Social Enterprise in Practice in the Dominican Republic
Funding is available for students facing financial barriers to participation in this program. See the funding section below for details.
Interested in microfinance? This program will give you the chance to study it in action in the Dominican Republic. The goal of the program is that students will return home with a more global perspective, an appreciation of the inequities in the world, a heightened sense of empathy and a practical understanding of the role of microfinance & social enterprise in alleviating poverty. Gain hands-on experience in the “blended value” of social enterprise: the profit motive of a traditional business, plus the social objectives of a traditional charity.
Key information
Application information
Information Session
Learn more about the program straight from the instructor!
This recording has been auto captioned.
Have questions?
For program information, please contact Rosalynn Peschl at rpeschl@ucalgary.ca.
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study Team at group.study@ucalgary.ca.
Other useful links:
Travel advisory for Dominican Republic
Lonely Planet Guide for Dominican Republic
Program details
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
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Courses offered
ENTI 541: Social Enterprise in Practice (3 units)
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Prerequisites
Permission of the instructor. See application requirements below.
For a detailed itinerary, click here.
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Pre-departure
February or March (date TBD), Calgary: Mandatory Group First Aid training and Travel Clinic
March TBD, Calgary: Mandatory safety briefing and pre-departure orientation facilitated by Global Learning
May 2 and 4: On campus pre-program learning
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In-field
May 6: Depart from Calgary Santo Domingo.
May 7: Orientation Day: Participate in a walking tour to find your bearings, meet the local team, and prepare for the week.
May 8: Visit to the Aspire offices & microfinance recipients.
May 9: Visit microfinance recipients.
May 10: Half day of class and half study day.
May 11: Visit local university & financial education class.
May 12: Participate in a walking tour or other excursions. Debrief before returning to Calgary.
May 13: Return to Calgary.
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Post-field
May 30 & June 6: Post program classes
June 16: Final assignment due
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Costs
The estimated cost of this Group Study Program will be $5525. This includes tuition, airfare, field trips, local transportation, accommodations and meals.
For the full cost breakdown and payment deadlines, please see the program Student Cost Summary.
Important information regarding deposit payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Deposits secure your space in the program and allows payment for logistical arrangements to be made in advance.
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Funding
2023 Dominican Republic: Social Enterprise in Practice Funding Application: Students applying to this program that can demonstrate financial need, are eligible to apply for this additional funding. This funding has been generously provided by Colin Jackson and Arlene Strom specifically to enable students with financial need to participate in the Social Enterprise in Practice in the Dominican Republic Group Study Program. Students will apply through RAISA, the same application portal as their program application. In the "Funds" section they will see the link to apply. Applications for this funding are due the same day as the application deadline.
International Study Travel Grant: Students studying abroad may be eligible for the University of Calgary's International Study Travel Grant. For more information on eligibility, application details and deadlines please click here.
Faculty of Arts Group Study Program (GSP) Scholarships (for GSP participants) and Faculty of Arts Student Study Abroad Scholarships (for other international programs) - up to 10 awards of $1000 each! Application not currently open. Details to come.
Student loans: If you qualify for student loans, your program should qualify. We are able to provide you with a letter confirming your participation in the program for funding purposes. Please email group.study@ucalgary.ca to request a letter.
Please note that eligibility for student loans is determined by your loans provider.
Click here for more info on funding opportunities!
Students will stay at safe, clean and student appropriate accommodations.
More details to come.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties.
Applications will be considered after your application and unofficial transcript have been received by the Global Learning team.
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Statement of purpose
Please tell us why you want to study abroad, why you have selected this particular program (academic reasons, personal interest, career prospects, etc.), how this program will meet your academic objectives and/or complement your degree, how you plan to finance your program and why you should be selected.
The Statement of Purpose is submitted within your online application (max 500 words).
Note: Because the online application will time out after one hour, we recommend that you compose your statement of purpose in advance in Word to check for spelling, grammar and word count, and then paste it into the online application.
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Additional documents
- Download an unofficial transcript from your Student Centre. Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
- Submit your transcript through your online application with your statement of purpose.
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Funding Application (Optional)
2023 Dominican Republic: Social Enterprise in Practice Funding Application: Students applying to this program that can demonstrate financial need, are eligible to apply for this additional funding. This funding has been generously provided by Colin Jackson and Arlene Strom specifically to enable students with financial need to participate in the Social Enterprise in Practice in the Dominican Republic Group Study Program. Students will apply through RAISA, the same application portal as their program application. In the "Funds" section they will see the link to apply. Applications for this funding are due the same day as the application deadline.
Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.
If I were to tell someone about the study abroad program I would tell them about how much fun they are. While getting credits and seeing the world are definitely perks to a study abroad, what I enjoyed the most was being with the group and enjoying every day.
Past Group Study Program Participant
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.