Experiential Education

Experiential education is an integral part of the overall UBC Okanagan academic experience, supporting the transformative learning focus of UBC’s Strategic Plan (Shaping UBC’s Next Century) and Outlook 2040. Transformative learning is supported by leveraging multiple pedagogical approaches such as interdisciplinary education, flexible learning, work-integrated learning, practical learning and experiential education.

Experiential Education is a philosophy and methodology in which “educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and develop people’s capacity to contribute to their communities.”

 Association for Experiential Education

Experiential Education at UBC

Key characteristics of experiential education at UBC include: ​

    • the purposeful involvement and expertise of educators;
    • the direct experience or engagement by learners;
    • an intentional approach to teaching and learning through experiences;
    • critical reflection by learners; and
    • relational opportunities for engagement and accountability

Experiential Education Clusters

Five clusters have been developed by the Experiential Education Roundtable to form a basis for the types of activities that align with experiential education at UBC.

Experiential education activities are complex, innovative and frequently overlap. These clusters provide a starting point that will continue to be adapted and refined over time and through further consultation.

Applied research experience engages students in experience-based research in order to solve a particular problem or gather valuable data. The research is collaboratively developed or guided by faculty input and may involve a partner organization, community and/or company.

Examples:

  • Consulting projects
  • Design projects
  • Community-based research, fieldwork, or public scholarship

Classroom-based and developmental pedagogies use experiences as an integral part of learning in a credit-based course or formal non-credit skills development program to allow students to practice and engage directly with concepts, skills, and values to understand them more deeply.

Examples:

  • Case studies
  • Labs
  • Simulations
  • Project-based group work
  • Debates
  • Rehearsals
  • Entrepreneurial activity

Community-engaged learning aims to provide students with valuable experience working in the community, with community members and leaders, or through community-informed lenses and practices. Community-engaged learning situates community members as teachers, leaders, experts and facilitators.

Examples:

  • Service-learning
  • Civic learning
  • Justice-learning
  • Public scholarship
  • Facilitated volunteer placements

Land and place-based learning broadly includes pedagogies that involve deep intentional, reflective, historical, spiritual, and/or physical engagement with the situated place where students are learning. Land and place can include engagement with wilderness areas, urban and architectural understandings of place, and Indigenous knowledges that are inextricably intertwined with the land, as well as immersive experiences.

Examples:

  • Adventure-based learning
  • Outdoor and environmental education
  • Field trips
  • International exchanges

Work-Integrated Education refers to Work-Integrated Learning programs that contain a substantial and meaningful workplace experience with intentional links to the students’ degree experience. The workplace or practice setting is the primary site of learning.

Examples:

Source: Experiential Education Roundtable Proposal, March 2022

Reports and Plans

OVERVIEW

Significant effort was invested across both campuses to create a shared understanding of experiential education, identify challenges and barriers to advancing this work and develop an action plan for moving these priorities forward. This work has culminated in a phased approach to experiential education that is in alignment with UBC-wide strategic priorities and articulates the unique experiences and opportunities found at UBC Okanagan.

Related reports:

phased approach

Key deliverables

Target: Fall 2024
  • Recruitment and Retention Tool: This website will serve as a valuable resource for guiding students towards various experiential learning activities available across campus, enhancing both recruitment and retention efforts.
  • Partnership Facilitation: It will assist potential industry and community partners in understanding the diverse collaboration opportunities available.
Target: Fall 2024
  • Collaborative Development: Developed over the past year by two cross-campus working groups consisting of professional staff and engaged faculty members.
  • Informed by Extensive Research: Built on an environmental scan of institutional learning outcomes and competency frameworks from Canadian post-secondary institutions, insights from Canadian labour market data, the BC Student Outcomes benchmarking, and a comprehensive review of existing assessment tools and strategic plans at UBC.
  • Guiding Structure: This framework will be a cornerstone of our Experience and Involvement Portfolio (EIP) initiative.
target: Committee established Fall 2024
  • Purpose and Role: The EE Advisory Committee will provide feedback on existing and emerging priorities in experiential education and support the execution of various initiatives.
  • Representation: Committee members will represent their Faculties or units, ensuring a broad perspective and inclusive approach.
Target: Student Access by January 2025
  • Software Identified: A suitable software solution has been selected and is currently in the agreement phase.
  • Implementation Timeline: Implementation is scheduled to take place from June to December 2024.

Report highlight

Undergraduate Research Engagement: UBC Okanagan

In 2024, the Office of the Provost contributed to a cross-campus report presented to the Board of Governors on undergraduate student research opportunities and engagement at UBC. As a complement to that work, a UBC Okanagan-specific report has been developed featuring programming and opportunities unique to this campus.

Read the report

Student Spotlight

UBC Okanagan offers a wide range of experiential education opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Meet some of the students on our campus who are experiencing these transformational learning opportunities.