UPEI Faculty-led courses that fall outside of the Maymester schedule will be posted here when planned.

Maymester 2025–2026 Courses

Aotearoa (New Zealand) - Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies (IKERAS)​

Course name: "Global Indigeneity" (IKE 3090-1)

UPEI Faculty Teaching: Professor Erin Reid

Course overview: The course will be inquiry based. Students will conduct their own field research, photographing, videoing and documenting what they see as part of their research for an extended photo or video essay. Students will have a chance to engage with the past and present and examine and participate in how a similarly colonized nation (Aotearoa) has navigated the complexities of being a global Indigenous nation.

Method of Instruction: This course will have three interrelated components; i) a series of five, 75-minute lectures held at UPEI to familiarize students with the extent, nature, effects and issues associated with Global Indigeneity (two classes), program agenda, and Moodle Pre-Departure Session (one class), expectations, safety, and assessment (one class), and program summary (one class upon return); ii) a ten-day immersive experiential learning program based in Christchurch (South Island) with daily prompted reflective journal entries; and iii) the creation of a photo or video essay that draws upon their experiences and reflections. This will require students to assess, contextualize and begin to interpret global Indigeneity and how this reflects the values and ideals of themselves as students and as global citizens.

Pre-requisites: IKE 1040. Please note that students can expect an abundance of walking throughout each day, and at times on uneven surfaces.

Costs:

• $150 Application Fee (non-refundable and this goes towards administrative costs - due at the time of application.)
• $500 Program Deposit (This will be applied towards student program - due January 2, 2026)
• $2500 Start-up Fee (This will be applied towards student program - due March 1, 2026)
• Tuition - Undergraduate or Graduate course fee (*Canada Student Grants and Loans for Part-Time Students | Government of Prince Edward Island Students will have to apply. Maymesters are considered part-time programs.)
• Flights - the sooner we have a full roster, the sooner we can book flights. It is best to budget up to $4,000 for flights in the most expensive booking case scenarios.
• Aotearoa Program Fees - approximately $3,800 This includes all accommodations, all transportation, program guides and experiences, all breakfasts, two group suppers and all meals during a two-day marae visit.
• Food - all other lunch, supper, and snacks are student responsibility. 

Past Maymester Experiences

In May and June 2024, UPEI students and faculty travelled to Spain and New Zealand for their experiential learning.
 

Read more about 2024 Maymester 

In May 2023, UPEI faculty and students travelled to Costa Rica and Italy for amazing Maymester learning adventures.  

Read more about 2023 Maymester

In 2019, UPEI students travelled to Ireland, Spain, United Kingdom, France, and the Faroe Islands.

Read more about our 2019 Maymester

Costa Rica photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash