鈥淲ith prestige comes great opportunity.鈥�
That鈥檚 what Claire Seremba, 24-year old Uganda native, says of receiving the chance to study at AV俱乐部 this fall. Claire and her fellow student Roxanne Graham, from Grenada, are studying at Dal this year as part of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Program.
The QEII Scholars Program is a national collaborative initiative that operates through Rideau Hall Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada and Universities Canada. Its goal is to foster a dynamic community of young global leaders across Canada and the Commonwealth who share knowledge, exchange ideas, and collaborate on meaningful initiatives through cross-cultural exchanges. Within this program, AV俱乐部 has teamed up with partners in the Caribbean, Uganda and Tanzania to provide QES funded opportunities for students to receive academic credit while studying internationally and expanding their networks.
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Roxanne, a master鈥檚 student in Marine Management, says she鈥檚 felt incredibly welcome from the moment she stepped onto campus.
鈥淲hen it comes to making friends, I鈥檓 actually enjoying it,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y classmates are really enjoying my culture. I teach them certain dance moves and we have fun, so it鈥檚 been really exciting so far.鈥�
鈥淓xciting and scary,鈥� says Claire about receiving her acceptance into the program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my first time traveling out of Africa so there are a lot of adjustments, but there鈥檚 always a way over every single hurdle.鈥�
Interdisciplinary experiences
Claire is currently pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in International Development Studies at Dal. Originally from the city of Kampala, she learned of the opportunity to study abroad through the QES program while working towards her undergraduate degree in Uganda.
After being approached by a professor who suggested she fill out an application, she began to do her research on the university. She's always been interested in gender and women鈥檚 development, and policy issues including such as barriers to employment, education or leadership skills. She realized she might have found a good fit.
鈥淭he program that they offer here at Dal is quite interdisciplinary, and that鈥檚 what I like to do,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he arts have interesting alignments in terms of development studies, and how they align those to student activities as well. To have that kind of different college experience is really great.鈥�
Since arriving to Halifax in August, Claire鈥檚 experience at Dal has been positive and accommodating. Despite Canada鈥檚 education system being different than that of Uganda鈥檚, the support of her peers and faculty members in the IDS department have helped her settle comfortably both into her classes and the culture. Her keen interest in NGO and humanitarian work also prompted her to join WUSC (World University Service of Canada), a society at Dal that aims to improve the lives of those in developing countries.
鈥淭hrough the society and in my classes, we鈥檝e had really good engagement about lessons learned from Uganda and what Uganda can learn from Canada,鈥� Claire says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been sort of a cross-cultural interaction and exchange, and that鈥檚 been really phenomenal to get to know the perspectives that people have about my country.鈥�
Forging connections
As for Roxanne, after completing her undergraduate degree in biology, wildlife and conservation in her native Grenada she chose Dal to pursue her master鈥檚 based on the multidisciplinary nature of the Marine Management program.
鈥淢y background is mostly conservation, but marine management focuses on policies, conservation and the different logics that come into marine management,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat one dimension of conservation, that鈥檚 what my mind frame was, so now this gives me more exposure to all the different aspects that come into proper marine management.鈥�
Throughout her master鈥檚, Roxanne plans to expand on her main areas of interest which include environmental and social assessments, as well as looking at management plans for marine invasive species. Back home, Roxanne is also the founder of organization and annual event, Face of Grenada (FOG). Under the motto 鈥淏eauty with a Purpose,鈥� FOG鈥檚 mission is to celebrate the beauty and talents of Grenadian women while highlighting socio-economic or environmental issues.
Upon completion of their degrees through the QES program, both women have plans for the future that involve returning home in some regard to share what they鈥檝e learned abroad. Beyond that, Claire hopes to one day work for UN Women and Global Health Corps, and Roxanne plans to pursue a career in marine consultation and education.
Whichever path they choose, both will remain part of a high-profile national network of scholars, a status awarded to them by the QES program for their exemplary academics.
With prestige, indeed, comes great opportunity.