Photo contest
About the contest
The annual Go Global photo contest showcases inspiring photos taken by Go Global participants.
This is your opportunity to reveal your experience abroad and show what learning abroad means to you.
View all the entries on our Facebook page.
View the entries for the Go Global Video contest on our YouTube Channel
Critics' Choice Award Winners
Artiom Shostak, Exchange, Iceland, University of Iceland
Personal Statement:
I began my term at Háskóli Íslands as a humanities major, studying Scandinavian literature and Norse mythology in the spring term of 2010. Living right in the heart of Reykjavík's downtown, it didn't take long for me to become acquainted with the impacts of the financial crisis that (only a year earlier) disintegrated the entire commercial banking system and triggered a severe economic recession. Right at the very start, I was beginning to witness the clear symptoms of a deflating nation, until I eventually found myself completely immersed in the middle of it. In a couple months time, the island suffered another serious misfortune. The volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull created an enormous disruption in global air travel and the high concentration of fluoride found in the ejected ash contaminated water sources, forced overnight evacuations, and significantly mutilated its agriculture. As this was happening, I began attending guest-lecture series on this very subject, and eventually auditing various courses in volcanology offered at the university. I was incredibly drawn to all this. As the eruption entered its second stage in the middle of April, I assisted one of the field researchers on their trip to collect samples from the nearby glacier, as depicted in the second photo. In the beginning of May, accompanied by three other students in the Geology department, I set out on a collaborative project—to conduct interviews, photograph, collect specimens and survey the sight in order to create a detailed account on the impact of Eyjafjallajökull. That is the story behind the first submitted photograph. When the article was published, the others reworked their part to count towards their final assignment, and all it did for me was serve as an initial spark of interest in the field. Now, it has developed further and materialized into a position with the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Right place at the wrong time, I guess?
Nur Fadhilah Othman, Incoming Exchange student from Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Personal Statement:
What I learned is that Tuum est. In terms of study, UBC is one of the hardest universities I have ever encountered. You have double of everything - assignments, readings, quizzes, all of it. And yet, the lecturers never care whether you'll make it at the end of the day. So it all comes down to you. Whether you want to be successful or not. It's really teaching me that to grow as a person depends on nothing but yourself. In term of friends, well, I did come alone from my university which means I was alone, friendless and depressed over the first few days I was here. But then, it's tuum est: I did make friends, go out to have dinner, join the go global events, get to know my housemates and best of all, go out shopping, snowboarding and even go to the library with them. I can actually choose to just sit in my room online all day, or go out mixing with people. and that changes everything. The next thing I knew, the exchange program became one of my best memories in all the years I've been through. Thanks for the opportunity. :)
People's Choice Award Winner
Joel Kalmanowicz, Incoming Exchange student from Australia, UWA.
Personal statement:
My world has been turned upside-down and I've discovered the camaraderie of a close community in a large university. Living in the dorms has provided me a new and unique experience of community life, and I'm glad to have made all these new friends here! Academically, the teaching has been diverse and fascinating, and I feel like I have expanded my horizons and abilities in wonderful ways. Coming to UBC has been amazing.
Guidelines
International learning is more than just travel - it's an opportunity to gain a new perspective, experience international ideas and issues first-hand, and connect meaningfully with people in your host country. Your images should reflect this.
Specifically, the winning images will:
- Show students learning in an international context
- Portray interactions between student(s) and the people in their host country
- Depict students reflecting on their experience abroad, or being contemplative of their environment
- Capture the "decisive moment" of your experience
We are not looking for images:
- Of you and/or your friends posing in front of monuments
- Of landscape shots that don't signify how international learning is different from being a tourist
- That you would not show a future employer, or your mom
Awards and prizes
Critic's Choice Award
Our panel of judges will choose two photos, one for UBC students and one for incoming exchange students at UBC. Photos will be judged according to artistic merit and content suitability. Each winner will receive a $100 gift certificate for the UBC Bookstore.
People's Choice Award
All entries will be uploaded on to our Facebook page — the photo with the most “likes” wins! The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate for the UBC Bookstore.
Eligibility
- Returned and current Go Global students participating in an international learning program (Exchange and Study Abroad, Group Study, International Service Learning, Research Abroad)
- Incoming Exchange students on Exchange at UBC for the 2010/11 academic year
Dates
- Submission deadline: February 20, 2011
- Online voting: February 21 to 27, 2011
- Announcement of contest winners: February 28, 2011
Guidelines
- Send up to three photos to photo.contest@ubc.ca
- Photos should be named in the following format: FirstInitialLastname_number.jpg (e.g., MSmith_1.jpg, MSmith_2.jpg, MSmith_3.jpg)
- Only digital submissions will be accepted
- Photos should be high-resolution, but no larger than 3.5 MB
- You must have taken the photos yourself
- Go Global reserves the right to disqualify photos displaying inappropriate content
Provide the following personal information in your email:
- Last name, first name
- Student number
- Type of program (Exchange or Study Abroad, International Service Learning, Research Abroad, Group Study)
- Name of your host country, and university or (ISL) learning theme
- Dates (month, year) you were away (e.g.: September 2009 – May 2010)
- Whether you are a UBC student or an incoming exchange student
- In the body of your email, include a statement of up to 200 words highlighting what you think you learned during your international learning experience
| By submitting your photos and statements to the Go Global Photo Contest, you authorize Go Global and UBC to use the photos and/or statements on UBC websites and for other material produced for promotional and informational purposes; you certify that you have the right to distribute these photos. Where possible, students will be credited for their submissions. |
Please direct any questions or concerns to Go Global Communications Coordinator Maryse Zeidler at maryse.zeidler@ubc.ca
