PARTNERSHIP WITH WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA
GENERAL INFORMATION
LANGUAGE PROGRAM
FIELD PLACEMENT PREPARATION AND SELECTION
FIELD PLACEMENT COSTS
STUDENT AWARDS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
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INDEV PARTNERSHIP WITH WORLD UNIVERSITY SERVICE OF CANADA
The University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development www.seed.uwaterloo.ca has partnered with St. Paul’s University College www.stpauls.uwaterloo.ca and the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) www.wusc.ca to provide INDEV students with eight months of hands-on experience in international development.
One of Canada’s leading development agencies, WUSC has a long term presence in Africa, Asia and South America and has developed expertise in handling student volunteers and developing lasting partnerships with local organizations. By sending student and professional volunteers overseas through its programs Students Without Borders and Uniterra www.uniterra.ca, WUSC works to promote human development and reduce poverty through innovative partnerships.
INDEV works with WUSC in Ottawa and its offices in developing countries to identify placements that meet the educational goals of the INDEV program, and then matches students with local partners/mandates. One of the key objectives of the program is that selected development projects and/or partners will have a lasting positive impact on local people, their environment, and economies, aided by the placement of INDEV students.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The field placement is part of a long-term effort led by INDEV, WUSC and local partners, focused on developing solutions to particular environmental or development challenges.
To meet the educational goals of the program, each student is matched to a field placement that is designed to help them develop particular skills and contribute to sustainable development within selected geographical areas and communities. Final decisions on matching students to field placements are made by WUSC and local partner organizations.
Students are placed only with those organizations that are:
Capable of providing students with a safe and secure working and living environment
Open to collaboration and innovation
Participatory and ethical
Focused on measurable and lasting impact (i.e., social, environmental, economic); and
Engaged with local communities in developing practical solutions to environmental and development challenges
Areas of Interest
Students may apply for field placement in one or more of the following areas:
Participatory natural resource or waste management
Small business or social enterprise development
Community-based microfinance or health service delivery
Environmental impact assessment or restoration
Development policy/project evaluation
Field placement information sessions are offered to each cohort every Fall Term in order to inform students about the options available, and to help them identify one or more countries and areas of interest that best suit their interests, skills, experience, and potential.
Student Eligibility for Field Placement
Students must maintain a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 65 percent overall average to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for field placement in 4th year. Students are required to complete all academic coursework prior to departure for field placement. For students experiencing difficulty with the academic course load, see the Undergraduate Administrative Coordinator or the Program Director, as there are a variety of services available to help you.
Countries Available for Field Placements in 2012
Country |
Official and National Languages |
Language Requirements |
| Bolivia | Spanish, Quechua | Develop or demonstrate intermediate-level conversational Spanish by 3A Fall Term; Complete INDEV 304 - Spanish in 3B Winter Term |
| Burkina Faso | French, Mooré, Jula Fulfulde | Develop or demonstrate intermediate-level conversational French by 3A Fall Term Complete INDEV 304 – French in 3B Winter Term |
| Botswana | English, Setswana, Kalanga, Khoisan | In-country training and independent study |
| Guatemala | Spanish, Maya languages | Develop or demonstrate intermediate-level conversational Spanish by 3A Fall Term Complete INDEV 304 – Spanish in 3B Winter Term |
| Ghana | English, Twi, Ewe, Fante | In-country training and independent study |
| Malawi | English, Chichewa |
In-country training and independent study |
| Nepal | English, Nepal | In-country training and independent study |
| Peru | Spanish, Quechua | Develop or demonstrate intermediate-level conversational Spanish by 3A Fall Term Complete INDEV 304 – Spanish in 3B Winter Term |
| Senegal | French, Wolof, Fula, Diola | Develop or demonstrate intermediatel-level conversational French by 3A Fall Term Complete INDEV 304 - French in 3B Winter Term |
| Vietnam | Vietnamese | Complete INDEV 304 - Vietnames in 3B Winter Term |
LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Students are required to develop or demonstrate conversational ability in a second language including, but not limited to, the official language spoken in the countries selected for INDEV field placements.
To meet this requirement, students are required to take INDEV 304 – Language
Conversation for Development, which is offered every Winter Term
In French, Vietnamese, and Spanish, subject to student demand.
The course emphasizes everyday speaking and listening skills, as well as culture
and international development vocabulary.
Students entering the program with no background in French or Spanish but wish to pursue a Spanish-speaking or francophone-Africa field placement, should complete at least two French or Spanish language courses as electives prior to taking INDEV 304 French or Spanish in 3B Winter Term.
Students interested in field placements outside Spanish-speaking or francophone-African countries have several options:
Obtain a waiver for INDEV 304 if a) the student can demonstrate oral fluency in a second language other than English; or b) complete an independent course of study in one of the local languages in the student’s preferred country for field placement. Verification of either option must be arranged with the INDEV Field Placement and Language Program Coordinator.
Opt for INDEV 304 - Vietnamese and a field placement in Vietnam.
Recommended Spanish Lanugage Electives
Prerequisite Level |
Recommended UW Course | Remarks |
| No background | SPAN 101, 102 - Introduction to Spanish | Beginner level, emphasis on oral practice. |
| Grade 12 Spanish or SPAN 102 | SPAN 201A - Intermediate Spanish 1 | 3-hour lecture, one hour tutorial - emphasis on improving written, comprehension and speaking skills |
| SPAN 201A | SPAN 201B - Intermediate Spanish 2 | 3-hour lecture, one hour tutorial - emphasis on improving written, comprehension and speaking skills At this point, an INDEV student will have the minimum tools needed to communicate in a Spanish-speaking environment. |
| SPAN 201B or SPAN 251A | SPAN 301A - Composition and Conversation 1 SPAN 301B - Composition and Conversation 2 |
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| SPAN 251B or SPAN 351A | SPAN 401A - Advanced Composition and Conversation 1 SPAN 401B - Advanced Composition and Conversation 2 |
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| For native or near-native speakers that have not had formal language training | SPAN 210 - Intermediate Spanish for native speakers | Emphasis on improving writing and oral skills |
| Other important courses | SPAN 227, 228, 217, 218 | Literature and Latin American Culture |
Recommended French Lanugage Electives
| Prerequisite Level | Recommended Course | Terms Offered |
| Grade 9/10 French | FR 151 "Basic French 1" | F/W/S & Dist Ed |
| Grade 11 French | FR 152 "Basic French 2" | F/W/S & Dist Ed |
| Frade 12 French | FR 192A "French Lanugage 1: Module 1" | F/W/S & Dist Ed |
| French Immersion | FR192B "French Lanuage 1: Module 2" | F/W & Dist Ed |
In-Country Language Learning Approach
Development of practical speaking/listening skills in one or more of the languages widely used in the field placement country is a key learning objective and expected outcome of the BES-INDEV honours degree program. Actively learning the local language(s) while in-country is the best strategy for successful interaction and communication with co-workers, for understanding the cultural context for development work and, ultimately, for a rewarding and productive field placement.
In partial fulfillment of INDEV 401, students are expected to demonstrate a basic conversational ability in at least one of the local languages widely spoken in the region where the student is working and living. At a minimum, this ability should include the following topics: greetings and basic hospitality/courtesy, kinship/relations, personal information, the weather, getting around, purchasing/ordering food, bargaining (if applicable), telling time, numbers, and daily vocabulary used in the workplace.
Students that have demonstrated skills in Spanish, French or Vietnamese prior to the start of their field placement are expected to develop their skills further in-country and/or learn basic conversation in another local language commonly used where the student is working and living.
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No two strategies for learning the language will be alike. WUSC provides basic instruction during the first week of in-country orientation. WUSC also helps students arrange individual/group instruction and access learning resources if available locally. Students are responsible for establishing their own study/practice time with co-workers, neighbours, or homestay family, which will vary depending on type of field placement, host organization, location (i.e., urban or rural), and country. Living with a host family is recommended for the first few weeks or longer, as it is an effective way to learn the local language and culture. WUSC works with students to arrange homestays where feasible.
To help students set individual learning objectives and self-assess progress in-country, students are required to complete a weekly study log, to be submitted to the Field Placement and Language Program Coordinator in partial fulfillment of INDEV 401.
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FIELD PLACEMENT PREPARATION AND SELECTION
Students are encouraged to learn about the countries and areas of interest available for field placement, starting in first year. Students are required to apply for field placement in 3A Fall Term and are otified about final selection of students for field placements in 3B Winter Term, at least six months prior to departure.
Below is a timeline of student activities (recommended or required) to prepare students for the 4th year field placement.
| 1A FALL TERM |
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| 2A FALL TERM |
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| 3A FALL TERM |
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| 3B WINTER TERM |
Note: Students are responsible for understanding all pre-departure inforamtion provided by WUSC, and for arranging all required documents as directed (i.e., valid passport, police check, medical exam, vaccinations, health and travel coverage, and copy of visa if applicable). Pre-department preparation is time consuming: students shuld prepare to allocate at least a few hours per week in both 3B and 4A Terms to organize and complete all pre-departure preparation within the deadlines provided by WUSC, before the end of 4A Term. |
| 4A SPRING TERM |
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| 4B FALL TERM |
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| 4C WINTER TERM |
|
FIELD PLACEMENT COSTS
Tuition and Incidental Fees
The 4th year of the INDEV program consists of three consecutive terms: Spring (pre-departure), Fall (field placement) and Winter (field placement and on-campus de-briefing program).
Tuition and incidental fees apply on a per-term basis as indicated in the Undergraduate Calendar www.ugradcalendar.uwaterloo.ca
Field Placement Fee
A compulsory field placement fee of $3,000 will be charged to all INDEV students eligible for 4th year field placement. The fee is collected by the University of Waterloo and paid to WUSC. The placement fee appears on the students’ tuition bill for the 4A, B, and C terms. The fee is an eligible expense under provincial student loan programs.
The field placement fee cover’s WUSC’s overhead costs of procuring field placements, maintaining partnerships with field offices and host organizations, evaluating field placements, monitoring and enhancing student safety, and providing emergency services as needed.
The fee includes the following services:
Identifying and securing high-quality and safe field placement opportunities
Coordinating with the INDEV FPC to ensure host organizations and student mandates meet program educational criteria and objectives
Pre-departure assistance with required travel and health documentation, financial budgeting, health and safety risk management
Pre-departure orientation and post-placement debriefing
Airport pickup and in-country orientation
24-hour medical emergency contact number in-country
Assistance to find local accommodation
Assistance and mentoring student to develop his/her WUSC Learning and Development Plan each term
Site visits to each student at least once per term
Evaluation of field placements with local supervisor
In-country assistance with personal and work-related issues
Access to a global network of WUSC alumni
Travel and Living Costs
WUSC provides students with an estimated budget for expected field placement costs by country, including airfare, visa, vaccinations, and living allowance for the eight months overseas. Students are responsible for ensuring they have enough funds to cover these costs as expenses arise. The estimated budget is based on last year’s actual costs incurred by student-volunteers, however, costs may change without notice due to fluctuations in local currency, fuel, rent, utilities, and food prices. Typically, students should expect to budget between $5,000 to $9,000 for airfare and basic living expenses (rent, utilities, food, local transport, and other essentials).
INDEV Travel Policy
Students are required to travel with their group to the country of field placement on dates determined by the WUSC field offices and INDEV. Students must depart and return to Toronto Pearson Airport (exceptions may apply to international students residing outside Canada). Departure will typically be during the first week of September returning to UW campus last week of April. Students pay WUSC an estimated cost of return airfare and WUSC then arranges tickets for each student by group. Frequent flyer points cannot be applied to the purchase of student tickets. WUSC works with a reputable travel agency and makes every effort to keep travel costs low for students while minimizing the risk of travel delays and other disruptions.
STUDENT AWARDS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
St. Paul’s University College Fellowship in International Development
To provide a common learning environment for each student cohort preparing for their field placements, and to reduce student costs in the final year of the Honours BES-INDEV program, St. Paul’s University College offers a 4th Year Fellowship to all students accepted into the BES-INDEV program.
The Fellowship entitles students to free double-room accommodation and a partial meal plan at St. Paul’s for the full 4A term (Spring) and for the 2-week debriefing period at the end of the 4C term field placement (Winter).
The value of the Fellowship is approximately $3,300. The Fellowship has no redeemable or transferable value. Students apply for the Fellowship in 3A Fall Term. A refundable deposit to reserve space is required. Instructions provided by St. Paul’s University College.
UW Awards
Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships and awards offered by UW and other institutions (i.e., Canadian International Development Agency, Export Development Canada.) that are designed to help students pay for their overseas experience. Two such awards for which INDEV students are eligible to apply are described below:
Ontario International Education Opportunity Scholarships (OIEOS) is intended to support undergraduate and graduate students at Waterloo undertaking an international field placement, academic study term or coop work term outside Canada. Approximately 90 awards, valued at up to $2,500 each, are available for the 2011-2012 year. Students are required to demonstrate financial need (receipt of OSAP is not a requirement). The placement must be for a minimum of four weeks. Students are invited to apply for each field placement term, i.e., July for Fall 2011 field placement and again in November for a Winter 2012 field placement.
Kavelman-Fohn Foundation International Experience Award is intended to support Waterloo students undertaking a humanitarian work experience in a developing country. Approximately 25 to 35 awards, each valued at around $2,500 or more, are available annually to undergraduate students in any UW faculty, including students undertaking an INDEV field placement. Students are invited to apply for each field placement term, i.e., July for a Fall 2011 field placement and November for a second award in the Winter 2012 term.
Eligibility criteria, application forms and information about additional international experience awards and scholarships are found on the Student Awards and Financial website at http://safa.uwaterloo.ca/scholarships/currentawards.html
Student Loans - Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
Students are eligible to apply for OSAP loans, or the equivalent student assistance loan program in other Canadian provinces, to cover educational costs in terms 4A, 4B and 4C. The field placement fee is an OSAP-eligible expense, as are any other program-related expenses.
OSAP applications for 4B and 4C field placement terms must be submitted to OSAP by the end of 4A. INDEV students are encouraged to arrange a Power of Attorney in order to collect their student loan, deposit it to the appropriate bank account and pay tuition etc. while overseas.
For detailed instructions, visit the UW Student Awards and Financial Aid web site at http://safa.uwaterloo.ca/loanprograms/index.html
UW Bursaries
UW offers bursaries to eligible students based primarily on the student’s unmet financial need. Bursaries are meant to supplement, not replace, students' primary sources of funding such as OSAP or other provincial financial assistance, employment income, and parental/spousal contributions.
Bursary applicants have to be OSAP eligible (or eligible for another province's student loan program) as a means to meeting their education-related costs.
