"International Experience Canada (IEC), a program of the Government of Canada, facilitates youth mobility arrangements that allow Canadian youth to work and travel in over 30 partner countries for up to two years. As a reciprocal program, youth citizens from these countries can do the same in Canada. The session will include how IEC supports the outbound mobility of Canadian students; IEC partnerships and resources; Intercultural competencies and how working and travel abroad can help youth develop personally and professionally; And, how IEC resources can be used to prepare students who are thinking about going abroad for their future adventure. Participants at the IEC presentation will leave with an understanding of how using international work abroad experiences can build intercultural competencies, cultural awareness and improve educational development; The importance of preparing for self-directed work and travel abroad experiences; And, how planning and pre-departure preparation can be done with youth using existing IEC/Government of Canada resources, tools, and partnerships. "