In a recent cost-saving maneuver, UBC has cancelled the International Service Learning program.
International Service Learning (ISL) is a program that offers students a chance to get practical training abroad in their field of interest, while also offering aid to developing communities.
According to Susan Grossman, Director for the Centre for Community Engaged Learning, this move was part of an effort to save money to spend on other priorities.
“This not a decision about the quality of the program,” said Grossman. “The program we recognize is incredibly transformative for students, however it’s not serving a large number of students so we need to make some tough decisions.”
According to Janet Teasdale, Managing Director for Student Development and Services, the program benefited about 80 to 100 students per year. Last year, the total budget used for the program was $240,765, though $272,103 had been allocated for the program. The entire budget for the Centre for Community Engaged Learning, including ISL allocation, was $1,290,345 last year.
“This was part of a larger budget process undertaken where each central unit was asked to identify opportunities for savings,” said Teasdale. “The number of students who benefited was small … and the cost was higher than we could sustain.”
According to Grossman, this was not unexpected, as it was part of a recent request to look for reallocated dollars for university priorities.
Teasdale did not specify what is currently being prioritized over International Service Learning.
When asked who informed the UBC community of the cancellation, Teasdale said that “Faculties and international partners and program staff have been engaged in the discussion that the program will be winding down in its current form…. We expect to inform the community how we will be moving forward over the next couple of months.”
According to Grossman, learning abroad will continue despite the cancellation of ISL.
“Although the programming is shutting down or winding down, the actual experiences may continue in other forms,” said Grossman. “This has been a very important program to helping faculties understand how to engage their students in international efforts such as these, and we’re going to do everything we can over the process of winding down to support those faculties.”