After a successful pilot year, the International Certificate Program is expanding to high schools all over Ottawa, teaching students to embrace a global perspective on the world.
The program was a success at Lisgar Collegiate Institute and five other schools and has now been added this fall to three more Ottawa-Carleton District School Board schools.
Nine institutions are now a part of the program with 150 students enrolled, a number which is expected to rise to 200 next term when three more schools are added, according to Kathy Scheepers, International Education Coordinator for the school board.
According to Scheepers, there are advantages for students receiving a certificate from the OCDSB. “When you have a program that is board-wide, it is much easier to get recognition from post-secondary institutions,” she says.
She adds that part of the 2011-2015 strategy map highlighted key priority areas and a huge part of that was global citizenship.
The certificate, which is based on a similar program run by the Calgary Board of Education, is the only one offered in Ontario, according to Scheepers. Students enrolled in the non-compulsory program receive a certificate upon completion of high school by fulfilling a criterion of internationally focused classes.
Lisgar Collegiate successfully ran the program last year and has 30 students registered this year. “The days of pen pals are over,” says Trevor Grills, head of student services and international certificate advisor at Lisgar.
According to Grills, the growing influence of the Internet and social media on society is what makes this program important for today’s generation.
Grills says the promotion drew many students to the program. It has also drawn attention outside of the school, because of its success and the valuable experience gained from it.
“Parents of Grade 8 students are asking about it,” says Grills.
Lisgar students are no strangers to experiencing different cultures. Located in an area of Ottawa where there are many embassies, Lisgar students study alongside the children of diplomats from all over the world, says Grills.
“Because of this population, we naturally have a global focus at this school. We have clubs and events that all have a global and international focus,” he adds.
The International Certificate Program requires students to complete a number of hours volunteering as a host to an exchange student, or to travel to another country. Grills says that the certificate puts a purposeful international spin on courses for students.
“They’re not just doing them (the volunteer hours) in the local community, they’re doing them with an international focus. They’re making an extra effort of taking in those experiences from a cultural perspective and not so much from a tourism perspective,” he says.
Maria Fitzpatrick, a Grade 12 student at Lisgar, who joined the program this year and hopes to pursue a career in business, says she sees the importance of having high school students take part in the program.
“It’s important to know what’s going on around you not only in the cultural sense, but also knowing what issues may be happening in that country,” she says. “This is a great program to make people aware and motivate them to take courses beyond the typical math, science and English.".
Lucas Zhang, a Grade 11 student, joined the program last year to prepare himself for international business.
“We live in a world where politics and the economy have all been internationalized. It’s important to understand these world issues and how different perspectives can actually make a difference,” he says.
Although the program is in its infancy, the school board’s goal is to have the International Certificate Program available for every school in the district in a few years.
In early 2014, Merivale High School, Glebe Collegiate and Sir Robert Borden High School will be added to the program. By 2015, 18 high schools in the district will be signed up, says Scheepers.
“It’s important for students to be aware of how global events will impact the rest of the world, and have that perspective as they make career choices,” says Grills.