The Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) is a four-week experience for international undergraduate students at one of the world’s top universities. The program provides the opportunity to take two academic courses while engaging in socio-cultural extracurricular activities specific to Vancouver and its surroundings.July 14 – August 14, 2023 |
UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries is offering its inaugural Vancouver Summer Program session, focused on providing international undergraduate students with a grounding in ocean leadership. |
Grand Challenges Facing the Ocean
This project-based course will develop leadership and advocacy skills that are required to address key challenges facing the ocean, from overexploitation and marine pollution to climate change and ocean acidification. Students will learn about key marine and coastal issues and how to apply technical expertise to address real-world marine challenges. Working in groups on timely problems facing the ocean, students will learn to analyze the challenges, identify opportunities for resolution, and then embark on that path to change. In so doing, they will gain experience applying their technical expertise to address actual challenges facing the oceans today.
How to be an Ocean Leader
This course will train students to help create a world in which the oceans are healthy and their resources are used sustainably and equitably. Through lectures and workshop activities, students will learn about integrating and synthesizing disparate knowledge, policy analysis and briefing, public communication, and knowledge translation. The instructors focus on developing transferable capacity to improve the future of the ocean, rather than teaching technical skills that are specific to particular disciplines. That means that students will develop skills in collective leadership, facilitating collaboration, interdisciplinary teamwork, oral presentations, conventional and social media, public communication, and knowledge translation.
The IOF VSP includes approximately 39 hours of class time. Courses are directed by UBC faculty members and taught by researchers in our community. Classes are interactive and may include group discussions, guest lecturers, research projects, and short field trips.
Courses do not received UBC credit but course credit may be granted by the student’s home university (at its discretion).
Note: Many course packages have a minimum and maximum class size, so we encourage you to register your students early. Course packages that do not have the minimum number of students will not be offered, but students may transfer to other packages.
Dates
July 14 - August 14, 2023
Schedule
Schedules vary depending on the package selected. Typically, classes are held 5 days a week from Monday to Friday.
Example of a typical schedule:
- 9:00am – 12:00pm | Morning class
12:00pm – 1:00pm | Lunch break
1:00pm - 4:00pm | Afternoon class
The 2023 program fee is CAD $5,625 and includes:
- Course materials and tuition for two courses
- Learn at UBC, one of the largest and oldest universities in Canada, and on its breathtaking campus. (Take a virtual tour of UBC!)
- Shared accommodation on UBC campus (Accommodation and residence details can be found on the UBC Vancouver Summer Program website.)
- Medical insurance
- Transportation by shuttle bus to and from airport (during peak hours)
- Vancouver city tour
- Orientation and farewell events
- Social activities (some activities may require an additional fee)
*Times Higher Education’s “World’s Most International Universities 2017” ranking
Note: Students are responsible for the cost of food and transportation around the city, as well as any other personal expenses they may incur.
This program is for students registered at a post-secondary institution outside of Canada and at least 19 years of age on the first day of the program.
For registration and payment, please see the UBC Vancouver Summer Program website.
Contact
Neil Maclean
Administrative Manager
Email: n.maclean@fisheries-2023.sites.olt.ubc.ca
The IOF VSP includes organized social and cultural activities, which are a great opportunity to make friends with other VSP students from around the world, as well as local UBC students! Additionally, these activities are opportunity to learn more about Vancouver and Canadian culture.
Example activities include:
Optional weekend trips to the following locations may also be organized:
*additional fees may be required