UNBC to offer student exchange with New Zealand university

UNBC students will have a unique opportunity to study in New Zealand.

The university is getting a $392,000 scholarship toward a joint aboriginal program with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, a Maori University in New Zealand, called “A Cross-Culture Indigenous Knowledge Exchange”.

Chair of First Nations Studies, Ross Hoffman says New Zealand has a lot to offer Northern BC students, especially with its culture.

“Over the last 30 years or more, they’ve done a lot of work in revitalization and governance of health care and language and cultural revitalization,” he says. “I think this learning experience will be beneficial.”

Hoffman says two things will be happening on either side of the globe; One sees UNBC under grad or masters students doing an an internship at a Maori organization down under.

“The other way, we have spots set aside where Maori students could come and take our Masters in First Nations studies here at UNBC, so it’s a two-year stay that they would come and be a part of our program,” he says.

Hoffman says word is just getting out to students now and he wants to meet interested students this week, with applications going out early April.

If all goes well, Hoffman hopes to have two Maori students start their program in September.

“We hope to be able to send two interns down, sometime this year,” he says. “Along with one UNBC student to study there in 2015.”

There will be a student info session Wednesday, March 18th, at 4 p.m. in the First Nations Centre.

(Photo courtesy UNBC).