Overview
For over six decades, the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs has been a leader in preparing graduate students for career opportunities in global relations through its interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. By integrating disciplines such as political science, economics, law, sociology, public health, and history, students gain a comprehensive understanding of issues impacting our international community. To deepen this breadth of knowledge, NPSIA strives to offer a series of experiential learning trips each year in collaboration with international partners in locations such as Washington, D.C., and Geneva, Switzerland. The NPSIA Student Experience Fund will help bolster these opportunities so more students can gain firsthand exposure to critical insights from diverse perspectives.
The Background
Experiential learning reinforces NPSIA’s position as an internationally-oriented institution by providing students with opportunities to hone knowledge and skills needed to tackle complex issues in our globalizing world. Led by renowned instructors, students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on learning by participating in engaging site visits with prominent organizations. During past trips, students have gained invaluable insights through lectures, briefings, presentations, and activities hosted at locations such as the United Nations, World Bank, Canadian Embassy, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the State Department in Washington, among others. By supporting the NPSIA Student Experience Fund, you are helping to increase accessibility to these opportunities by alleviating financial barriers that may prevent students from participating.
The Rollout
Your gift to the NPSIA Student Experience Fund is integral in ensuring that more students in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs have access to experiential learning opportunities. Funds raised will go towards offsetting costs associated with participation including accommodations, travel, meals, and registration fees.
The Impact
Hear from students who have participated in past trips with the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs:
“As a young professional working full-time and attending school part-time, I could not partake in NPISIA’s co-op or exchange abroad programs. The Geneva Study Tour was a fantastic third option to gain international experience with a smaller time commitment. It allowed me to apply my academic knowledge in a hands-on, real-world setting and meet students from around the world, exposing me to different perspectives.
Students had the unique opportunity to present academic research to an audience of peers and professors. We additionally met senior management, policymakers, and law practitioners from various international trade organizations, including the World Trade Organization, the International Trade Centre, and the Permanent Mission of Canada in Geneva.
The program is an invaluable addition to the NPSIA curriculum, offering practical, hands-on international experience that complements academic learning. It provides a platform for students to engage with international experts and gain diverse perspectives, all within a condensed timeframe ideal for those balancing work and study commitments.”
-Abigayle, participant in the 2024 Geneva Study Tour
“I believed the program was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it to any student interested in trade. I believe the variety of opportunities we had to speak with so many diverse and influential people from around the world was incredible. The WTO was fantastic, and I appreciate that it provided us with a whole day experience. My favourite experience was hosting the interactive mock negotiations. I feel I learned so much from the experience and it really broke the ice. I enjoyed how connected everything felt and the ability to pick and choose from the assortment of events throughout the week. Presenting my research was valuable and I gained many connections from these presentations. I think they are a staple of the trip.”
-Phil, participant in the 2024 Geneva Study Tour