EU-Canada Study Tour – “Thinking Canada”

“Thinking Canada” is a new initiative of the European Network for Canadian Studies, funded generously by the European Commission – a three-and-a-half week study tour to Canada for European students that will take place from 1-26 September 2010, followed for selected participants by two-month internships. It will be preceded by four days of briefings in Brussels on the EU and EU-Canada relations.

The aim of the study tour is to offer its participants a unique in-depth experience of Canada through an intensive programme of visits to major private and public institutions, government bodies, think-tanks and NGOs. At each place, the students will receive briefings and have the opportunity to exchange views with representatives of these bodies, many of them leading experts in their fields. The tour will begin in Brussels, and travel to Ottawa, Québec, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria.

This immersion in Canada will offer a unique opportunity for an academic experience in a non-academic setting. The tour is focused on a number of themes, in particular cultural diversity (including the English/French relationship, the First Nations and multiculturalism), political issues (federalism, regionalism, the role of government), the environment (including Arctic issues), urban issues and economic issues (business, finance, trade). EU-Canada relations will also be covered and provide a recurring backdrop to the discussions. Two European academic advisors will be accompanying the tour to serve as resource persons and work with the students in helping them complete the specific academic tasks they have previously agreed on with their academic advisors at their home universities. In addition, the study tour's Europe/Canada Liaison Administrator and Canadian Administrator will also be taking part in the tour and offering their expertise.

In addition to the tour, three two-month internships will be offered to participants immediately following the end of the tour. These will take place at the Institute for Research on Public Policy (Montréal), Canada’s oldest public policy think thank; the environmentally-focused David Suzuki Foundation (Vancouver); and a Canadian government department in Ottawa.

For full information on the tour, its programme and how to apply (for both the tour and the internships), click on the appropriate link to the left.

Application deadline: Monday 24 May 2010