Sask Polytech Esthetician and Hairstylist students about to embark on an international field trip. (Sask Polytech/Facebook)

By Teena Monteleone

travel and learn

Sask Polytech students receive international learning experience

May 7, 2024 | 1:00 PM

Renn Deschambeault hopes to open her own salon and spa in the future.

The student from Cumberland House Cree Nation is enrolled in the hairstylist program at Sask Polytech in Prince Albert. When she’s done the two-year diploma program, she’ll become a journeyperson in the trade. What Deschambeault didn’t expect to add to her resume was cross-cultural skills built through global relationships.

“As someone who grew up in a remote reserve most of my life, I never would have thought I’d be able to travel across the world and study abroad in another country,” said Deschambeault. “I wanted to take this opportunity to gain a new perspective on how life is in another country, as well as experience new cultures, communities and environments.”

Deschambeault joined 14 other students in the Hairstylist and Esthetics programs at Sask Polytech in Prince Albert on a trip to the United Kingdom where they attended master classes in Cardiff, Wales. They learned new hairstyling techniques from many different educators from the U.K. where the ‘avant-garde’ styles are ahead of the times. Students also had the opportunity to sight-see in Bath and London, England on the fully funded trip.

Renn Deschambeault at a hairstylist training seminar in Wales, U.K. (Sask Polytech/Facebook)

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“Most of our students had never been on an airplane or left the country. So, to say the least, it was a fabulous experience and will be very beneficial for their future careers,” said instructor Nicole Brandoline. “To be able to say you studied in the U.K. is huge on a new apprentice resume.”

Global Skills Opportunity (GSO), the Government of Canada’s national outboard student mobility pilot program, made the international experience possible. Sask Polytech program head Louise Benson said it’s administered jointly by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada. (CICan). Canadian students, especially underrepresented students, are empowered to take advantage of international learning experiences that bring global-mindedness and a fresh perspective to their classrooms, campuses and communities.

“Projects are designed, implemented and managed by participating universities and colleges across the country. GSO’s vision is to expand the horizons of Canadian students from coast to coast and improve Canada’s competitiveness on the world stage,” said Benson.

The project is funded by GSO and students must apply and meet the criteria set out in the grant application before the trip.

Deschambeault said she learned more than just international technical trade skills for her profession on the trip.

“I learned that students study for free in Wales to become hairstylists. We also learned about the history of the Welsh language and how the people were forced to stop speaking their native language. In the last 50 years or so, they have started to preserve the Welsh language. They have signs everywhere that include both Welsh and English.”

The Esthetician and Hairstylist diploma program at Sask Polytech has two intakes of students per year.

“There is a high need for skilled journeyperson hairstylists in the province. And as the population continues to grow, this need will also increase,” said Benson.

When they weren’t taking classes in Wales, students had the chance to sightsee in London and Bath, England. (Sask Polytech/Facebook)

The school also has plans to take another group of students on an international learning experience next year – something Deschambeault encourages more students like her to take advantage of.

“Invest in your education and seize any opportunity to travel and study abroad.”

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @monteleoneteena