UBC Resources – Experiential Education at UBC

This page contains useful links to Experiential-related resources at UBC.

Teaching and Learning Resources (By Office)

Centre for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) connects communities with UBC faculty and students to work on issues that impact society. Under the broad umbrella of Experiential Learning, CCEL focuses on experiential learning that is centred around community. Email: Community.learning@ubc.ca
Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) works with faculty, students, and staff to strengthen teaching and learning at UBC. A good person to start with is Kari Grain (author of this blog): kari.grain@ubc.ca.
Centre for Student Involvement and Careers (CSIC) is a hub that connects students to experiences, resources, and people that will help them achieve their personal and career goals. Under the umbrella of experiential learning, CSIC works most closely with Work Integrated Learning (e.g. co-ops, work placements, internships, etc.). As a first point of contact, email csic.support@ubc.ca or visit their website.
Community Engagement Office works to support and enable community engagement being done across campus, with a focus on external relations. Kat Cureton (kat.cureton@ubc.ca) is a great first point of contact who can send you in the right direction for your needs.

Faculty-Based Teaching and Learning Offices / Resources:

Co-op: Co-op is a form of experiential learning that takes the form of paid work experience in a student’s field. UBC offers co-op in 7 faculties/departments at UBC: Engineering, Arts, Forestry, Land and Food Systems, Science, Business, and Kinesiology.
The Office of Experiential Education (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Skylight (Faculty of Science)

International & Immersive Experiential Opportunities for Students:

Go Global : This office works in partnership with faculties, courses, and universities around the globe to offer international experiential programs. See:
- Research Abroad
- Exchange Programs
- Global Seminars
- Summer Abroad
- International conferences and special programs
- International Education Practicum (In partnership with the Community Field Experience within the Bachelor of Education Program)
ORICE (Office of Regional, International, and Community Engagement, Faculty of Arts): This office offers international service-learning programs to students from across disciplines within UBC. Although it is housed in Faculty of Arts, students outside of Arts can still be involved.
Coordinated International Experience (Faculty of Applied Science)

Spanish for Community (French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies) – “Spanish for Community is a community-based experiential and service learning initiative in the FHIS, that creates, manage and delivers course-based, cross-course, and volunteer independent projects and events in partnership with organizations serving the Spanish speaking community in Metro Vancouver as well as organizations linked with Hispanic communities in Central and South America.”

Funding Resources for Students

UBC Tuum Est Experiential Award is a pilot award that was approved by UBC Senate in February 2017. “The university will offer approximately 200 one-time entrance awards up to $3,500 for domestic students entering from high school to help support their participation in experiential learning opportunities, including co-op, exchange, ISL opportunities and undergraduate research. It was strategically designed in order to attract students to take advantage of what learning opportunities UBC has to offer”. The program began in the 2017/18 academic year. (Ubyssey, 2017)

Funding Resources for Faculty

Arts Research Abroad (ARA) program is funded by a generous gift from anonymous donors. Through the Faculty of Arts, ORICE, and Go Global, the ARA program sponsors two types of advanced research-intensive courses: (1) Global Seminars (15-20 students) and (2) International Service Learning Courses (15-20 students). Each year, up to 7 special courses are funded, with some funds going toward subsidies for student participants. Students enrolled in the ARA courses are eligible to apply for ARA funding to partially cover program costs.

Connections and Collaborations (Groups)

Community Engaged Scholars (CES) Group: Comprised of interdisciplinary faculty, staff, and students, this group gathers regularly to discuss and share community engagement news and issues. Contact UBC’s Office of Community Engagement for more information.