The program will equip students to create positive change
St. Paul’s University College at the University of Waterloo announced the creation of the Michaëlle Jean Scholars in International Development.
“I was sincerely moved by the announcement of the scholarship program created under my name,” said Madame Jean after the announcement. “I am very proud to be associated with a major award in support of the International Development program, which has special meaning for me.”
The International Development program provides students with the right knowledge and intercultural skills to create positive change in overseas communities where there are issues of economic inequality, social justice, and environmental degradation. The Michaëlle Jean scholars who choose to complete the 8-month overseas field placement will be matched with an international organization best suited to develop their particular passion for furthering sustainable development within selected geographical areas or communities.
“The students who choose to study at St. Paul’s share the same duty to make Canada and the world a more just place as the former governor general,” said St. Paul’s principal Richard Myers. “This award will help put them in a position to succeed, especially the unique eight-month field placement for fourth-year students.”
The program is a partnership between St. Paul’s and Waterloo’s School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED). In it, SEED delivers two-thirds of the academic programming through its undergraduate degree in International Development (INDEV). St. Paul’s delivers the remainder, including the experiential learning placement or thesis project.
Madame Michaëlle Jean served as Canada’s Governor-General from 2005 to 2010 and joined St. Paul’s to serve as its chancellor from 2020 to 2024.
Beginning in 2023, St. Paul’s will designate three incoming International Development students as Michaëlle Jean scholars per year. They will hold the title for the duration of their enrollment in the program.
There will be a continuous cohort of 12 Michaëlle Jean scholars studying at any given time. Recipients will be provided with a bursary of $7,000 toward the cost of residence at St. Paul’s in their first year and an annual book allowance of $1,000 in each of the remaining years of their program. The Michaëlle Jean scholars will be expected to show leadership in the student INDEV community.
