"Thinking Canada" is an initiative of the European Network for Canadian Studies, funded generously by the European Commission - a four-week study tour to Canada for European students that will take place from 2 – 30 September 2012, followed for selected participants by two-month internships. It will commence with three days of briefings in Brussels on the EU and EU-Canada relations.
The aim of the study tour – supported by the European Commission within the EU-Canada Programme on Cooperation in Higher Education, Training and Youth – is to provide participants with an understanding of EU-Canada relations and the complex diversity of Canada itself. It accomplishes this by offering them a unique in-depth experience of Canada achieved 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 provide a recurring backdrop to the discussions. Academic advisors with extensive experience of Canada will be accompanying the tour to serve as resource persons and, where appropriate, work with students in connection with any specific academic tasks agreed on with academic sponsors at their home universities.
In addition, nine two-month internships will be offered to participants immediately following the end of the tour. These will take place at leading think tanks, foundations and cultural institutions across Canada.
For full information on the tour, its programme and how to apply (for both the tour and the internships), click on the appropriate links to the left.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 30 APRIL 2012
