INDEV field placements are approved and arranged in partnership with St. Paul’s University College and the World University Service of Canada (WUSC). The field placement consists of two consecutive terms working with a local organization in a developing country. This experience will allow you to engage your passion and apply your classroom knowledge to intercultural learning and practical action!
You will be matched to a field placement designed to help you develop skills and contribute to sustainable development within selected geographical areas or communities. Availability of placements may vary from year to year depending upon the needs of local partners. Students are placed with organizations that are:
- Capable of providing students with a safe and secure working 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.
Eligibility
Please see the eligibility requirements for field placement.
Academically eligible students will be asked to submit an application for field placement and interview with our field placement partner, WUSC, in early 3B term. Successful applicants will be matched to WUSC partner organizations. Students must remain in good academic standing through to the pre-departure term and must successfully complete the WUSC pre-departure training in order to obtain final clearance for field placement. WUSC reserves the right to de-select students during the pre-departure training that are deemed ill-prepared or otherwise unsuited for placement.
Costs
In addition to tuition for the field placement terms, the WUSC program fee is $8,000, which includes return airfare, pre-departure training, accommodation, monthly living allowance, vaccinations, visas, medical/travel insurance, and 24/7 support in-country.
Past field placements
Please see the detailed list of past field placements. They include:
- Environmental Education Officer, Centre for Economic Rights and Environmental Sustainability (Peru)
- Research and Advocacy Officer, Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (Tanzania)
- Sustainable Tourism Research Officer, Ruhuna Tourism Bureau (Sri Lanka)
- Communications Intern, Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (Nepal)
Past projects that our students contributed to include:
- Developing income generation projects for urban or rural poor
- Conducting an environmental impact assessment or survey
- Creating a marketing or small business development plan
- Developing urban services such as microfinance or clean water
- Helping communities adapt to climate change
- Working with industry on environmental sustainability
- Addressing social challenges such as child labour and gender equality