VCC students broaden perspectives with international summer camp scholarships
Each year, University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) scholarships open doors for students to global opportunities. Cathy McCarthy, a VCC student in the Professional Instructor Diploma program and Ken Shi, a VCC student in the Auto Service Technician Certificate program spent part of their summer exploring diverse cultures. These stories highlight how our programs inspire ambition and connect our community to the world.
In July of 2024, Cathy McCarthy, a VCC student in the Professional Instructor Diploma program, was awarded a UMAP scholarship and participated in one of its exotic Discovery Camps, hosted at the Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB). The two week long, fully sponsored 2024 Odyssey Summer Programme was designed as an enriching educational and social experience with a mixture of Brunei’s rich array of cultural activities, hands-on activities, in- class sessions, and outdoor adventures that explored the local environment through a lens of global responsibility and appreciation.
The program incorporated content about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 4, 8, 10 and 15 in relation to life in Brunei Darussalam. Participants visited and stayed in various locations throughout the country, offering them insight into the distinct cultural identities and unique characteristics of each local region such as jungle-to-plate cuisines, handicraft workshops, and tribal arts. The participants also visited exhibition galleries, museums, and historical landmarks that provided an unforgettable and eye-opening introduction to Brunei's Islamic heritage and historical artifacts.
“The experience was very impactful, not life-changing, but very meaningful,” said Cathy. She felt that being exposed to the culture and life of Brunei was “mind-blowing in the best of ways” and that she “had no idea where Brunei even was” before she participated in this program. When asked about the highlights of the program, Cathy recalled being impressed by Brunei’s efforts towards environmental sustainability, like UTB’s academic programs and how the university created plastics out of organic waste products. She also reflected on a visit to a local McDonald’s who had implemented “green practices”.
In Fall 2024, Ken Shi, a VCC student in the Auto Service Technician Certificate program, was awarded a UMAP scholarship and participated in a short-term summer program hosted by Toyo University in Hakusan, Japan. The immersive and interactive summer camp included Japanese language classes for beginners, Japanese culture classes, field visits around Tokyo, and engaging activities with Toyo University students. For Ken, the highlight of the program was a visit to Mt. Fuji where the students conducted field work directly related to environmental protection and preservation.
Ken shared his amazing experience at the Toyo University summer program:
“If there’s the opportunity to go abroad, just go for it. It's going to be life changing for you. I promise. Toyo University is definitely the place to go. They will provide the experience that will touch your heart. To change your life.”
“Absolutely great opportunity in my life, to have a trip in Japan. To experience the culture, to see the country. It was a life changing experience, I would say.”
Contact VCC International at umap@vcc.ca for more information regarding upcoming summer camps.