Thailand Field School

Spend two weeks in northern Thailand learning about local economic development and environmental challenges, specifically those issues that highlight the importance of inclusivity, equitability and sustainability in community development and resilience movements. Through community visits, conversations with civil society groups, museum visits, and travel throughout Thailand, students will learn about the impacts of environmental challenges on everyday life and on rural and urban landscapes. They will also learn about community resilience and innovative approaches to such environmental challenges, and strategies aimed at advancing sustainable community development. Topics and site visits may include: mining and the impact of extractive growth strategies on the local environment and on communities; deforestation and local experiences of climate change; grassroots anti-poverty initiatives; community resistance to environmentally damaging economic growth strategies and community resilience; and, legal rights and political movements of ethnic minorities. Finally, we will consider the intersection of some of these issues with local and international supports to refugee and undocumented communities in Northern Thailand.

Through classroom learning, site visits and direct engagement with communities and NGOs in Thailand, students will acquire a deeper understanding of the interconnections between humans, development policies and practices, and the environment. Students will also learn about how communities organize to resist harmful practices that affect livelihoods and the environment, and about community struggles, and the politics and processes of resilience.

Course requirements and expectations:

• Attendance and participation in all pre- and post- departure training and classroom work.
• Completion of all course requirements, including in-country (Thailand) activities, and one blog post for the CAPI website. Details will be provided in the course outline.
• Profile picture and bio for the CAPI website.
• Completed GSO pre-departure form and final narrative report (on an external portal). Details to be provided once program participants are identified.

This course will take place from approximately May 1 – 31. Pre-departure training and classroom lectures will take place from Monday 29 April. The in-country component of the field school will take place for 3 weeks in May. 

CAPI has received generous funding for this field school from the Canadian government’s Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) Program, Canada’s new outbound student mobility program. GSO is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and administered through Universities Canada. Funding from GSO will be used to provide full funding for the field school for up to 7 students, and partial funding for 3 students. See full details below in the ‘funding’ section. The Social Science Faculty at UVic has provided some additional funding to support student participation in this field school.

GSO seeks to provide Canadian post-secondary students with international study and work experiences to obtain the skills and training needed to participate in a changing labour market. 

GSO objectives are to:

• Widen access and equity to participation in outbound student mobility programming
• Diversify the destination countries where students choose to study and work abroad
• Test innovative approaches to reduce barriers to study/work abroad 

Who is eligible to participate in this field school?  

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents; must be 18 years or older at the time of application;
• Full-time undergraduate students (preferably 3^rdor 4^th year standing);
• Prerequisites: POLI 103; and POLI 217 or GDS 201; or permission from the department(s). POLI 240 and GDS 301 strongly recommended;
• Students from other faculties and departments who do not have the pre-requisites are encouraged to contact Dr. Marlea Clarke, GDS Director, or Robyn Fila, CAPI Program Manager, to discuss participation.

Generous funding to cover most or all of the entire cost of the course (including all travel) is available for up to 10 students. Priority for participation in this course (the field school) will be given to students who are typically underrepresented in outbound mobility programming. In other words, priority will be given to students who have not been able to participate in field schools or international experiential learning opportunities due to identified barrier(s). Racialized students who also identify with one of the criteria below are encouraged to apply.  

Underrepresented groups include and are defined by the program funders as:

• Low-income students: students who report to be in receipt of Canada Student Grants, or similar non-repayable student financial assistance offered by provinces or territories, or, in the absence of receiving non-repayable student financial assistance, can provide information to demonstrate that they require financial support to study or work abroad.
• Indigenous students: students who report being an Indigenous person; that is, First Nations, Metis, Inuk (Inuit), or other.
• Students with disabilities. Students who report to have a difficulty or impairment due to a long-term condition or health program and/or experience a limitation in their daily activities.

Funding Amounts

Target Category Students

Other Students

Those who are not part of the identified target communities are eligible for funding up to $5000 CAD/student (3 students).

We anticipate that all funded participants will have the following costs covered through the program funding and administered by the program team: airfare, tuition, in-country travel, basic dorm-style and hostel type accommodation, group meals and in-country programming (museum and site entrance fees, donations to host organizations, translator fees, etc.). 

Spending money for shopping and meals other than group meals will be at the students’ own expense. 

We may also accept up to 2 additional students who can self-fund and cover the costs of most of their own participation in the course. Small grants (e.g. $500 - $1,000) for these students are available through GDS. Contact the GDS Director for more information.

All participants must purchase comprehensive travel insurance covering cancellation, travel interruption, health, and baggage once your flights have been booked and purchased. If you have comprehensive coverage through a parental plan or credit card, proof must be shown once your flight has been purchased. 

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• A completed application form
• An up-to-date resume (no more than 2 pages)
• University transcripts (unofficial copies or CAPP reports are acceptable)

Complete application packages MUST BE submitted by email to Robyn Fila at rfila@uvic.ca by 24 January 2024 - 4 pm PST. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please include “2023 Field School Application - FirstName LastName” in the subject line of your email.

Applications should be saved as “your name - description of the document” (e.g. “Your Name - transcript”). All attachments should be in PDF format only.

We thank everyone for their applications and interest in the CAPI/GDS/POLI Field School program. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted (in February) to set up an interview time.

Once applicants have been accepted into the field school, they will need to register for the course in the May – August 2023 term.