A Lower Mainland university will be the first in Canada to offering a for-credit, graduate program in mindfulness-based teaching and Learning .
“Ours is one of the first graduate mindfulness programs in North America,” said Dr. Seonaigh MacPherson, coordinator of the MBTL graduate certificate program. “As a for-credit program that links research to practice, it can be integrated within graduate and professional degree programs.” Mindfulness, defined as “present-moment awareness free of judgment,” per the UFV news release, is having a moment right now in scholastic circles, as mounting scientific research demonstrates that mindfulness programs improve well-being, mental health, and lifelong learning.
MacPherson added that much of the current mindfulness training is ad hoc, and can fail to ensure trainers are keeping up with the ever-growing evidence base. UFV’s program, much of which will be taught online, aims to remedy this.