As part of its obligations under the , the University is required to conduct a workforce analysis to identify areas of under-representation of equity-deserving group members in its workforce. Each year, 91亚色 presents this analysis in the Annual Employment Equity Statistical Report. The report covering January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, is now available.

The report highlights representation at 91亚色 for the four federally designated groups under the Employment Equity Act (women, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, and persons with disabilities) and community members identified as 2SLGBTQIA+. It also highlights some of the employment equity initiatives undertaken in 2023.

This year, the data revealed some improvements, including the year-to-year increase in representation of racialized persons and persons with disabilities among total employees over the last three years (2021 to 2023).  

In general, the data showed that while the overall representation rates for women continue to exceed the external availability data, numbers for Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, and persons with disabilities show a general trend of representation rates falling below the external availability data provided by Statistics Canada. 

Recently, there has been a notable increase in awareness of the potential uses of employment equity data within the University community, as requests for employment equity data by units and Faculties have increased. Responding to this need, a new 91亚色 University employment equity dashboard will launch later this year. The dashboard aims to increase access to data for the entire community in order to assist in the implementation of some of the recommendations highlighted in the Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. 

Because it is important to obtain accurate data for the dashboard to be truly useful in supporting evidence-based decision making, community members鈥� participation in the Employment Equity Survey is critical to ensure the report and the new dashboard are being truly representative of the community.

Those who have not yet completed the improved version of the employee self-identification survey yet, or would like to change their responses, can access it via within your 鈥淧ersonal Details鈥� tab. The more people who complete the survey, the more accurate the data will be for both the Annual Report and the soon to be launched dashboard.

To find out more about Employment Equity at 91亚色 and to view past reports, visit the Employment Equity and Diversity website.

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Isaac Garcia-Sitton, a recent PhD graduate from the Faculty of Education, has been honoured with two prestigious national awards for his doctoral dissertation in the field of international higher education.

Garcia-Sitton received the Michel Laferri猫re Research Award by the Comparative & International Education Society of Canada and the George Geiss Award by the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education for his dissertation titled 鈥淧olicy Making in Times of Crisis: The Case of Immigration and International Students in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic.鈥�

Informed through analysis of policy documents and interviews with policy actors, the study examines how immigration policy measures introduced in Canada during the pandemic affected international student recruitment and retention in the nation鈥檚 post-secondary education institutions.

"I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive these awards from national academic societies that have significantly contributed to the fields of higher education and international education,鈥� says Garcia-Sitton, who has over 20 years of experience in international relations and business development as a former diplomat and within the higher education sector. He currently serves as the inaugural executive director of international student enrolment, education and inclusion at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Professor Roopa Desai Trilokekar, Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 dissertation supervisor whom he credits for her guidance on his work, commended his achievement, noting: 鈥淚saac鈥檚 work and its recognition through two national awards is a reflection of the fruits of humility, hard work and dedication."

Exploring the various immigration policy measures introduced in Canada from March 2020 to December 2022 to ensure the continued recruitment and retention of international students, Garcia-Sitton's dissertation highlights how the pandemic acted as a catalyst for policy change, leading to significant adaptations in travel regulations, study provisions, work-related measures and pathways to permanent residency.

The research illustrates, too, the interplay between federal and provincial jurisdictions and how lack of co-ordination can further complicate policy making in uncertain conditions. By identifying and investigating the role of institutional constraints and the alignment of policy actors in decision-making processes, the dissertation provides insights that can inform high-impact and rapid-response policy changes to support the international education sector in Canada.

Garcia-Sitton's research identifies key factors that facilitated policy changes during the pandemic and highlights the significance of policy entrepreneurs, clear communication and the widespread collaboration in shaping effective policy responses. In addition, by identifying the interconnectedness between global geopolitical shifts and internal policy decisions, the study illustrates how external factors can shape a country鈥檚 attractiveness in the international education arena, and advocates for a more comprehensive and holistic approach in policy analysis.

The forward-looking nature of Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 disseration are something both awards singled out.

"Isaac's dissertation presents a compelling case for the significance of analyzing policy changes during times of crisis," noted the 2024 committee for the Michel Laferri猫re Research Award, which recognizes outstanding research in the field of comparative and international education. The committee for the George Geiss Award, which has the same goal as the Michel Laferri猫re Award, echoed that, noting that Garcia-Sitton鈥檚 work provides 鈥渁 valuable case study to guide future analyses and practices."

鈥淎s an immigrant and a scholar-practitioner, this recognition underscores the importance of my journey and the impact of dedicated research on shaping inclusive and supportive policies for international students,鈥� says Garcia-Sitton.

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The Government of Canada has announced significant new investments to increase the value and number of scholarships and fellowships for master鈥檚 and doctoral students as well as postdoctoral fellows. This funding is critical for helping 91亚色 scholars advance their research leadership.

Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, and Mark Holland, minister of health, announced on May 31 that students receiving scholarships and fellowships from federal funding agencies will see an increase in the monetary value of the prizes they receive.

Starting September 1, the annual value of all current and new master鈥檚 and doctoral student scholarships will increase to $27,000 and $40,000, respectively, and current and new postdoctoral fellowships will increase to $70,000.

鈥淏y increasing the value of scholarships and fellowships provided by the government鈥檚 research-granting councils, the Government of Canada is reaffirming its support for Canadian research talent," said Holland. "This will ensure the next generation of scientific leaders remain here in Canada, where their work has the potential to lead to a better quality of life and improved health for us all.鈥�

Announced as part of the 2024 federal budget, the funding increase will come from Canada鈥檚 federal granting agencies 鈥� the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, and the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council, all of which look to promote innovation in research and reward academic excellence by offering a number of valuable and prestigious scholarships and awards.

In addition to the increased award values, the Government of Canada鈥檚 budget plan for 2024 also proposed to increase the number of scholarships and fellowships provided, building to approximately 1,720 more each year.

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships will continue under their current parameters, with funding of $50,000 and $70,000 per year respectively.

Additional details will be communicated to all award holders 鈥� including 91亚色 scholars who will benefit 鈥� in July.

Information on Tri-Council, provincial and other external scholarship funds available to graduate students at 91亚色 can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.

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