Ireland: Thriving Communities | Fall 2024

Status

Open

Trip Destination

Castlebar, Ireland

Approximate Price

See Cost Information Below

Trip Date

10/19/2024

TO

10/27/2024

Application Deadline

04/30/2024

APPLY NOW

Cost Information

Cost for Domestic Students: $500-$1000 (includes IFS + BWR Course)
Cost for International Students: $1000 (includes IFS + BWR Course)
Cost for Students Not Willing to Take the BWR Course: ~$5000 (Full amount of IFS)

Above costs are for International Field Studies, for other programs please see the approximate cost listed above.

Program Information

This opportunity is available to all Niagara College students who: 

    • Are currently enrolled in and returning to the School of Community Services Program at Niagara College 
    • Have not yet taken part in a Be World Ready IFS experience since beginning their studies at Niagara College 
    • Are in good academic standing at the time of selection and prior to departure 
    • Are actively enrolled in a program at Niagara College during the term(s) of travel 
    • Agree to enroll in and complete the General (SOCL 1128) or Liberal (IDPL 9103) elective course in the Fall 2024 term (September – December 2024) & identified vocational course OR agree to pay the full amount of the trip if not participating in the Be World Ready Course (Up to ~6K, depending on IFS destination).
    • Students who do not wish to complete the 14-week Be World Ready course, during the fall 2024 term will be required to attend 2 in-person pre-departure training sessions, complete the 3 module self-directed pre-departure training modules, and the post-experience in-person debrief. For this, you will receive a BWR certificate for your portfolio and a $500 BWR grant applied to your student account upon return.

Cost for Domestic Students for “Castlebar, Ireland” is : $700

Physical Intensity

Moderate - Walking around city, uneven terrain/inclines, sitting for day trips, longer periods of standing during site visits

Accommodations

8 Nights in Hotels, Round Trip Airfare

Meals

Breakfast included at hotel, meals included on flights

Steps to Apply

  1. First, complete the Eligibility Survey here to make sure you qualify.
    • 5 minutes to complete
  2. Click here to register for the “Ireland: Thriving Communities” IFS
    • Approx. 30 minutes to complete, you will need a digital photo of your passport
  3. Confirmed eligible students will receive the instructions to make the $700-$1000 one-time payment by April 19th, 2024 to confirm your seat on the IFS.**If not registering for the BWR course, you will be supplied the full flight amount to be paid upon confirmed registration, along with instructions for program payment by April 19th.
  4. Receive email confirmation that your seat has been saved from [email protected].
  5. Get your suitcase out!

Ireland: Thriving Communities | Fall 2024

Join Be World Ready this fall and experience the magic, enchantment, and beauty of Ireland!  Known for its lush green landscape and rolling hills, Ireland is truly a magical and enchanting land where fairies exist and leprechauns roam.

Arrive in Dublin and hit the ground running to get yourself acquainted with this majestic country that you get to call home for the 7 days. We head straight to the west coast to the quaint village of Castlebar in County Mayo.  Join your peers and engage in thought-provoking activities and seminars at the Atlantic Technological University.

The next 5 days of your time abroad will be spent in one of Ireland’s fastest-growing communities – Castlebar! Named after an 11th-century castle, Castlebar began as a small market town and has grown into a prominent community in County Mayo. Castlebar was recently named as one of the best places to live, study, and work in Ireland. Revealed: The town offers the best ‘work-life balance’ in Ireland | Irish Independent. While in Castlebar we will have the opportunity to learn alongside leaders in Irish community services at the Atlantic Technological University and visit local industries to discover the impact that social services have on Castlebar’s community. This will include the impact of regional initiatives, the benefits of engaging locals to be active and caring for the vulnerable.

They say that seeing is believing and what better way to learn why Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle than to sign up today and put travel and enhanced education on your calendar this Fall!  Ireland is waiting for you.

This opportunity is only open to specific programs and years as noted below:

  • Child and Youth Care/ year 1, term 2
  • Early Childhood Education, year 1 terms 1 & 2
  • Educational Assistance & Adult Supports, year 1 terms 1 & 2
  • Recreation Therapy, year 1 term 2
  • Social Service Worker, year 1 terms 1 & 2

By participating in this IFS you will satisfy 2 credits:

A General or Liberal Elective Credit: SOCL 1128 OR IDPL 9103

AND the following Course Equivalences:

  • Child and Youth Care: CYCP1310 Communities, Systems and Social Innovation
  • Educational Assistance & Adult Supports: RECL 1221 Recreation for Inclusive Communities
  • Recreation Therapy: RECL 1440 Issues and Trends in Therapeutic Recreation
  • Social Service Worker: SOWK 1404 Leadership in the Workplace

You must currently be in one of the above programs in the noted year and term at the time of applying for this trip, to receive both course credits!

DEADLINE TO APPLY: APRIL 30, 2024

Travel Visa + Immigration Documentation:

Students are responsible for researching and applying for any required visa(s) on their own; Be World Ready is not able to apply for any travel visa(s) on your behalf. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation as needed to apply for a Visa once the deadline to register has passed. All international students will need to ensure that their Study Permits and Student Visas are not expired before the date of return from the international experience, to ensure that there are no challenges upon reentry to Canada. Travel restrictions and requirements for entry to Canada may change at any time. All travellers are responsible for remaining up to date with any restrictions and requirements for travel and re-entry to Canada leading up to and throughout their International Field Study. Niagara College Canada will assume no responsibility for any changes to governing body travel restrictions, required documentation for travel or any refused entry as a result of change. Travellers are encouraged to review the Government of Canada Website for the latest restrictions and requirements for entry to Canada, as well as to check entry requirements to their destination country as a Canadian citizen.

This opportunity is only open to specific programs and years as noted below:

  • Child and Youth Care/ year 1, term 2
  • Early Childhood Education, year 1 terms 1 & 2
  • Educational Assistance & Adult Supports, year 1 terms 1 & 2
  • Recreation Therapy, year 1 term 2
  • Social Service Worker, year 1 terms 1 & 2


DAY 1: Saturday, October 19, 2024

The day has finally arrived, and you are Ireland bound! Travel to Toronto Pearson International Airport to join your fellow Niagara College peers to board your Air Transat flight to Dublin. Sit back, relax, and try to catch a few winks on this overnight flight as the adventure begins in the morning.

DAY 2: Sunday, October 20, 2024

Rub the sleep from your eyes and don your finest green, you have officially touched down in Dublin! Collect your bags and get ready to experience the Irish Rail transit city as you make your way to Castlebar on the West Coast of Ireland! The train ride from Dublin to Castlebar is around 3 hours, you’ll check into your hotel and be given the time to settle in and relax until we gather for a brief city tour to get acquainted with your new village.

Included Meals: Meals served on the flight

DAY 3: Monday, October 21, 2024

After enjoying breakfast at your accommodations, get ready as your Irish educational experience begins today in the Woodlands. As Irish weather in late October can be unpredictable, make sure your dressed in your warm clothes, rain gear, and appropriate footwear!

• Nature Connection
• Camp Fire Lunch

Included Meals: Breakfast, Campfire lunch

DAY 4: Tuesday, October 22, 2024

After enjoying breakfast at your accommodations, your Irish educational experience continues with a full-day seminar on leadership in the field of community services and care.

  • Sessions at ATU

Included Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5: Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Wake up and pinch yourself because it’s not a dream – you’re headed to Galway! Known for its near-constant festival-like atmosphere, Galway ranks as the cultural capital of Ireland and is home to 10% of the country’s Irish speakers.

You need to be packed up and ready to check-out after breakfast as today we will take a ferry from Rossaveel to Inis Mór Island! The largest of the three Aran Islands, Inis Mór and boasts many scenic attractions and historical monuments, including an Iron Age fort perched precariously atop a 100-meter-high cliff face.

We spend the day here on a guided tour before continuing our journey to Castlebar this evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6: Thursday, October 24, 2024

Fuel up for the day with another delicious breakfast before heading back to ATU to partake in more amazing educational sessions and incredible industry visits in the afternoon.

  • Sessions at ATU – Connected Spaces & the 3rd Teacher
  • Dinning experience

Included Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7: Friday, October 25, 2024

Wake up and seize the day for our last sessions and community visits at ATU! Cheers to the new friends we have made and memorable lessons and experiences that will stay with us always!

  • Sessions at ATU – Reflection and site visits as confirmed
  • Free evening

Included Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8: Saturday, October 26, 2024

Leave the hotel at 8.00 a.m. and travel to the land of the Lilywhites, County Kildare.

Amongst the lush landscape of the Thoroughbred County, many of Ireland’s top studs, stables, and racecourses are to be found.

11.30am- 3.00pm: Your first stop will be at the Irish National Stud & Gardens. Here, you will meander through the Japanese Gardens and pose for a photo on the famous Red Bridge. You may also wish to take a guided tour through our Irish Racehourse experience. We will then stop off at the Curragh where our ATU host will give a brief history of the Curragh, as this is Louise’s home county, and she is a proud Lilywhite!

3.30pm- 5.30pm:  Arrive at the Killashee hotel where you will be served Afternoon tea Killashee Afternoon Tea | Killashee Hotel & Spa |Afternoon Tea Kil

6.30pm: Arrival at Dublin Hotel (near the airport, not in the city of Dublin), rest up for an early journey home.

Included Meals: Breakfast

DAY 9: Sunday, October 27, 2024

It’s an early shuttle back to the Dublin Airport. Board your flight and take in one final aerial view of the Emerald Isle and reflect on your amazing experience on your way home to Toronto.

Included Meals: Meals on flight

Disclaimers: Be World Ready does its best to execute the itinerary as outlined above, however, all elements are subject to change based on availability or requirement to adapt due to circumstances outside of our control. Students are reminded that it is their responsibility to research the entry requirements to the destination countries visited per their nationality and vaccination status.

* Price per student is in Canadian Dollars and reflects the Be World Ready (BWR) grant which has been applied to the total trip cost to heavily subsidize the rate per person for our Fall 2023 International Field Studies (IFS). Our future IFS BWR grants will not remain this high. To qualify for the full value of the BWR grant applied to this IFS, mandatory training and tasks are required to be completed, training and task expectations will be clearly communicated by BWR staff upon registration. Failure to complete the requirements as outlined by BWR staff will result in the value of the grant being billed back to the applicable student account, up to a maximum of $2500. Securing your seat on this trip will occur on a first come, first serve basis based on the registration date, and meeting payment timelines.

INCLUDED:

  • Round-trip direct flights
  • Accommodations
  • Breakfast daily
  • Meals as outlined in the itinerary
  • In country transportation
  • Admissions, tours, and lectures as mentioned in the itinerary
  • This experience will include participation in a condensed course offered by faculty members at ATU
  • Travel Insurance
  • Rate per student is inclusive of taxes and fees

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Visa Fees (if necessary)
  • Passport (or any associated costs)
  • Transportation to/from Toronto
  • Meals not outlined in the itinerary
  • Souvenirs
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Departure taxes (otherwise known as an Exit Tax) or additional fees for items not noted as included, if applicable. An example of additional fees could be overweight baggage.

*Standard accommodations are twin share (double occupancy) where possible. Dormitory-style accommodations may be shared with multiple students (up to 8) of the same gender. Single occupancy may be requested and a single supplement charge will be applicable. Requests cannot be guaranteed. Please email [email protected] for more details.

The Be World Ready program at Niagara College prepares you for global success through education, exchange, and international experience. This program offers you the opportunity to experience culturally diverse learning environments, understand different perspectives and connect practical skills with a global mindset to help you launch your career.
An international field study is a 7 – 10 day experience that incorporates both vocational and cultural elements, while visiting some of the world’s most famous sights! Many of our international field studies are customized for specific Schools and programs at Niagara College, allowing students to apply the skills learned in the classroom in a real-world setting. All international field studies depart during the Niagara College break weeks to ensure that students do not miss any classes.
All international field studies will include roundtrip airfare (where applicable), accommodations, travel insurance, entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary, and some meals as outlined in the itinerary. A detailed list of inclusions and exclusions will be viewable on the posted webpage for any international field study on our website. Participants can expect to purchase some meals on their own and will need to bring spending money for any souvenirs, extra excursions, incidentals or items of a personal nature.

No. All aspects noted as included in the overall cost of the selected international field study are mandatory with no exceptions made. Our international field studies are built using group pricing and it is important that we do not deviate from the inclusions as it could negatively impact our ability to offer fair pricing to all participants.

In addition to affecting group pricing, these are our Niagara College International Field Study policies, and we cannot deviate from them, as they are part of our risk mitigation and management.

No. Students are not able to book their own flight in any way or alter the flights confirmed by Be World Ready. The round-trip flights as confirmed by Be World Ready are part of the package pricing, and the group is to travel to and from the destination country together.

These are our Niagara College International Field Study policies, and we cannot deviate from them, as they are part of our risk mitigation and management.

Each international field study destination has different accommodation providers or themes. Accommodation types that are used may include a combination of dorm-style rooms, homestays, tourist class hotels, or occasionally hostels. We strive to ensure we use centrally located accommodation when in city centres, allowing our participants to explore their surroundings more easily. Private accommodation is not guaranteed.

Rooms will vary in style on each trip; however, they are commonly twin share (2 people to a room with separate beds where possible). Single rooms may be available for an additional room fee provided adequate notice is given to Be World Ready staff. We strive to ensure you have comfortable, affordable accommodations anywhere you travel.

Students will be given the opportunity to meet their fellow travellers before the deadline to submit their roommate requests. Be World Ready does their best to accommodate rooming requests, but please note that final rooming arrangements are subject to room occupancy requirements and availability. A rooming list will be created by Be World Ready staff and shared with our accommodation providers before your departure. All participants will be emailed and will have the opportunity to identify their preferred roommate(s). While we will make every effort to ensure all preferences are met, we cannot guarantee it.

As long as they are current full-time Niagara College students and meet the program eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept any persons to participate in any of our international field studies that are not current full-time students at Niagara College.

In addition to regular communications shared with participants leading up to the departure of their international field study of choice, Be World Ready requires students to attend the Be World Ready course, which includes but is not limited to, online trainings and pre-departure training sessions. During the pre-departure training sessions, students will be presented with the overall expectations of the trip as well as in-depth details concerning their itinerary.

During their time abroad, students will be able to communicate with their trip leads directly, 24/7, with any questions or concerns.

All participants are required to hold a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond any expected date of return to participate in any opportunity involving outbound travel.

You are responsible for researching and applying for any required visa(s) on your own. Be World Ready is unable to tell you what visa you require and how to apply. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation as needed to apply for a Visa. While Be World Ready is not able to advise or guide you in a heightened level of detail through any particular visa process, you may consider hiring a travel visa service to assist you with the visa application process, such as CIBT visas. Please note that Be World Ready and Niagara College do not endorse any third-party vendors, nor have any influence or control over any outcomes or services rendered. We cannot apply for a visa on behalf of any participant.

All international students will need to ensure that their Study Permits and Student Visas are not expired before the date of return from the international experience, to ensure that there are no challenges with reentry to Canada.

Yes, while it is great to have a Nexus card, all participants must hold a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond any expected date of return in order to participate in any opportunity outside of Canada.
Depending on your destination country, we encourage you to book an appointment with a travel health professional regarding any additional vaccinations and medications you may need. It is strongly encouraged that you book an appointment with the Campus Nurse to go over this information. To do so, please visit the medical office to book an appointment at your respective campus.
Be World Ready takes the safety of our staff and students very seriously and has a rigorous risk management assessment when creating all opportunities. Be World Ready staff monitor destination country risk levels as communicated by the Government of Canada. Your safety is the most important aspect of this trip. Be World Ready and Niagara College take all possible precautions to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable experience while travelling abroad.
Students who sign up during the active promotional period for the international field study will be presented with a payment schedule to follow. At time of registration, students will be only required to pay the full non-refundable deposit that is disclosed at time of registration. Students who are permitted to sign up late will be expected to catch up on any payments missed according to the payment schedule advertised. In some instances, there may only be one payment due date.
Complete the eligibility quiz linked on the webpage of the International Field Study you’re interested in to find out if you meet eligibility requirements.
No. Students will not directly receive grant money as the full value of the grant has already been applied to the final payment to offset the total cost of the learning experience abroad. For students who do not complete all grant requirements by established deadlines (including the time of submission), the full grant amount may be charged directly to their student account. Details on grant requirements will be shared with you as part of the mandatory Be World Ready (SOCL 1128 or IDPL 9103) course, which all students participating in a Be World Ready International Field Study must enroll in and successfully complete to receive funding.
Students are only permitted to travel on an IFS to their home country if the IFS is program specific. IFS’ that are open to students from all programs do not permit students to travel if the destination is their home country. The purpose of the grant funding is to help students gain global competencies that they would not otherwise be exposed to, and as such, travelling to destinations they’ve previously lived in does not support this goal.
Students have the potential to travel and receive funding through Be World Ready up to 2 times; students can travel once on either an International Field Study, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange, and they can potentially travel again for a Work Abroad opportunity (if eligibility requirements are met – please note that if more applications are received than work abroad grants available, priority will be given to those who have never travelled on any type of Be World Ready experience before). So, if you’re wanting to travel on an International Field Study, note that participation on an IFS is permitted only for students who have not yet experienced a Be World Ready IFS, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange since beginning their studies at Niagara College.

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Niagara College Canada

100 Niagara College Blvd
Welland, Ontario
L3C 7L3, Canada

[email protected]

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