In about three months, when the cold has penetrated your heart, the trains are late, and snow falling over the tops of your boots and down into your socks, you’re going to be looking for an escape from Calgary. But taking a holiday in the middle of the semester sounds like it could only happen in a daydream.

SAIT’s Global Education Network (GEN) program is able to make that dream a reality. The program provides SAIT students with the chance to take part in international study abroad opportunities. Students can attend short term study tours or conferences or participate in full semester exchanges in countries all over the world.

SAIT educational relationships project coordinator Laura Lavigne said it’s a great way for SAIT students to get a different post-secondary experience.

“Students gain knowledge about another culture, greater perspective, and they often return with a new appreciation for SAIT,” Lavigne said.

According to Lavigne, while some programs may have restrictions on what study abroad options are available, there are opportunities for all students at SAIT.

Madeleine MacDonald, a second year hospitality and tourism student, took advantage during her winter semester last year when she spent three weeks at Boxhill Institute in Melbourne, Australia.

“It was a great experience to see a different country and school system. Any time we weren’t in class we were exploring the city or on tours. We visited a koala sanctuary and went ziplining, it was awesome.”

Australia is a popular destination for those students looking to escape the winter deep freeze, but programs are also available throughout the USA, Turkey, Singapore, Scotland and a few other exotic locales. The Architectural Technologies program traveled to Guatemala last year and the Travel and Tourism school regularly visits Europe.

To keep these trips affordable for students, SAIT offers bursaries to traveling students; often enough to cover airfare and accommodation for the trip.

Interested students can contact Laura Lavigne at laura.lavigne@sait.ca