91亚色 is thrilled to have joined the Canada Learning Initiative in China (CLIC)!

A national consortium of a dozen leading Canadian universities, CLIC will further advance 91亚色's academic connection with China by providing funding opportunities and programs for our students to study abroad at Chinese higher education institutions. 91亚色 currently has over 50 active partnerships with China, and by joining CLIC, 91亚色 students have greater opportunity to travel and collaboration.

91亚色 hopes to send its first student to China through participation with CLIC in Fall 2026 - to our valued partner Fudan University.

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By Suzanne Bowness

91亚色 International鈥檚 Globally Networked Learning celebrates 5 years and many successful student connections

What if you could enrich your degree through access to global education programming without needing to leave Toronto? Especially for students who may not be able to afford the time or financing to participate in studies abroad, the answer has become a reality through 91亚色鈥檚 (GNL) program. This fall, GNL celebrates five years and learning opportunities for over 2000 91亚色 students and 2600 students from global partner organizations.

GNL courses are offered in partnership with universities abroad, and allow students to connect virtually with their peers, developing intercultural competency skills. GNL at 91亚色 was founded by Dominique Scheffel-Dunand, a professor in the department of French Studies and now academic lead for the program at 91亚色. Scheffel-Dunand started GNL as a pilot using an Academic Innovation Fund grant, inspired by the wider Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) movement, which has been fostering international connections at institutions worldwide. Now co-facilitated by 91亚色 International, in the last 5 years, 91 GNL projects have launched with 50 of global partners in 26 countries including Mexico, Ecuador, USA, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, France and Germany.

A sample success story demonstrates GNL鈥檚 appeal

But the enthusiasm of participating students is the strongest evidence of the program鈥檚 success. The Virtual Journal Club (VJC) course in the Economics department is a prime example. Created by 91亚色 Economics Professor Karen Bernhardt-Walther, the course won the European Economic Association (EEA) Award for Innovation in Teaching for Karen Bernhardt-Walther and her German co-facilitator Matthias Lang from Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, Germany.

Virtual Journal Club connects 91亚色 and LMU students to engage over zoom in discussing and analyzing economics papers together. Like all GNL courses, VJC helps students enhance their ability to collaborate across time zones, language barriers, and cultural context, all skills that enhance student's resume as they graduate and gain jobs in an increasingly globalized world.

From the original cohort, current graduate student Yunus Emre Bozkurt recalls VJC as a highlight of his undergraduate career. Interacting with another culture helped him to notice subtle differences between both. For example, Bozkurt noticed that German students were often focused on methodology, whereas the Canadian students tended to engage with issues and culture. He could also see the multicultural lens emerge in the analysis by Canadian students. 鈥淚f you are living in a diverse environment like Canada, and there is a paper about, let's say workers, you will be thinking about the heterogeneity of the effect across different types of individuals,鈥� he says.

Third-year LMU economics student Livia Anna Maria Hess took the course in a different cohort, dialing in across the time zones from Germany. She also liked the different perspectives, and especially facilitated social interactions via 30 minutes of cultural exchange at the start of the sessions, where the class shared thoughts on personal topics like music, holiday traditions and more. 鈥淚 think it was a nice way to get to know everyone. I think it helped getting to know other people, to understand their perspectives, even on economic papers,鈥� she says. She鈥檚 already given the course the best compliment: her referral. 鈥淚 think in the new VJC, there's one or two people I recommended to take the course.鈥�

A shared pedagogical perspective

While VJC emerged from pandemic lockdowns, Bernhardt-Walther says it has become her favourite course to teach. 鈥淚t was a confluence of world events and semi-fortunate factors that that made this happen,鈥� she says. Borne of a regular request from economics students for a reading course, she started VJC with a reading list and an idea an international co-facilitator would also heighten the interest. While she鈥檚 pleased about the course rollout, learning how to manage the many complexities of fitting the needs of two universities, two time zones, two academic calendars and two technical platforms was a challenge. 鈥淎nybody who wants to do this at 91亚色, call my number, send me an email. I'm happy to mentor you,鈥� she says, fully willing to help others skip her learning curve.

Bernhardt-Walther is thrilled, though, with the results. 鈥淚 think our students in particular get a lot out of it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he cultural experience is amazing. We have such an international student body, but they still say, 鈥榶ou know, what, I never imagined I could interact with students in Germany like that鈥�. It was just outside the realm of what they considered possible, in part due to financial consideration, in part due to language barriers, in part your cultural barriers,鈥� she says.

Scheffel-Dunand argues that GNL is really a new approach to learning. 鈥淕NL cultivates lifelong learning by transforming education into a reflective and community embedded process,鈥� she says. She adds that it鈥檚 also professional development for faculty members, given the challenges to co-design curriculum with international partners, plus figure out how to make courses work in practical terms.

Scheffel-Dunand is so passionate about the possibilities of the GNL program that she has just co-created an e-module with the help of 91亚色 International to help fellow teachers create this type of course. The module is shared through 91亚色 and also as an open educational resource on eCampus Ontario. Upcoming GNL听 being offered in the 2026 winter term include the Nursing course 鈥淗ealth of Families and Social Group Mansa Partnership鈥� in partnership with Mansa Memorial Hospital in Ghana and 鈥淪ociology of Law鈥� in partnership with Tec de Monterrey in Mexico.

Scheffel-Dunand emphasizes that she herself was inspired to teach a GNL course as a way to model flexibility and experimentation for her students, to show them that there are more ways to be an educator. She says it鈥檚 a mindset that is even more essential today. 鈥淭he future of work is going to require adaptability, openness and not being afraid again of trying new things. If I model it, then I鈥檓 being an educational accompanist in that I learn as much from the process as my students.鈥�

Faculty can respond to the next call for GNL course or attend an info session .

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91亚色 joins education institutions around the world in celebrating International Education Week (IEW) 2025.  

IEW is an annual celebration of international education and exchange worldwide that鈥痟ighlights the importance of international education, promotes the benefits of education abroad and global engagement and recognizes the contributions of international students in strengthening intercultural understanding.

91亚色-IEW 2025 include global engagement activities and events organized throughout the week detailed below. 

Tuesday, November 18

3:00 to 4:00 pm	Career Ready Conference: Pre-Conference Session Day 1 (Virtual) Understanding On and Off Campus Work Authorization, Co-op Work Permits, and Study Permit Conditions听听听听Are you a student navigating the complexities of work opportunities while studying in Canada? This session is designed to help you understand the key regulations surrounding on-campus and off-campus work authorization, co-op work permits, and the conditions attached to your study permit. Learn how to stay compliant with immigration rules, maximize your employment opportunities, and plan effectively for your academic and professional journey.Register for the pre-conference sessions and full day conference at the link below. All pre-conference sessions are free and the full day conference costs $15 to attend.
7:00 to 8:30 pm	Career Ready Conference: Pre-Conference Session Day 1 (Virtual) Industry Panel: Employer Insights on Hiring International Students This virtual panel is designed to support international undergraduate students at 91亚色 in navigating the Canadian job market. Students will hear directly from hiring professionals about what employers look for, how to stand out, and how to approach job searching as an international candidate. You'll get to hear from these incredible companies: TELUS RSM Canada Sanofi  Register for the pre-conference sessions and full day conference at the link below. All pre-conference sessions are free and the full day conference costs $15 to attend.
8:00 pm	You are invited to the Book launch of: edited by University of the Philippines (Baguio) Professors Leah Abayao and Jimmy Fong, and 91亚色 History Professor Carolyn Podruchny. The Book Launch is supported by the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages, the 91亚色 Centre for Asian Research (YCAR), the Philippine Studies Group (PSG) and 91亚色 International.

Wednesday, November 19

Thursday, November 20

Friday, November 21

Saturday, November 22

Tuesday, November 25

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Now entering its second year, the GRE Fund presents a new stream focused on recruiting exceptional postdoctoral researchers through international collaboration, reinforcing 91亚色鈥檚 role as a leader in globally connected, high-impact research. 

鈥淕RE is a testament to the success of 91亚色鈥檚 Global Engagement Strategy which strengthened institutional coordination and alignment on strategic international priorities,鈥� says Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor. 鈥淭he expansion of the Global Research Excellence Fund this year to include the joint recruitment of outstanding postdocs with international partners is another step on our path to ensuring that the best and the brightest come to 91亚色 to put their talents to work for our students, Canada and the world.鈥� 

A cornerstone of Engaging the World: 91亚色鈥檚 Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy, the GRE Fund was introduced in 2024 to deepen international research ties, boost global impact and elevate 91亚色鈥檚 standing among top-tier research institutions. 

The inaugural call delivered impressive outcomes, reports 91亚色 International, including increased research income, new partnerships across priority regions and support for emerging research leaders tackling global grand challenges. 

This year鈥檚 expansion is Stream B: Global Post-Doctoral Researcher Award, co-developed with 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Graduate Studies. This new stream enables 91亚色 researchers to jointly recruit exceptional postdoctoral talent from Canada and abroad, with international partners.

鈥�91亚色 has a long history of attracting top globally diverse talent from around the world,鈥� adds Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. 鈥淲e believe in fostering global collaboration 鈥� showing that openness to working with the world, even in times of great uncertainty, creates win-win outcomes for all.鈥� 

The GRE program continues to offer Stream A: Strategic Partnership Exploration & Development, providing seed funding for 91亚色-led initiatives that build new international research collaborations and expand existing ones. Stream A also supports partnerships with the global South and Indigenous communities overseas. 

鈥淐ontinued investment in GRE reflects 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to inclusive, equitable partnerships that deliver impact for Canada and the world. At a time when some countries are stepping back, 91亚色 is choosing to lead,鈥� says Lisa Philipps, provost and vice-president academic. 

The GRE Fund is managed by the鈥疓lobal Strategic Initiatives team within 91亚色 International, in close partnership with the offices of the Vice-President Research and Innovation, Provost and President.

Learn how to apply to the GRE Fund. 

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Dr. Proctor holds a PhD in international higher education from the University of Melbourne. He is an honorary fellow of the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education (University of Melbourne) and a senior fellow of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA). He is co-editor of The Future Agenda for Internationalization in Higher Education (Routledge, 2018), offering new perspectives from a younger generation of scholars and practitioners on the future of internationalization in higher education. He continues to publish and present widely on post-secondary education and global engagement.

Dr. Proctor is a global board director for the Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE). In 2025-26, he will serve as one of four program faculty for NAFSA's Executive Internationalization Leadership e-Institute, as well as delivering training for the European Association for International Education (EAIE) on strategic planning for internationalization. 

We are thrilled that Douglas will be joining 91亚色 to lead 91亚色 International at this pivotal moment for global research collaborations, transnational education and support for international students.

Sincerely,

Lisa Philipps
Provost and Vice-President Academic  

Amir Asif
Vice-President Research and Innovation

Originally published on YFile.

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Two new research collaborations led by the Humanitarian Water Engineering (HWE) Lab at 91亚色鈥檚 Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research aim to improve health outcomes in crisis-affected communities in Uganda through local partnerships and innovative water-focused interventions.
Syed Imran Ali, Director of the HWE Lab and Fellow at the Dahdaleh Institute, and his team recently travelled to Uganda to launch two new research partnerships aimed at improving public health in communities affected by humanitarian crises.

The first initiative took Ali and his team to Gulu University, where they met with faculty from Gulu's School of Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and the Environment, and Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies. Together, they defined and formalized a new collaborative research program, marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions.

Located in a region recovering from prolonged civil conflict and home to a large refugee population fleeing unrest in neighbouring countries, Gulu University will work with the HWE Lab on projects addressing communicable disease control, maternal and child health, nutrition, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in emergency contexts.

Supported by 91亚色 International鈥檚 Global Research Excellence Seed Fund, the first joint projects will focus on water and health in refugee settlements in northern Uganda. Over time, the partnership aims to expand into additional priority areas in humanitarian health and bring in new partner institutions from neighbouring countries, contributing to a broader vision for a humanitarian health research network across the African Great Lakes Region.

Ali and his team also visited the Kyaka II refugee settlement in western Uganda to initiate a second research collaboration with the Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development. A key implementing partner for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Nsamizi is responsible for delivering WASH services at the settlement.

Supported by a Connected Minds Seed Grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, this project will use machine learning to develop predictive tools linking water quality to health outcomes. The goal is to address a long-standing challenge in the humanitarian WASH sector: enabling timely health risk forecasting without relying on costly, large-scale disease surveillance studies.

Over the coming year, the HWE Lab will work with Nsamizi to strengthen water system monitoring, provide technical training, and support the development of proposals for future water and sanitation programs at Kyaka II and other refugee settlements in Uganda.

Together, these two partnerships mark a significant step forward in the HWE Lab鈥檚 mission to deliver practical, innovative solutions to urgent global health challenges through close collaboration with local institutions.

With files from Syed Imran Ali

Originally published in YFile.

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Congolese politician-turned-businessman Eugene Serufuli had a vision that all of his children would attend university abroad, living together and looking out for each other as they earned a degree that would set them up for life.

Dating back to 2018, eight of his nine children have travelled the 10,000 kilometres to Canada from the Democratic Republic of Congo to attend 91亚色. Three of the Serufuli siblings are graduating this spring from . Two sisters have already graduated, and three more siblings are part-way through their degrees. 

鈥淢y dad always wanted all of us together in one place, one university, one house 鈥� just to live together, help each other out and watch out for each other,鈥� says Jean-Luc Serufuli, 25, who graduated on June 12 along with his brother Salomon, 24, and sister Diane, 30. All three have earned a degree in political science.

After the first Serufuli sibling attended another Ontario university, it became a family tradition to attend 91亚色. It began with two of the eldest sisters, Isabelle and Florine, who enrolled at the Keele Campus in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. Florine earned an economics degree in 2018 and Isabelle convocated from information technology in 2024.

The next set of siblings, including Diane and her twin sister Nadia, all chose 91亚色鈥檚 Glendon College. Fluent in Swahili and French, they were attracted to studying in French while also developing fluency in English. They gravitated toward the business economics and political sciences courses that they felt could set them up for careers back home or in Canada. They liked the intimate environment of Glendon鈥檚 smaller campus and its picturesque location close to Toronto鈥檚 vibrant downtown.

Only the maverick Jean-Luc thought about bucking the tradition and setting his own course somewhere else.

鈥淚 wanted my own lonely life, I guess,鈥� Jean-Luc says with a chuckle. 鈥淢y dad was like, 鈥楴o!鈥� Then my appendix ruptured and my dad was staying with me in hospital and he said, 鈥榊ou see? What if something like this happened and you were on your own? You can see why you should be with your brothers and sisters.鈥� And I could.鈥�

Currently, seven of the Serufuli children are sharing a home off campus. They don鈥檛 know a way of life without each other in reach, and say that coming to Canada and attending the same university has strengthened their bond.

鈥淕rowing up, you think that every single person in the world has eight siblings 鈥� you think it鈥檚 normal,鈥� says Salomon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so fun going home. You have eight different stories at the end of the day and maybe more with the parents around.鈥�

Salomon and Jean-Luc say their father couldn鈥檛 have helped them make a better decision.

鈥淭he supports, the programs 鈥� Glendon has all the tools you need to succeed in whatever you want to go into,鈥� says Jean-Luc. 鈥淚t was one of the best choices that I made, to be honest.鈥�

They are thinking through their next steps, what field they want to go into and which end of the world they want to start their careers.

One option is to join their parents in the family businesses that deal in real estate, agriculture and oil and are run from their home in Kinshasa, Congo鈥檚 capital.

But, one thing is certain; if they decide to return home, they will continue to live as one big family, at least in the short term.

鈥淎s always, my dad doesn't like us to be separated,鈥� says Jean-Luc. 鈥淭he tradition is that we all live together until we get married. If you don鈥檛 get married, you鈥檙e not moving out. So, we鈥檙e going to stick together until we find someone.鈥�

Watch a video below:

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The new gift builds on the family鈥檚 earlier donation, which first launched the program in Fall 2022. The program provides financial support to 91亚色 students pursuing experiential learning opportunities globally, such as international internships, academic exchanges, research placements and conferences.

Through this program, the family aims to open doors for the next generation of global citizens. Lau and Chan first met as international students at 91亚色, where they forged lifelong friendships and a shared passion for learning across cultures. Because this formative experience shaped their own paths, they are passionate about giving more students the chance to embark on the same journey.

鈥淲e know first鈥慼and how global learning opportunities can build resilience and creativity,鈥� says Chan, CEO and executive director of Singapore鈥慴ased SP Chemicals Pte. Ltd. 鈥淲hen students go beyond their familiar surroundings, they learn to adapt and rise to bigger challenges. These qualities are essential to navigate our increasingly complex world, and there is no better way to gain them other than global immersion.鈥�

Lau adds, 鈥淚n the last three years, some exceptional students have gone on their own learning adventures through our program. It was delightful to watch their transformation, and I am very excited to see how many more bright minds will benefit from our program.鈥�

Since 2022, the Paulina Lau Scholars Program has enabled 24 students to explore experiential learning opportunities in 20 institutions across 14 countries. From internships at NASA, to language training for diplomatic careers, to research on democratic systems, these scholars have gained a wealth of learning 鈥� none of which would have been possible without the couple鈥檚 generous support.

鈥淧aulina and Hian鈥檚 generosity exemplifies how alumni partnerships can spark profound learning journeys,鈥� says Susana Gajic-Bruyea, vice-president, advancement at 91亚色. 鈥淭heir gift is a testament to the transformative power of philanthropy and the enduring connection our alumni share with 91亚色.鈥�

Through this landmark gift, Lau and Chan reaffirm their belief that global learning is not a luxury, but a unique component of a 91亚色 education and a cornerstone for positive change in an interconnected world.

Learn more about the  and how to support global learning opportunities at 91亚色.

Originally published in YFile.

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Two major initiatives aimed at supporting Asian Canadian communities will launch this month at 91亚色 through the Asian Business and Management Program (ABMP). 

A unit of the 91亚色 Centre for Asian Research (YCAR), ABMP provides professional development and management training to officials and professionals from across Asia. It also offers career experience programs for Asian students studying at home and abroad, while actively collaborating with Asian Canadian communities to support their growth and success.

The launch of these programs 鈥� which are designed to empower and uplift Asian Canadian communities 鈥� aligns with Asian Heritage Month and also marks the ABMP鈥檚 25-year milestone.

Sponsored by RBC, the Career|Fit Professional Experience Programs (running June to August 2025) offers Asian-identifying undergraduate students (ages 18 to 25) the opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience and develop essential career skills. Open to students at no cost, the programs bridge academic learning with real-world applications through experiential projects supervised by industry leaders from Fortune 500 companies.

鈥淲e are committed to helping young Asian leaders unlock their potential,鈥� says Elena Caprioni, ABMP鈥檚 program director. 鈥淐areer|Fit not only equips students with practical skills but also helps them explore career pathways and build confidence as they navigate their futures.鈥�

The second initiative, which runs in partnership with NorthStar Special Needs Society, will present a series of workshops and panel discussions during National Accessibility Week, May 25 to 31.  is an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the experiences of individuals with disabilities in Asian-Canadian communities, reducing stigma through education and open dialogue and fostering inclusion by celebrating the contributions and potential of all community members.

鈥淭his collaboration reflects our broader mission of inclusivity and engagement,鈥� Caprioni says. 鈥淏y supporting the diverse needs of the Asian Canadian community, we aim to create a more connected and equitable society.鈥�

These initiatives are emblematic of ABMP鈥檚 ability to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of the communities, adds Caprioni. From partnering with local not-for-profit organizations to creating innovative programs for youth and newcomers, ABMP鈥檚 impact continues to expand beyond its original vision.

Since its establishment in 2000, ABMP has worked to foster cross-cultural understanding and professional development between Canada and Asia training more than 10,000 educators, officials, faculty and students from Asia, says Bernie Frolic, ABMP executive director.

鈥淎s we celebrate 25 years, it鈥檚 inspiring to reflect on the bridges we鈥檝e built between Canada and Asia,鈥� says Frolic. 鈥淭hese new initiatives reaffirm our commitment to fostering understanding and creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation.鈥�

With files from Elena Caprioni

Originally published in YFile. 听

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