Media Releases/Articles
GEN promotes studying abroad at SAIT
By Danielle Bartha, April 2008
Studying abroad can be an enriching experience and with SAIT being a part
of the Global Education Network, there are now more student travel opportunities
than ever.
The Global Education Network (GEN) is an association of technological schools
throughout the world including Australia, Singapore and the U.S.
SAIT students who are enrolled in participating academic programs are offered
either a short-term exchange for three weeks of the opportunity to study
abroad for a full semester, enabling students to learn other cultures and
see how their education will transfer to other countries.
Pam Baji, Project Coordinator of Educational relationships at SAIT has
just finished taking in applicants for a three week student exchange beginning
in May.
“Studying abroad is an unbeatable experience,” said Baji. “It
allows students to see what other people are doing around the world in their
same field and it opens doors for future employment.”
The application process can be quite competitive as only 10-12 students
can go to each school at a time, which means about two students for each
program.
Grades are not only taken into account, there is also a panel interview
where students are required to make an 5-10 minute presentation to persuade
the panel as to why they should be chosen.
“The application process is basically to make sure the students is
going for the right reasons,” said Baji. “It’s not only
important that they are a good student, but that they will be a good ambassador
for not only SAIT, but also Calgary and Canada.”
When SAIT students are chosen they are awarded a $2500 bursary which usually
covers the flight and after that students are responsible for any additional
costs such as accommodation and food.
Although it may seem like a substantial expense, Baji says it is quite
comparable to renting a place in Calgary and paying the associated costs
of living on your own.
Some of the SAIT programs that are transferable include Hospitality Management,
Architectural Technology, Business Administration, Automotive Service Technology
and Digital Graphics. Baji is working hard to branch out and include more
SAIT programs with the GEN and is also looking into more schools to exchange
students with.
“The goal is to have one school on every continent,” said Baji.
According to Baji it is a slow process and one of the challenges in adding
more schools is getting the momentum going with the other institutions.
She is also working on more full-semester transfers, as SAIT has been mostly
offering students the three week exchange option.
Being part of the GEN, SAIT hosts students from other participating institutions
every year and there are currently three students from Box Hill Institute
in Melbourne, Australia studying here for the semester.
One of those students is Duncan Hames, as 23-year-old student in the Electronic
Engineering Program.
He has been here since the start of semester, and will return to Australia
to continue this studies at Box Hill this summer.
In comparison to the same program at Box Hill, Hames finds the SAIT program
has a heavier workload, with more theoretical work than back home.
“A big difference between SAIT and Box Hill is the lab process at
SAIT which we don’t really have back home,” said Hames. “The
school week definitely has more hours here and it is a lot more theory-based
learning.”
Hames will receive full credit for his semester at SAIT and say he would
recommend this exchange program to anyone.
“It’s amazing how organised the exchange program is,”
said Hames. “Everyone’s been really hospitable and is really
making an effort to make sure I’m having a good time.”
This is not only Hames’ first time overseas by himself, but also
his first time in Canada. Since arriving in Calgary he has been taking in
true Canadian culture by visiting Banff to see the Rocky Mountains and going
to his first NHL game.
For information on SAIT’s student exchange program, or to apply to study abroad visit www.sait.ca/gen.