REGINA — The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) and Scotiabank announced a new three-year initiative on Thursday.
The Scotiabank Pathways to Success Travel Bursary is a $500,000 allocation from ScotiaRISE, Scotiabank’s $500 million community investment initiative for travel opportunities.
“Learning and education actually extend beyond the classroom, and so what students are experiencing when they travel to other parts of the world is invaluable life experiences,” said FNUniv president Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann.
By connecting with other cultures, Ottmann said, students will not only build long-lasting friendships but also lasting professional networks.
K.D. Singh, district vice-president for Saskatchewan South at Scotiabank, said the funding is important to break down barriers Indigenous people face.
“With this funding, they will be able to travel for conferences, for cultural exchanges, domestically and internationally. This supports the growth of knowledge and also career opportunities.”
Tyrone Perreault, an FNUniv student, recently had the opportunity to travel to South Korea as a representative of the school, which he called an “eye-opening experience.”
“They’re very goal-oriented. And that actually helped me. I find myself utilizing a lot of the skills that they used.”
FNUniv is currently determining how many trips students can take over the next few years.
“Various programs will access the travel bursaries, whether it’s our fine arts program or whether it’s our business program or our education program,” said Ottmann.
As for Scotiabank extending its partnership beyond three years, Singh said the bank will continue working with universities and educators across the country on opportunities.
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