By Gloria Suhasini

New and returning students enjoy a meet and greet with the University president, foreign diplomats and peers

鈥淔rom the very first day I stepped on the 91亚色 campus, what I found most appealing was the mix of students from all over the world! This led to new friendships and connections which continue to make my university experience even more rewarding.鈥� said Damor McQueen, a fourth-year political science student from Jamaica, speaking at the President鈥檚 International Student Reception on September 25.

The Student Success Mentor Lead in the Black Excellence at 91亚色 program urged his peers to build new connections and get involved in academic and extracurricular activities to make the be best of 鈥渢his once in a lifetime opportunity being presented to you.鈥� He cited his own experience volunteering last year at the聽Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences聽hosted by 91亚色 that led to his current work/study student opportunity.聽

91亚色 continues to attract students like McQueen from around the world, who join the community with great enthusiasm to receive worldclass education 鈥� often work-integrated 鈥� in their chosen field, be that in the arts, science, technology or engineering.

To make high quality university education accessible, 91亚色 offers several . One such scholarship is the President鈥檚 International Scholarship of Excellence, awarded to high school applicants around the world, who are entering their first year of a four-year undergraduate degree at the university. Another scholarship popular among international students is the Tentanda Via Award. Named after 91亚色鈥檚 motto 鈥淭he Way Must Be Tried,鈥� it assists undergraduate students who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming significant personal barriers in the pursuit of a university education and progressive changemakers committed to sustainable development.

Other scholarships available for international students include Daughters for Life, the Global Leader of Tomorrow Award, and Mitacs Internships and Awards. Several聽聽attended the president's reception. For additional information, students are encouraged to visit 91亚色鈥檚聽Global Engagement听飞别产蝉颈迟别.

鈥淲hile it is our intention to support you in your academic journey, you also bring a wealth of insights and strengths to 91亚色," President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton told the student audiences. 鈥淲e are thrilled that you chose us, and we look forward to what we will accomplish together. Please remember that nothing is more important than your well-being and health and we have many student services to support you.鈥�

The event organized by  was also attended by China鈥檚 Education Counsels Renzhu Li and Wenjin Han; India鈥檚 Consul (Commerce & Political) Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh; and the Philippine Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville Tate and Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague.

These diplomatic representatives to Canada were not only present to celebrate their respective country鈥檚 highly talented students, but also to assure support in their new country of temporary residence. 鈥淲e wish them the very best in their courses of study,鈥� said Singh. 鈥淭he Indian Consulate remains at disposal for welfare and well-being of all Indian international students in Canada.鈥�

Diplomats were also on hand to speak to the students during the networking hour, a rare opportunity for these outstanding future leaders of the world.

By the end of the event, it was evident that many students had forged enriching new friendships that could last a lifetime, while advancing their education and career aspirations.

Originally published in News@91亚色.

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Lassonde and Schulich have opened their doors to students from SUSTech鈥檚 College of Engineering with what鈥檚 known as a 3+1+1 agreement. Civil engineering, materials science and engineering, or mechanical engineering students will first complete three (3) years of undergraduate studies at SUSTech in China. Then, they will be able to complete their fourth year (+1) at Lassonde. Then, in their fifth year (+1), they can enrol in one of four master鈥檚 programs at Schulich: Management, Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence or Supply Chain Management.

For Lassonde, in particular, the MOU is an exciting development, marking its first international 3+1+1 agreement. Dean Jane Goodyer, who travelled to Shenzhen to sign the agreement, praised the future possibilities of the partnership. 鈥淚t offers mutual benefits not only for our students but also for our esteemed institutions, creating a unique platform for cross-cultural exchange and learning,鈥� she said in remarks given during her visit. 鈥淲e welcome these future SUSTech students in our family.鈥�

In the process, up to 10 SUSTech students at a time will be obtaining two degrees within a five-year period: a bachelor of engineering from SUSTech and a master鈥檚 degree from Schulich.

Detlev Zwick, dean of Schulich, who also was present for the signing, noted in his own remarks, 鈥淭he program is designed to open valuable career pathways and opportunities for your students.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;He added, 鈥淭he 3+1+1 program brings together the strengths of your institution with the business and engineering strengths of Schulich and Lassonde.鈥�

This partnership builds on 91亚色鈥檚 existing institutional relationships in China, including with Peking University, the University of Hong Kong and Fudan University. It came together not only through SUSTech鈥檚 College of Engineering Dean Zhenghe Xu鈥檚 long-standing connections with faculty from Lassonde but through his relationship with Goodyer, with whom he sits on the executive committee of the Global Engineering Deans Council. The two deans decided to put their heads together and come up with a way to take advantage of the two schools鈥� natural compatibility, due to both being relatively new and dynamic schools with powerful drives to innovate.

鈥淭he distinctiveness of this model lies not only in its international aspect but also in its interdisciplinary approach,鈥� says Goodyer. 鈥淚t combines the strengths of two engineering schools with a business school, creating a pathway for international students to attain both a top-tier engineering degree and a premier business master鈥檚 degree. It鈥檚 a win-win.鈥�

The 3+1+1 partnership is expected to fully come into effect with the arrival of students at 91亚色 by Fall 2025.

For questions regarding this program and partnership, contact Professor Richard Hornsey, associate dean academic and students at the Lassonde School of Engineering, at adas@lassonde.yorku.ca.

The post Lassonde, Schulich form new international partnership appeared first on Global Engagement.

TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2023 鈥� Renewed relationships, new collaborations, future engagement opportunities are just some of the results of 91亚色鈥檚 recent delegation to India, aside from increased awareness about the University and its global engagement.

The two-week trip included meetings with strategic partners, high school counsellors, alumni, government officials and media, and exploratory conversations with potential partners in the South Asian country.

The India mission was part of 91亚色鈥檚 revitalized vision, Engaging the World: 91亚色鈥檚 Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy, 2022-2027, to bring greater focus, cooperation and prioritization to the university鈥檚 internationalization efforts as highlighted in the University Academic Plan 2020-2025.

鈥淥ur partnerships in India are very important to us, and we were eager to explore how we can continue to support access, excellence, connectedness and impact in higher education through enhanced collaboration,鈥� said President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. 鈥淕iven the increasing complexity of global problems, partnering across borders with leading institutional partners who share our values is key to sharing knowledge, skills and resources for the betterment of all鈥�.

O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) and its Vice Chancellor Professor  facilitated parts of the trip that kicked off with signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for student mobility between 91亚色 and JGU, which is located near Delhi, in Sonipat. Developing programs for student and faculty exchange, summer abroad and dual degrees as well as establishing collaborative research projects are also in the works.

Professor Kumar, who recognizes 91亚色 as an early mover in the Indian higher education system鈥檚 foreign institution landscape, facilitated conversations with diverse higher education stakeholders across India.

These interactions also came at a time when the government of India removed restrictions preventing world class universities from offering education programs to its growing youth population, the largest in the world.

91亚色鈥檚 president Lenton was accompanied by the deans for , Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, and Science; 鈥檚 associate dean for research; associate dean for programs at the ; associate vice president for alumni engagement; and an associate director from . 

91亚色鈥檚 leadership visit also attracted significant media attention, since the delegation was in India during heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Members of Indian media centred their questions around how current and future students may be affected by the situation. In response, Lenton highlighted Canada as one of the safest countries in the world that values diversity and continues to attract large number of immigrants from the Indo-Pacific region.

鈥淐anada is an incredibly welcoming multicultural, inclusive, safe society that values higher education. In fact, Canada鈥檚 university education system is one of the country鈥檚 best resources because no matter what university you go to, you are going to receive a high quality education,鈥� assured Lenton, including in an exclusive interview to the  .

鈥淲e help students connect with each other and build a strong network and community in Canada. 91亚色 is unwavering in the support for our diverse and inclusive community,鈥� Lenton told the . 鈥淲e continue to welcome students from all over the world, including India, and provide a supportive environment for all international students, both current and those planning to come to study at 91亚色. We look forward to welcoming them to our community.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

91亚色 representatives met with Hon. M.C. Sudhakar, Karnataka鈥檚 minister of higher education, Hon. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Tamil Nadu鈥檚 minister of information technology and digital service, and Sanjay Murthy, the Government of India鈥檚 higher education secretary, to better understand how regional and national governments are facilitating international higher education collaborations.  

Internationalization has long been a part of 91亚色鈥檚 identity since it was founded in 1959 and is a defining feature of our community. The University has been delivering business programs in the country since 2009 and established an India Advisory Council consisting of top Indian business leaders to ensure its programs address the growing needs of India鈥檚 economy, Lenton told reporters during press conferences in various cities.  

JGU hosted education conclaves in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata, where Lenton highlighted the initiatives that are in the pipeline, in her remarks on the theme of 鈥淚ndia-Canada Higher Education Partnership: In Pursuit of Excellence, Inclusion and Empowerment.鈥� Those in attendance included hundreds of educators from high schools and universities and think-tanks. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions about how 91亚色鈥檚 presence in India might help their students in pursuing studies in Canada, particularly at 91亚色.

The university also hosted some of its first alumni events in cities across India, attended by hundreds of professionals who call 91亚色 their alma mater.

During the trip, delegates visited 91亚色鈥檚 campus in Hyderabad to exchange academic ideas and learn about the experience of students enrolled in the University鈥檚 India MBA as well as other programs offered by the Schulich School of Business in collaboration with GMR Group.

In all, the deans visited six cities in as many states, and engaged in discussions with their Indian counterparts to explore opportunities for two-way student exchange programs and research partnerships, and to firm up institutional collaborations. The delegates met or visited representatives from 聽听(叠别苍驳补濒耻谤耻);听听(颁丑别苍苍补颈);听听(顿别濒丑颈);听听(贬测诲别谤补产补诲);听聽 (Kolkata);聽聽(Bengaluru), the聽听(颁丑别苍苍补颈),听听(础蝉蝉补尘),听聽(Mumbai) and the聽聽(Delhi) and the聽聽(Delhi). 聽During the visit to the聽, with which 91亚色聽recently launched聽a collaboration on disease modelling, 91亚色 delegates met with Nadir Godrej-91亚色 India Advisory Council Member and FMR Trustee- and FMR researchers.聽

91亚色 also made significant announcements that will increase cooperation with countries like India, including the launch of the Global Research Excellence Fund that will seed research collaborations with leading and diverse global partners to drive research excellence at 91亚色.  颅

Another important announcement focused on experiential learning and pathway programs to support entrepreneurship-related education with India, by building on the success of the Schulich School of Business鈥檚聽. This partnership would see 91亚色 students travel to India to learn about its dynamic innovation ecosystems, and access other unique educational opportunities in a country that is home to 1.5 billion people.

Originally published in News@91亚色

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Access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene are critical to health and well-being, and yet an estimated two billion people globally still lack access to it. Researchers in the Humanitarian Water Engineering Lab at 91亚色鈥檚 Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research are doing their part to address this crisis, and their efforts have been recognized with a major grant from Creating Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge (CHIC).
Valued at $300,000, the CHIC Transition to Scale Grant will provide transformational funding to accelerate the global scale-up of the 91亚色-developed , an innovative water quality modelling platform that helps humanitarian responders ensure water safety and protect public health in crisis zones globally.

This free and open-source tool has been deployed in nine countries by seven different humanitarian organizations, as part of initiatives aiming to improve water safety for over half a million people. The new funding will support the development and piloting of the tool as a joint quality-assurance platform used by safe water programs in a selected country this year.

鈥淭his grant will enable the integration of the SWOT into the ways of working in the humanitarian sector,鈥� says聽Syed Imran Ali, an adjunct professor at 91亚色鈥檚 Lassonde School of Engineering and research fellow at the Dahdaleh Institute who leads the Humanitarian Water Engineering Lab. 鈥淲e are excited to work with local implementing and global co-ordination partners to demonstrate how the SWOT can help ensure safe water program effectiveness and protect public health in crisis zones globally. We are incredibly grateful to Creating Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge for their amazing support in the past, and now with this grant.鈥�

Fawad Akbari, director of humanitarian innovation at Grand Challenges Canada, which oversees the implementation of CHIC, says, 鈥淭he Safe Water Optimization Tool is a pre-eminent example of how innovation adoption in the humanitarian system can directly and efficiently save and improve lives. We are proud to continue to support this initiative and are looking forward to nurturing this next stage of collaboration.鈥�

The SWOT was developed by a team of researchers and humanitarian practitioners at the Dahdaleh Institute and Lassonde, including Ali; Lassonde Associate Professor Usman Khan; Professor James Orbinski; and Lassonde PhD candidate Michael De Santi; with collaboration from Dahdaleh Institute research staff James E. Brown, Mohamed Moselhy and Ngqabutho Zondo.

Creating Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge is a partnership of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and Global Affairs Canada, with support from Grand Challenges Canada. CHIC seeks to enable local organizations, humanitarian agencies, and the private sector to work alongside affected communities to respond more nimbly to complex emergencies, address the unprecedented magnitude of suffering around the world and empower people to create better lives for themselves. This challenge seeks to fund and accelerate innovative solutions that enable life-improving assistance to reach the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach people in conflict-generated humanitarian crises.

To learn more about the Safe Water Optimization Tool, read YFile鈥榮 recent story or visit . To learn more about Creating Hope in Conflict: a Humanitarian Grand Challenge, visit .

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Home to more than 10,000 international students from 178 countries, 91亚色 is a community of diverse experiences, languages, cultures and viewpoints, notes Vinitha Gengatharan, assistant vice-president, global engagement and partnerships.

鈥淭his is a privilege we don鈥檛 take lightly,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e know that each journey to Canada began well before a plane, train or car ride to Toronto. We appreciate the trust placed in choosing 91亚色 and the years of hard work that our international students and their families have put in to make studying at 91亚色, far from home, possible.鈥�

Gengatharan says the University is well-equipped to help steer international students through the challenges they may face, such as housing, finances and adjusting to a new culture, through supports and resources offered through 91亚色 International (YI).

鈥淲e know how important international students are to our community and how much strength and value they bring to 91亚色 and to Canada. 91亚色 is committed to continuing to advocate with our municipal, provincial and federal governments to improve services, resources and processes that impact international students.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 

First impressions

Nargis Rafie grew up in Afghanistan and came to Canada as a refugee. She transferred to 91亚色 this fall to study computer science and is living off campus. After attending YI鈥檚 orientation for international and exchange students, as well as a shopping expedition to help students buy essentials, she shared her first impressions of the University.

鈥淭he campus is beautiful and the staff is very friendly, helpful and quick to respond,鈥� Rafie said.

Orientation, she said, helped her become familiar with campus and with the resources she needed to set up her new life. It also helped her meet other international students who she plans to stay in touch with.

Nigerian computer science student Fatima Yusuf transferred to 91亚色 for her second year after attending another Ontario university.

鈥淚 wanted a school that had a co-op program and I wanted to be exposed to a more diverse group of people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 volunteered at 91亚色鈥檚 orientation for international and exchange students, checking people at the registration desk. It was nice meeting different people, even briefly, and it was a diverse group.

Her twin sister, Khadija Yusuf, also transferred to 91亚色 and will be studying commerce with an eye toward becoming an accountant. She jumped right into action, volunteering at orientation and attending a special session for students in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She is already planning to join the accounting association and will see if her schedule permits other activities.

鈥淚 felt that 91亚色 had better opportunities: more people, more resources and more activities,鈥� said Khadija.

Commitment to international students

Welcoming international students is part of 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to advancing global engagement, as stated in the University Academic Plan and 91亚色鈥檚 new Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy.

Sarah Bay-Cheng, dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, is aware of the value international students contribute to the learning experience.

鈥淜nowledge doesn鈥檛 stay in one place, but relies on the vital movement and exchange of ideas around the world,鈥� says Bay-Cheng. 鈥淕lobal networks are, therefore, essential to the success of researchers, creatives and students everywhere.鈥�

 works closely with the  and Faculties to design and deliver programs and services to ensure international students succeed and feel at home on campus. It serves as a central hub for international students, offering immigration advising, health insurance, orientation, social events, workshops, academic and career supports, and more.

鈥淲e are proud to provide so many excellent students from other countries with a home-away-from-home, and we are committed to ensuring their experience is a fulfilling one, academically, socially and developmentally,鈥� says Woo Kim, director of international scholar and student services for 91亚色 International.

鈥淲e work closely with university partners and Faculties to support students and provide an excellent experience for international students.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

For example, 91亚色 International offers a  to support prospective and incoming first-year students, keeping them active and engaged as soon as they鈥檝e received their offer to 91亚色, to better help them navigate their student journey. Current upper-year students remain connected with newly admitted students through monthly check-ins, virtual group connections and ongoing virtual support. This summer, 112 students completed the program.

Once international students arrive on campus, they are invited to an  geared specifically toward their needs. They receive immigration guidance, are introduced to local community resources, such as banks and cellphone providers, and have the opportunity to network with other incoming students. They also engage in academic orientation delivered by the Faculties. 

YI and the Faculties also assist international students with their needs, either through .

鈥淥ur goal is to support international students achieve success, in whatever way they define it, whichever path they choose,鈥� said Gengatharan. 鈥淲hen international students succeed, it is a win for everyone at 91亚色 and in Canada. 鈥淎nd, to our international students 鈥� you belong here, you bring so much to our community and we鈥檙e so glad you鈥檝e chosen us.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Originally published in YFile

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In late April, the University hosted a delegation of South African university vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors for research, the CEO of Universities South Africa and representatives from the country鈥檚 National Research Foundation.

The delegation was part of a much larger visit by South African research councils and South African universities to Toronto and Ottawa, organized by South Africa鈥檚 National Research Foundation (NRF) to deepen research collaborations with Canada鈥檚 research funding agencies and universities. 91亚色 kicked off the Toronto-leg of the visit when it hosted the delegation at the Keele campus.

This follows a visit in Fall 2022 by South Africa鈥檚 Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Buti Manamela. The deputy minister鈥檚 visit was facilitated by Higher Health South Africa with virtual participation from NRF and South African researchers.

鈥�91亚色 greatly values our partnerships in South Africa, and we were pleased to host the South African delegation last week, and the Honourable Buti Manamela last fall,鈥� says President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. 鈥淓ngaging in global research and innovation, and elevating our global partnerships are priority areas outlined in our new Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy and complement our Academic Plan 2020-2025 priorities. I look forward to seeing the research and innovations that can result from these important conversations, and how we can work together to drive positive change.鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 

NRF followed up on the deputy minister鈥檚 visit to continue exploring the possibility of a joint calls for research with 91亚色. Concurrently, NRF was also working with South African universities and other Canadian universities to develop a South Africa-Canada university research network.

During both visits to 91亚色, researchers from social sciences, humanities, engineering, health and sciences participated in the conversations, discussing opportunities for collaboration in space engineering, AI and society, water, decolonization, health equity, refugee studies, disaster management, planetary health and many other fields of mutual interest.

鈥淚 was happy to see the diversity of topics that are prime for collaboration鈥�, said Professor Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation who co-hosted the April visit. 鈥�91亚色 professor Jude Kong鈥檚 timely, successful and collaborative leadership in building pandemic modelling networks with South Africa and other African countries with funding from both governments also made a strong impression on South African leaders.

 鈥淲e look forward to strengthening our existing collaborations and building new ones in South Africa.鈥�

During the April visit, 91亚色 colleagues also met with NRF leadership, where NRF reinforced their interest in developing a bilateral relationship with 91亚色.

鈥淚t is not often a G20 and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) member government representing a country with enormous political, economic, cultural and scientific reach on a continent engages an overseas university to develop bilateral research partnerships,鈥� said Kong, who participated in all the meetings and is the executive director of the Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium. 鈥淥ther global funding agencies, universities and foundations will pay attention to this.鈥�

During consultations for 91亚色鈥檚 Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy and conversations with Global South partners, a recurring theme in fostering north-south collaboration was the challenge in mobilizing resources for collaborations.

鈥�91亚色, like other Canadian universities, has benefited significantly from the contributions of our colleagues throughout Africa and from other parts of the Global South,鈥� said Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic, who co-hosted the visit on April 24. 鈥淚nvesting in a relationship with South African institutions resonates with 91亚色 because we have common interests and strengths in advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including commitments to anti-racism and decolonization frameworks.鈥�

91亚色鈥檚 connection to South Africa stretches back to the 1980s during the country鈥檚 anti-apartheid struggle. In 1989, 91亚色  an honorary doctor of laws degree upon Nelson Mandela in absentia 鈥渋n recognition of his profound contribution to humanity and the creation of a more just society.鈥� 91亚色 faculty have also worked to  Mandela鈥檚 legacy on campus.

Members of the 91亚色 community have also cultivated long-standing research connections of their own. 鈥淧rofessor Amrita Daftary holds an adjunct appointment at University of KwaZulu-Natal鈥檚 Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and has extensively co-published with her South African counterparts,鈥� said Vinitha Gengatharan, assistant vice-president global engagement and partnerships.

The April visit concluded with the launch of a binational universities research network by the South African universities and the government with support from many Canadian universities. This interest in partnering with Canadian universities is also the result of momentum generated through the efforts of Canada鈥檚 High Commission, funding councils and International Development Research Centre. Carleton University鈥檚 Professor David Hornsby was the Canadian architect of this network.  

鈥淎 well-resourced academic network can be invaluable and can address gaps in sustaining long-term binational academic cooperation,鈥� said Lenton. 鈥淲e hope that Canada will consider supporting such a network as part of its soon-to-be launched Africa strategy, and I am looking forward to visiting South Africa soon.鈥�

91亚色 university colleagues interested in deepening their engagement with South Africa and learning more should contact Skandha Sunderasen at 91亚色 International. 

Originally published in YFile

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Singh applied to 91亚色鈥檚 computer engineering program and planned to arrive for the fall 2021 semester, but 91亚色 was still in pandemic lockdown and classes were online, so he did a semester remotely. When classes resumed in person during the winter of 2022, he encountered visa problems, so he didn鈥檛 arrive until fall 2022. Meanwhile, Tayebwa took a gap year after high school, applying to 91亚色 for a President鈥檚 International Scholarship of Excellence. She received the scholarship and also arrived at the University in time for the fall 2022 semester.

鈥淲e had lost touch after graduation, so I expected Andrea to go to Montreal to study, since she has family there,鈥� Singh said. 鈥淚 texted her before I came to Canada and found out she was at 91亚色. She took me shopping and helped me settle in and we explored campus together. Now, we keep in touch and hang out when we have time.鈥�

Tayebwa knew Singh was heading to 91亚色, but she hadn鈥檛 originally planned to come here, too.

鈥淚 read the Lassonde School of Engineering information and I was drawn to it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 applied and got in. I came a week earlier than Reuel, and we helped each other settle in. It has been nice to have someone from close to home here.鈥�

Both students were deliberate in their choice of Canada as the place to pursue a post-secondary education.

鈥淚 had come to Canada once and liked how different it was from back home,鈥� Tayebwa said. 鈥淎 lot of universities come to Kampala for university fairs and I was drawn to Canada. It is more diverse and more welcoming to international students than many countries, and it鈥檚 a safe place.

Singh said, 鈥淚 found 91亚色 on a list of the Top 10 universities in Canada. I was accepted at three of them and had to make a decision. I chose 91亚色 because of Lassonde鈥檚 up-to-date curriculum. They are mindful of morals and ethics and I like that they feel the responsibility to train engineers the right way.鈥�

Choosing computer engineering to pursue made sense to Singh, who has been programming since the age of 10 and is already a full stack developer who creates apps, websites and software. While in high school, he created an online voting system for school elections, PolliFy, which is still being used five years later. He has also created an app called Seizafe that analyzes YouTube videos to determine whether or not they might trigger an epileptic seizure and creates a warning for users. He was inspired to design the app, which is endorsed by the British Epilepsy Society, after a high school classmate suffered a fatal seizure during a debate team trip.

鈥淚 get emails thanking me, which is heartwarming,鈥� Singh said. 鈥淚 want people to benefit. I have a yearning to leave a mark in the world.鈥�

For Tayebwa, the decision to become a civil engineer grew out of her interest in math and physics and her determination to do something for her country.

鈥淥ur infrastructure isn鈥檛 as developed as it is here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an area of study that I thought would be useful back home. Eventually, I want to return and help out.

鈥淚n the context of my course, I love how the engineering classes [at 91亚色] are up to date as current world issues are incorporated into the course and I love the emphasis on collaboration as well as experiential learning. I believe I鈥檓 picking up skills such as problem solving, leadership and creativity that will serve me well as I pursue civil engineering.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

The students are taking classes together during the winter term, since all of the first-year engineering students take basic courses together. Singh took electives last semester in order to be in synch with the other engineers in his cohort.

鈥淟assonde is attracting talent from all over the world and currently has students from over 130 different countries,鈥� said Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, after meeting the pair at the President鈥檚 International Student Reception, an event organized by 91亚色 International. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a small world! We were talking and, when I discovered they were both from Uganda, I didn鈥檛 do the obvious and ask if they knew each other. Then, they told me they were from the same high school and the same graduating class, but didn鈥檛 realize they were both coming to 91亚色. What are the odds of coming all those thousands of kilometres and having someone from home there?鈥�

The reception was also an opportunity for the university to celebrate international scholarship winners, like Tayebwa.

Woo Kim, director of international student and scholar services for 91亚色 International, said, 鈥淓vents like the President鈥檚 International Student Reception, gives 91亚色 an opportunity to welcome international students and celebrate the richness and diversity they have to offer our University community.鈥�

The scholarship is an honour that makes Tayebwa proud. 鈥淚 knew I would hear in late March or early April,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven though I felt qualified, I knew it was about luck to some extent, so I just prayed.鈥�

The email informing her that she鈥檇 won a President鈥檚 International Scholarship arrived on April 1 and Tayebwa didn鈥檛 believe it.

鈥淚 thought it was probably some April Fool鈥檚 joke, but it said to check my online 91亚色 account, and there was the letter, originally dated March 23. I called my mom and we celebrated.鈥�

Now that they are in Toronto, Tayebwa and Singh are enjoying the campus, getting involved in extracurricular activities and making new friends. However, they plan to keep in close touch.

鈥淪eeing Andrea feels like a piece of home,鈥� Singh said.

Originally published in YFile

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91亚色 is launching a new scholarship program, which has been made possible thanks to a generous gift from an alumni family. The program will allow students to participate in diverse global learning opportunities, such as internships, academic exchanges, faculty-led programs, research abroad and seminars/conferences.

91亚色 alumni and life partners Hian Siang Chan and Paulina Lau, and their families, have created the  in honour of their strong personal and familial ties to the University. Chan, who is the CEO and the executive director of Singapore-based SP Chemicals Pte. Ltd., said their family is committed to creating positive global change and through this gift, they are hoping to encourage and support a similar ethos among 91亚色 students to .

鈥淭hrough our experience, we think this scholars program will provide students with an invaluable opportunity to study or work in a different country and environment. Experiencing the history and culture of another country and making new friends enrich their personal development,鈥� says Chan.

Adds Lau, 鈥淚nternational study or work abroad programs are also effective in challenging students to develop a global perspective. We are delighted to support students at 91亚色, our alma mater, as they embark on enriching experiences.鈥�

91亚色 students in the Lassonde School of Engineering, the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies can apply to the program, which will begin in the Fall 2022 term. Criteria for selection include financial need, equity, diversity and inclusion, academic and professional merit, intercultural learning and societal impact.

鈥淎t 91亚色, we are committed to building a better future for all, and our active network of alumni plays a positive role in supporting and advancing that vision,鈥� says Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor. 

鈥淲e are grateful to Hian Siang Chan and Paulina Lau for their generous investment, which will increase the accessibility of global learning opportunities for our students and enhance their knowledge and skills to solve challenges such as inequality, war and conflict, and the climate crisis. We are incredibly proud of these successful alums and their commitment to giving back to the University through this transformative support for students,鈥� adds Lenton.

Vinitha Gengatharan, 91亚色鈥檚 assistant vice-president, global engagement and partnerships, says the Paulina Lau Scholars Program will provide opportunities for talented students who wouldn鈥檛 otherwise consider going abroad.

鈥淕ifts like these open doors for promising students who might not have the financial means to travel without aid. This gift allows them to dream big and take on bold opportunities,鈥� Gengatharan adds. 鈥淲e are thrilled and inspired that Mr. Chan and Ms. Lau recognize the value of such formative opportunities for our students.鈥�

Learn more about the  and  in achieving their goals in a global society.  

Originally published on Yfile.

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91亚色鈥檚 space engineering faculty members are giving talented Egyptian students a taste of space mission preparation this summer in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education.

From July 25 to Aug. 15, 45 Egyptian students from a number of universities are participating virtually in an intensive mission design project being taught by Franz Newland, associate professor of space engineering, and overseen by Professor Jinjun Shan, Chair of the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering.

鈥淲e were approached by the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau in Montreal last year about collaborating and were asked to provide a proposal for a space training program,鈥� said Shan, and the proposal found favour with the Egyptian government.

Newland and Shan had hoped to introduce the students to the field of space engineering in person on the 91亚色 campus, but when complications arose, they regrouped and revamped the program to prevent the students from missing out altogether.

鈥淭hese are students from different [STEM] disciplines, so we鈥檒l need to get them up to speed on space missions,鈥� said Newland. 鈥淚鈥檒l be teaching them about the fundamentals of space mission design, writing mission requirements, the logistics of programming a space missions, such as cost and scheduling, and the impacts of the mission.鈥�

The Egyptian students are also benefiting from guest lecturers, including space engineering alumni and representatives of Astreos, a French company that specializes in mission logistics and management.

The group meets for five hours each day. The students are taking their new knowledge and translating it into designing a viable mission. Working in three groups overseen by Newland and two teaching assistants, they are tackling mission design, the timeline for the mission and its impact.

鈥淲e鈥檒l be giving them hands-on coaching,鈥� Newland said. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l take the concept and turn it into mission requirements, a timeline and costs, creating a mission that builds in social and environment impacts and has a positive impact on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Raghad Shawky El-Shebiny, a Canadian of Egyptian background and an MSc student in digital media, is one of the teaching assistants.

鈥淚t was very cool to hear that the Egyptian government had reached out to 91亚色,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 follow Egyptian social media channels and I knew they were creating a space agency. I feel a connection to these students and can relate culturally.

鈥淭he Egyptian students are very eager to learn and participate; they engage in all the conversations and are so excited and involved. Most of them in other fields of science, but they are seeing how they can be involved in space missions through project management or communications. It鈥檚 awesome to see that click as they see where they can fit into the industry, especially since, I, too, am what I would call 鈥榚ngineering-adjacent.'鈥�

The Egyptian students are building on work done last summer by 91亚色 students in this pilot project, tailoring it to their own needs. Last year鈥檚 project brought Brazilian health students into the mix through a Globally Networked Learning exercised under the aegis of 91亚色 International. The project looked at the satellite collection of water quality data from space and integrated the collection of data that highlighted the health impacts of water quality in Canada鈥檚 North and pointed to the need to understand who has jurisdiction over water quality. Egypt, with its desert climate, undoubtedly has water issues of its own that may be relevant.

In fact, Olivia Alsop, the fourth-year civil engineering student who is the project鈥檚 other teaching assistant, recently offered the students a brief introduction to watersheds, a topic that is basic to her own field of study, but not necessarily familiar to the summer students.

鈥淭hey will be looking at where to locate ground stations for the satellite and watersheds are a consideration,鈥� Alsop said. 鈥淚鈥檝e also been talking to them about the importance of taking the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into account.鈥�

The students are working toward a mission requirements review, which includes collaborating with the local communities who would eventually run the ground stations that provide information to the satellite, said El-Shebiny.

鈥淗aving students from across Egypt gives them different contexts to consider 鈥� they鈥檙e not all from Cairo,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey bring a lot of different perspectives.鈥�

As the students tackle their mission, Newland and Shan will be evaluating the success of this approach to teaching space engineering as they begin reworking the four-year space engineering program. Newland plans to spend his upcoming sabbatical fleshing out a more experiential approach to the delivering courses.

鈥淭his is another iteration of the project-based learning approach,鈥� said Alsop. 鈥淲e want to see if the students are understanding the lessons, learning from working in groups and using the key tools.鈥�

Meanwhile, the program is building strong connection between Lassonde and the Egyptian universities.

鈥淭he Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau is serving as the bridge between 91亚色 and Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education,鈥� said Shan. 鈥淲e look forward to undertaking other educational endeavours in partnership with Egypt.鈥�

Vinitha Gengatharan, assistant vice-president, global engagement and partnerships at 91亚色, noted, 鈥淓gypt is the host for the African Space Agency, and space exploration is better when there is global co-operation and sharing of resources, talent and knowledge, and Sustainable Development Goals are also embedded in Egypt鈥檚 space program. We hope this collaboration will lead to deeper ties with Egypt and Africa in space science and other areas that will advance global goals."

Originally published in YFile

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From June 3 to July 3, 91亚色 was home to eight students from Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met) who were taking part in an opportunity offered by the U.K.鈥檚 Turing Scheme, which gives students a chance to gain international experience. Named in honour of the renowned British mathematician and computer scientist, Alan Turing, the program is designed to support life-changing international experiences for study or professional advancement. The visit to 91亚色 is special because it does both, and it is one of the select Canadian programs delivered under the Turing Scheme鈥檚 inaugural call.

The students are part of Manchester Met鈥檚 Digital & Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship program, which allows them to earn university degrees while working in industry and earning a salary. It鈥檚 similar to a model that Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering at 91亚色, pioneered in New Zealand and plans to .

Over the course of their degree apprenticeship program at Manchester Met, students spend 20 per cent of their time in class and 80 per cent applying what they鈥檝e learned to industry jobs and learning workplace skills. Many degree apprenticeship participants are employed full time at the same employer for four years, earning a competitive salary while studying towards a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) degree. 91亚色鈥檚 program will offer a variation on that theme.

鈥淚 was commissioned by the New Zealand government to lead a pilot program [for work-integrated-learning] and Manchester Met became our advisors,鈥� said Goodyer. 鈥淎lthough this learning model is a first for Canada, where students spend the majority of their time working with employers, it is widely used across more than 100 universities in the U.K. We鈥檙e proud to be working closely with Manchester Met, one of the U.K.鈥檚 leading providers, with over 2,500 students enrolled in these kinds of programs whilst working with 544 employers. Our intention is to bring this concept to Canada and it鈥檚 a win-win for us to have these students visit. It is informative and a joy for academics and Canadian employers to learn first-hand about their experiences.鈥�

For their part, the Manchester Met students visiting 91亚色 had an opportunity to expand their professional exposure beyond the U.K. context.

鈥淲e want our students to have international awareness and exposure,鈥� said Darren Dancey, a professor of computer science at Manchester Met. 鈥淭hey can see what is common and what is unique and compare and contrast. The Turing Scheme is fairly new in the U.K., and we think we are the first apprenticeship program to use it. The opportunity for our students to come to 91亚色 came out of our international network where Jane, who is passionate about work-integrated-learning, plays a leading role.鈥�

Since most of the students are involved in work year-round at their jobs as part of the apprenticeship program, they were given time off to spend a month at 91亚色.

鈥淭he employers have been hugely supportive,鈥� said Dancey. 鈥淭hey see them as people well worth investing in.鈥�

The students had a full schedule while at 91亚色. After a week of orientation to Lassonde and the University, they attended classes four days each week; visited technology companies, including Ceridian, CGI, IBM Canada, mimic Technology Inc., Shopify and Pearson; and met weekly with the University stakeholders responsible for the curriculum for the forthcoming 91亚色 program. There was also time built into their visit to take in some of the area鈥檚 sights, such as the waterfront, Niagara Falls and Canada鈥檚 Wonderland.

Two members of the group, Tasmia Niazi and Ryan Whittaker, both recently finished their software engineering undergraduate degrees at Manchester Met and have accepted positions 鈥� and promotions 鈥� with the companies where they did their apprenticeships, Lloyd鈥檚 Banking Group and AstraZeneca, respectively.

鈥淎s a student and a full-time employee, you spend four years learning about the processes and procedures of the employer, which makes you a very valuable team member,鈥� said Niazi. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand why someone would leave.鈥�

Whittaker agreed. 鈥淎fter four years, you鈥檙e so well integrated,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 appreciate the benefits and the confidence I鈥檝e gained, and I want to stay. People who leave university with the usual degree start in entry-level jobs, but we鈥檝e had a four-year head start.鈥�

They are also ahead financially, having earned while they learned.

According to Manchester Met, the average student salary a year after graduating is 46 per cent higher than the average U.K. computer science graduate and five per cent higher than graduates from the top five U.K. computing courses. Across all Manchester Met鈥檚 degree apprenticeships, learners performed so well during their programs, 78 per cent received a pay-raise and 64 per cent received a promotion.

鈥淎s working and learning occur in a seamless environment, businesses can benefit from a learner鈥檚 access to the latest expertise, knowledge and resources a university provides,鈥� said Goodyer. 鈥淎 vehicle for social mobility, the program offers a pathway into higher education for non-traditional learners, particularly those underrepresented in the technology sector or those without the means to pursue a traditional degree.鈥�

The U.K. visitors enjoyed sharing their degree apprenticeship experiences with 91亚色 faculty and staff, as well as Canadian employers who are potential participants in 91亚色鈥檚 upcoming work-integrated program in Digital Technologies.

鈥淚t has been an opportunity to talk about what we do day-to-day,鈥� said Niazi. 鈥淪ince 91亚色 is trying to implement a similar program, it felt right to help employers understand it and see how they can onboard and support learners.鈥�

While in Canada (鈥淚t鈥檚 a massive country!鈥�), the pair enjoyed the opportunity to live on campus with their fellow students, something that was not possible while doing their degrees.

鈥淚 missed out on university living, so that鈥檚 one of the reasons I wanted to come,鈥� said Whittaker. 鈥淭he educational system is very different here with majors and minors and there is much more granular detail in the lectures. I am enjoying the exposure to the North American market and would like to spend more time here to explore the different lifestyle and work culture.鈥�

Niazi noted that most of the British student visitors, 鈥渘ever knew each other because we鈥檙e in different years or different courses. It has been great getting to know each other and learn from their experiences, too.鈥�

Although 91亚色 has yet to inaugurate its Integrated Program, the connection between 91亚色 and Manchester Met will continue, based on longstanding personal connections, the value propositions each university鈥檚 ecosystem brings to the partnership, a mutual desire for reciprocal student mobility, and the U.K. model to which Lassonde aspires. The partnership between 91亚色 and Manchester Met exemplifies how international collaborations offer a mutual benefits for students, faculty and higher education ecosystems.

Originally published in YFile

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