At UBC Political Science, we’re shaping the policymakers of tomorrow, one transformative experience at a time.
The Political Science Student Learning Fund empowers students to engage deeply with the world’s most pressing issues through experiential learning. Donating today can help fund impactful opportunities such as global research trips, participation in international conferences and community-based internships.
Already, thanks to donors to this fund, our students have travelled abroad to meet with political leaders, organized a model parliament and produced the latest issue of the Journal of Political Studies. These unique experiences provide our students with the skills and perspectives needed to engage deeply with the world’s most pressing issues and address today’s political challenges.
Join us to help build a world where informed, equity-driven leaders tackle the complexities of tomorrow—because investing in our Political Science students means investing in a brighter future for all.
To learn more about the fund, donate, or share, visit the fund page on the UBC Giving Day website
Model Parliament with Parker Zhang (BA)
Parker Zhang is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a combined major in Political Science and Economics with a focus on poverty, inequality, and development economics. He is the Co-Chair for UBC Model Parliament this year.
Model Parliament Co-Chair Parker Zhang
Model Parliament is organized through the Political Science Students’ Association to help make Canadian politics more accessible to youth. The non-partisan conference provides a snapshot of the Canadian Parliamentary experience, with students debating a different mock bill each year. Social media regulation in a rapidly changing digital age was this year’s topic.
“Funding from the Political Science Student Learning Fund allowed us to book venues, provide refreshments, and access technical equipment,” he said. “It helped us to apply our learning outside of the classroom, to help us question, ‘what would I do if I were in a position of power’. Without it, our understanding of the world is less enriched.”
International advocacy with Isabella Ma and Lillian Ghorbani (BA)
In March 2026, Isabella Ma and Lillian Ghorbani attended the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Student Advocacy Days in Innsbruck, Austria.
They were part of a group of UBC students from the SAR Scholars in Prison Engagementship, led by Political Science faculty member Dr. Jen Peterson.
Support from the fund for the trip allowed Isabella and Lillian to focus their full attention on their advocacy work without financial stress. In Austria, they were able to attend advocacy workshops on crafting creative campaigns and connect with leading human rights activists and politicians.
“Defending academic freedom is incredibly meaningful,” said Isabella. “This engagement allows me to do that.”
For both Isabella and Lillian, the most exciting part of the trip was the chance to connect directly with other human rights organizers.
“To be able to talk and collaborate in an informal setting, to learn about each other’s networks, advocacy plans and events, while also setting up networks and reciprocal relationships where we can engage in joint advocacy strategies and exchange ideas beyond Austria, was really interesting,” said Isabella.
For Lillian, “it was meaningful to represent UBC and Canada, as we were the only Canadians there”.
Lillian Ghorbani
“Even when we were not fully politically aligned, those conversations still mattered,” she said. “To me, advocacy depends on understanding where your allies are, whether it’s faculty, administrators, or policymakers. That was a big takeaway, along with thinking about what Canadian advocacy days could look like and how to build spaces that create cross-institutional connections”.
Journal of Political Studies with Tim Vong and Miranda Newell (BA Hons)
Tim and Miranda are co-Editors-in-Chief of one of the longest-running and highly regarded undergraduate research journals in the country, the Journal of Political Studies (JPS). Run in conjunction with the Department of Political Science and the Political Science Students Association, it has been in print for over 25 years.
Tim Vong, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Political Studies
The Student Learning Fund allows Miranda and Tim to ensure a rigorous editorial process leading up to publication. “The publishing process for each edition of the journal is intensive and requires multiple rounds of review, revision, and modifications. Funding for the journal allows us to facilitate this long process,” Tim said.
“The funding also means that we can print copies of the journal for all our editors and authors. This year-long effort takes commitment from our team and it’s gratifying to have a keepsake that represents all of the hard work that they’ve embarked on.”
Miranda Newell, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Political Studies
The experience has proved meaningful to them both, with each editor not only guiding the direction of the journal, but also ensuring that authors retain their voice throughout the editing process. “Through my work as both an editor and now Editor-in-Chief alongside Tim, I have developed a stronger sense of what makes a paper compelling, improved my communication and leadership skills, and built meaningful friendships along the way,” said Miranda.
“The experience has complemented my academic studies by deepening how I engage with my own research and writing process, while strengthening the critical skills that are central to my studies and future in legal work.”
