The CARE program proudly announces the successful completion of its first semester of collaborative courses, with a pioneering cohort of approximately 15 students auditing cutting-edge classes. This initiative brings together students from CARE’s partner institutions to engage with critical global challenges related to CARE’s core themes through diverse perspectives.
For the Fall semester, four courses were offered under the CARE framework:
- “Climate change and security, a geopolitical and multiscale perspective” taught at Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) by Dr. Angélique Palle.
- “Critical Political Ecology of Water” also offered at PSIA under the guidance of Prof. Julie Trottier.
- “Topics in Innovation III: Innovation & the Energy Transition” taught at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto by Prof. Scott McKnight.
- “Topics in Public Policy: Canadian Energy Policy and the Transition to Net-Zero” offered at the Munk School by George Vegh.
This collaborative effort provided students with unique opportunities to audit courses beyond their home institutions, enriching their academic experiences with interdisciplinary insights and international contexts. The feedback from participants underscores the transformative impact of this initiative. A PSIA student who audited Professor McKnight’s course on innovation and energy transition, shared: “What struck me the most was Professor McKnight’s enthusiasm and passion for the energy transition. I loved the chance to attend a course from the other side of the world, from a very different country than France. Having the chance to listen to the knowledge and opinions of the professor and students who live in a different country and therefore have a different viewpoint on the issues was very insightful.”
Louis, who also attended a course at the Munk School, noted: “The interventions from professionals in the sector were a great opportunity to learn more on specific topics. The lectures were very useful in understanding more about the North American and Canadian energy context, which was new to me.”
Building on this success, the CARE program will expand its offerings this semester. The University of Guelph will open two of its graduate courses for auditing, further strengthening the ties between CARE consortium institutions and fostering deeper collaboration on pressing global issues.