"UPEI’s Bachelor of Education program is carefully crafted for the success of future educators."
What brought you to UPEI? Why did you choose to study here?
Being from a small isolated community in northern Labrador meant that my whole university experience was done a minimum of two plane rides away from home. I am an Inuk from Hopedale, Newfoundland and Labrador. In Northern Labrador there are five communities that make up the Inuit region called Nunatsiavut: Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, and Rigolet. My hometown is Hopedale and it is the capital of the Nunatsiavut region. Each of the five Nunatsiavut communities, along with one Innu First Nations community, Natuashish, are all isolated communities. This means that during the months of November to June the only way to get into these communities is by flying in. During the months of June to November you can get to the communities by either flying or catching the ferry from Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
So when I was researching a Bachelor of Education program, I noticed the program for BEd at UPEI was an accelerated one-year program. This was a big selling point for me as I had been working toward a degree in Education for four years prior and I was happy to complete this program at an accelerated rate meaning I got to move back home quicker than completing a BEd program elsewhere for two years instead of one. Additionally, I have a two-year-old daughter and it was in the best interest of my family to make the move that was further away from home but for a shorter period of time.
What do you find unique and interesting about your program?
I love that because this program is at an accelerated pace, our cohort of 30 individuals spent a lot of time together. It was truly the time spent with my classmates that made the move to a new province easier for me. By the end of the first month a lot of us in the cohort felt as though we had known each other for years. I have made so many new friends and I am certain that without them the experience would not have been as great as it was. Additionally, I feel as though that this program has been carefully planned out with a faculty that keeps up to date on curriculum, instructional strategies, inclusivity, diversity, social-emotional learning, and with a great opportunity to focus on international, Indigenous, or adult education.
What kinds of support have you received during your time here from UPEI students, staff, and UPEI faculty members?
The students, staff, and faculty members of UPEI are very supportive and positive. My classmates turned friends quickly and we had created study groups within the first month of our program. Faculty members often checked in and cared to ask how I was doing after the move from Labrador which I was very appreciative of. And all UPEI staff I encountered on campus were always very welcoming and positive, it made being on campus enjoyable.
"It was truly the time spent with my classmates that made the move to a new province easier for me. By the end of the first month a lot of us in the cohort felt as though we had known each other for years. I have made so many new friends and I am certain that without them the experience would not have been as great as it was."
What opportunities have you experienced because you're studying at UPEI, or because of the Island location?
I had a great experience teaching on Prince Edward Island during my first practicum. It was six weeks long and I spent that time in a rural school and enjoyed every day tremendously. Coming from a rural community it was really great to spend more time in rural PEI and get to know the people on a deeper level.
What's unique about UPEI, and Prince Edward Island, in your experience?
I love that the size of Prince Edward Island means that you are able to really spend your time in various settings. If you feel like taking a day in the town and shopping around, Charlottetown and Summerside are two gorgeous cities that have a wide selection of local shops and restaurants to choose from. But if you are feeling adventurous or want to enjoy nature, there are many rural communities as well as parks and beaches to visit when you want to take in the beautiful scenery that PEI has to offer. While PEI is a relatively small province, during my nine months there, I never ran out of things to see. As someone who is not used to really big crowds, I especially enjoyed sightseeing during the ‘off’-season. I was able to take in common attraction sights like Cavendish without long lines or a big crowd of people and see PEI at my own pace.
What would you tell a student considering UPEI and the BEd program?
I would tell them that UPEI is a very welcoming institution that is not too large; I know when I was in high school I did not want to go to a large university so I think that the size of UPEI is great. Additionally, I would let them know that their BEd program has a lot of great aspects, the ability to choose a focus in international, Indigenous, or adult education, the period of time is just 12 months, and that the size of the cohort means that you get to know each other so quickly and well that you will make friends for life.
How do you feel UPEI has prepared you for your future?
UPEI’s Bachelor of Education program is carefully crafted for the success of future educators. The ability to choose a focus in international, Indigenous, or adult education, and the two long-term practicum placements in schools allowed me to take what I was learning in the university classroom and apply it immediately to a primary and elementary classroom.
Big futures start here!
Read more about the UPEI students and amazing alumni featured in our 2026–2027 Viewbook!
Interested in UPEI? Contact our student advisement team today at apply@upei.ca.
Meet Kate VanGerven, Director of Tour and International Visits for the Prime Minister of Canada and Bachelor of Arts in English graduate (Class of 2013).
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Meet Charlize Sahely, accountant with EY's Tax Division and Bachelor of Business Administration alumna (Class of 2024).
Meet Jenna Flowers, baccalauréat en éducation—français langue seconde graduate (Class of 2025).
Meet Kallie Drummond, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Indigenous Studies minor (Class of 2026).
Meet Dr. Aleisha Murnaghan, UPEI alumna (Class of 2002), emergency medicine physician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and director of medical program development with the UPEI Faculty of Medicine.
Meet Kate Doyle, Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate (Class of 2025).
Samuel graduated in 2024 with a double-major in Mathematics (Honours) and Economics.
Meet Temiloluwa “Rosetta” Shokunbi, UPEI Sustainable Design Engineering student (Class of 2026).
Meet Tsukasa Iwamoto, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student (Class of 2026).
