become an IFS trip leader to help create similar experiences for other students”, said Lannan.
Hawaii
The Oahu, Hawaii: Weaving Stories itinerary provides space for the reclamation and restoration of identity through shared storytelling, community service and reciprocity with The Kānaka Maoli, the Indigenous people on the island of Oahu. Offered in partnership with the University of Hawaii, this program provides a meaningful opportunity for cultural exchange and learning.
The IFS will be co-led by Karl Dockstader, Indigenous Education, Cultural Advisor, and Aria D’Alimonte, Indigenous Culture & Events Coordinator.
“Learning about language reclamation, Indigenous sovereignty, competing interests in talking about how land is used between Native Hawaiians and American settlers will give me a better understanding of our way of looking at our responsibilities to this Dish with One Spoon territory”, said Dockstader. “Understanding how the University of Hawaii and the Kānaka Maoli work together will help us unlock the full potential of our work in Niagara.”
Learning more about Hawaiian culture and traditions is one of the aspects D’Alimonte is excited for, alongside supporting students throughout the experience.
“This IFS is rooted in land-based learning, which is a huge passion of mine and much of the work I do”, said D’Alimonte. “The chance to learn from our partners will be such an incredible experience to not only experience myself, but watch the students grow throughout their own experience.”
Japan
The Tokyo, Japan itinerary will allow NC’s School of Technology students to delve into Japan’s motor vehicle, consumer electronics, and renewable energy industries, as well as to experience traditional Japanese activities such as tea ceremonies and Taiko drumming.
Duane Bender, School of Technology Studies Associate Dean, and Jan Bradley, School of Technology Professor, were selected as trip leaders for this IFS.
“I am excited to participate with our students in the amazing consulting projects that have been organized with Shizen Energy Group and Asahi Kasei Corporation”, said Bradley. “This IFS will provide me with many new examples of practical applications to enhance the theory I teach in our Computer, Electrical, Electronics programs.”
Portugal
The Lisbon, Portugal itinerary offers learning opportunities in communication and media, innovation and MedTech, and the hospitality industry, along with a visit to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site, Jerónimos Monastery.
Nate Venema, Health, Wellness & Accessibility Counsellor, is eager to support students as they step into a new experience.
“I am passionate about providing students the opportunity to experience life outside of their country and their cultural comfort zone,” said Venema. “BWR is an opportunity to support students from a different vantage point: I will get to watch, encourage, and celebrate as students discover their own strengths and capacity for growth.”
Ellie Belanger, Project Officer for the Be World Ready team, sees leading the Portugal IFS as an opportunity to engage with the program in a new and meaningful way.
“My work is to support our in-country partners, IFS leads, and students by ensuring they are fully equipped for successful field studies,” said Belanger. “Leading the IFS to Portugal will offer me a comprehensive understanding of the process from start to finish, while also providing valuable, firsthand experience of participating in the program in-country.”
Spain
The Sevilla, Spain itinerary is a journey through the vibrant world of Spanish media with a focus on broadcasting, film, radio, and television programs. This IFS is hosted and customized for NC School of Media students by NC’s patner EUSA Centro Universitario.
The co-leaders of this IFS will be Carly Root, Director of Community Relations and Events; Dutch VandenBerg, School of Media Studies Professor; and Alexis Sullivan, BWR Events and Promotions Coordinator.
“We will tour a TV station, an online sports group, and the soccer stadium, meeting with their communications team,” said VandenBerg. “I’m most excited to see my students’ reactions and their awe at the experience. Learning about different production styles and digital asset deliveries will also be an incredible professional development opportunity.”
Sullivan sees the IFS as an opportunity to gain immersive experience that will strengthen her ability to support both students and staff in future BWR programs.
“Going through the process myself will give me a deeper understanding and make it easier to share helpful, real-world advice with others,” said Sullivan. “This experience will also provide me with insightful knowledge to better guide future potential BWR travellers.”
For more information about BWR, visit: www.beworldready.ca/
