The history of experiential learning at McGill has been one rich with passionate individuals and groups, who have long been conducting or facilitating experiential learning opportunities for student and faculty, on- and off-campus.

Funded by the Sustainability Projects Fund in Fall 2012, the project was then known as the Integrated Education in Sustainability project.  The project hired a coordinator, an expert consultant, and a student intern to kick-start the creation of an informal collegial network of administrative offices, students’ societies, faculty members, and community group representatives who are currently facilitating or conducting community-engaged and experiential learning and research (CEELR). The steps in the project have been as follows:

Date Projects

2013 (Jan-Sep)
  • A situational analysis to map the landscape of CEELR work at McGill
  • Best practices research
  • Consultation with students, faculty, administrative units, and community groups
  • A final report (CEELR) with proposed recommendations that was distributed to stakeholders

2014-2015
  • Name change to Experiential Learning Network
  • WACE Experiential Education Institute – July 2014
  • Creation of hub/website for resources
  • Draft proposal to expand EL at McGill developed and submitted to Deputy Provost, Student Life and Learning
  • TLS developed “ Guidelines for assessment of experiential learning”

2015-2016
  • Student project to flag courses with EL in course calendar drafted
  • CaPS proposed and obtained Student Services Innovation Funding for the creation of a reflections mobile app
2016-2017
  • Mandate discussion for ELN
  • Compiled and shared examples of definitions that could be used for EEO’s (enriched educational opportunities) / experiential learning
  • New initiatives proposed by CaPS and approved by the DPSLL: 1) Career Readiness program – to transform on campus employment into high impact experiential learning opportunities; 2) EmployeEase – student employee onboarding program
2017-2018
  • Planning for breakfast meetings to exchange knowledge and share experiences with EL
  • TBD