Algoma University recently welcomed home 10 students who had travelled across Denmark and Norway for an international condensed course to learn about the aging experience.
During their course, the students saw forward-thinking approaches to care. This included visits to The World’s Most Accessible Office, a Dementia Village, and heard a Dementia Choir perform. They also engaged with public health experts on fostering belonging for seniors experiencing frailty, explored co-housing and had in-depth discussions with frontline workers in the senior-care sector.
This experience allowed students to compare Scandinavian policies with those in Canada, returning home with new ideas to help shape the future of care in Northern Ontario.
For more information, see the press release below.
Algoma University recently welcomed home ten students who had travelled across Denmark and Norway for an international condensed course to learn about the aging experience. The program, Postcards from Scandinavian Age-Friendly Communities: Interdisciplinary Management Strategies to Enhance a Better Future in the North, provided an opportunity to explore innovative policies, designs and practices in Scandinavia.
Throughout the course, students examined forward-thinking approaches to care, including visits to The World’s Most Accessible Office, a Dementia Village, and heard a Dementia Choir perform. They engaged with public health experts on fostering belonging for seniors experiencing frailty, explored co-housing and had in-depth discussions with frontline workers in the senior-care sector.
The experience allowed students to compare Scandinavian policies with those in Canada, and they returned home with new ideas to help shape the future of care in Northern Ontario.
“The field class to Denmark and Norway was such an amazing and eye-opening experience,” shared Emilie Vezina, a current Algoma University student in the biology program. “We met so many experts in the field of aging, and it was inspiring to see their passion and the impact they are making in their communities. It motivates me to pursue a career working to improve healthcare systems in Northern Ontario.”
This trip marks the final Global Skills Opportunity (GSO)-funded mobility experience, closing a transformative chapter for Algoma University’s international learning initiatives. “Having the opportunity to travel to Scandinavia with students was an incredible privilege. I could see the learning actually happening—the excitement and enthusiasm were contagious,” said Dr. Jodi Webber, who co-authored the course with Dr. Jody Rebek. “GSO provided me the chance as an instructor to try new teaching ideas and assessments, making the course experience much more collaborative and meaningful. I wouldn’t hesitate to teach another course abroad.”
Since 2020, 125 Algoma U students have been funded by the Global Skills Opportunity grant to expand their education beyond borders, gaining firsthand experience in diverse cultural and professional settings. While this program concludes, its impact remains—each student and faculty member carries forward invaluable global perspectives that will shape their careers and communities for years to come.
This experience was made possible through Global Skills Opportunity (GSO), a Government of Canada pilot program that supports international learning for post-secondary students—especially those who face barriers, including Indigenous students, students with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds. GSO is part of Canada’s International Education Strategy and is jointly administered by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada.
“As someone who was attending school fully online, I was feeling very disconnected from my school and community. The GSO opportunity allowed me to meet other students from Algoma and form long-lasting friendships. It gave me the chance to have ‘typical’ university experiences and explore Europe, something I wouldn’t have had otherwise," said Britt Simpson, Algoma University student in the school of social work.