Grants to Support Faculty & Staff Travel Abroad

Experience demonstrates that involvement in international activities promotes greater interest and participation in international activities on campus, including the introduction of international perspectives into curriculum. The Travel Grant program provides support to faculty members and administrative and support staff interested in increasing their international experience and/or cross-cultural competency through the following types of activities:

• Language and Culture Programs

• International Field Schools

• Student Exchanges, Internships or Practica

• Faculty and Staff Exchanges

• International Conferences

Application Process

All regular faculty, administrative and CUPE staff members with a minimum 50% permanent (not term) appointment are eligible to apply for funding. Typed applications are to be submitted to Sandra Galloway, Secretary to the Dean, International Education, Building 255, by 4pm on the deadline date. Submissions will be forwarded to the Grant Selection Committee.

Preference will be given to faculty and staff who have not previously received financial support from International Education and to those with limited international experience.

Note: For the purpose of this grant, the U.S.A.will not be considered as an international experience.

Award Amounts - International Education will fund up to 100% of reasonable expenses, including airfare, course or conference fees, accommodation and a per diem, to a maximum of $2,500. Funding is limited and awards will normally be granted no more than once in a two-year time period. Proposals must show supporting documentation for all expenses included.

Click here for the application form

Grant Selection Committee

The Grant Selection Committee meets twice annually to review proposals and is made up of the following membership:

• Dean of International Education
• 1 Faculty Representative (VIUFA)
• 1 Faculty Representative (BCGEU)
• 1 Administrative Representative
• 1 CUPE representative

Activities eligible for funding:

Language and Culture Programs

Proposals for language / culture programs must demonstrate how the experience would contribute to the internationalization efforts at VIU and provide an opportunity to link an international experience with the tasks assigned with your position.  For example, consider how a culture or language program would provide you with a better understanding of one of the cultural groups with whom you interact in your classroom or area and what that experience would contribute to the wider campus community.

International field Schools, Student Exchanges, Internships or Practica

Funding can be used:

• To do research and preparatory activities to design a field school;
• To develop new partnerships that will lead to the development of a field school, exchange or other possibility for student Education abroad;
• To evaluate or monitor existing partnerships;
• To participate in a field school as an administrative leader or to gain the necessary experience to lead one in the future (applications will not be considered from faculty/staff whose attendance in a field school is a required feature of the program – these costs must be built into the field school budget).

Faculty and Staff Exchanges

Participation in a teaching exchange or short-term visits for professional development between colleagues in the same job from an overseas institution.  This will need to be mutually supported with the exchange partner.  Consider how a visit to an institution to shadow a counterpart would enhance your position and your international understanding.

International Conferences

• VIUFA / BCGEU    Maximum $ 500
• Admin / CUPE    Maximum $1000

International conferences include gatherings where delegates in attendance will be from a diversity of countries/cultures and where the intent/content of the conference will focus on international perspectives. Proposals for conference participation must demonstrate how attendance will enhance international understanding, assist in internationalizing the curriculum or contribute to the inter­nationalization efforts at Vancouver Island University.

Examples of conferences that might be considered:

• BCCIE (http://www.bccie.bc.ca/)
• CBIE (http://www.cbie.ca/)
• ACCC (http://www.accc.ca/)
• ACE (http://www.acenet.edu/)
• EAIE (http://www.eaie.nl/)
• NAFSA (http://www.nafsa.org/)

Faculty applying for participation in conferences must indicate if they are applying for funding through the Travel and Scholarly Activity Committee at Vancouver Island University.

For More Information Contact

Audrey Hansen

Manager, Education Abroad

Local 6312

Audrey.Hansen@viu.ca