The PCUH oversees and funds the Chernivtsi/USask Graduate Exchange Program. The purpose of the program is to place a USask graduate or postgraduate for a single semester (Feb 15 – May 31) at the Hnatyshyn Centre for Canadian Studies, Chernivtsi National University. The student, whose graduate work is in the Canadian Studies field, teaches and works at the Centre. The 2018 graduate exchange student is Mitchell Dowie, who is currently teaching two advanced courses: Canadian Foreign Policy, and Innovation in Canada and Public Policy.
The placement provides an exciting international experience for graduate students, offers an opportunity for recent graduates to acquire desirable teaching experience in their field of study, helps promote interest in Canadian Studies as well as Canada and Saskatchewan more generally, and strengthens the educational bond between the two universities.
“I am thankful to have had this invaluable opportunity to live in Ukraine and lecture at Chernivtsi National University. The teaching experience I gained will serve me well as I begin my Ph.D. studies at Carleton University in Ottawa this fall. My Ukrainian students have also benefited, being exposed to new ways of teaching. Overall, the experience has made a strong impression on me. I learned much about Ukraine and its people. My only regret is that I could not stay here longer!”