杏吧原创

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June 2022

杏吧原创鈥檚 New Associate Vice-President (International)

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Betina Appel Kuzmarov to the position of Associate Vice-President (International). Betina has been a member of the 杏吧原创 community since 2006 and currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Law and Legal Studies. As a trained lawyer, Betina鈥檚 research interests lie in international law, among other areas, making her a valued addition to the 杏吧原创 International team.

Betina will succeed Dr. Karen Schwartz, who has successfully completed four and a half years in this position. Among her many accomplishments, Karen helped shepherd the development of the International Strategic Plan (2020-2025) alongside the Advisory Committee on Internationalization. Even though we are sad to say goodbye, we are fortunate to have such a wonderful replacement in Betina and are confident that the work and office culture will continue to thrive under her leadership.

Congratulations to both Betina and Karen on reaching such important milestones in their careers.


International Research Team Tackles Parkinson鈥檚 Disease

By the time people begin to show symptoms of Parkinson鈥檚 disease, the dopaminergic neurons have already been degenerating for years. 杏吧原创 has joined a team of international researchers from Canada, the United States, and Germany to tackle this issue by exploring ways to intervene earlier and stop the progression of the disease. Dr. Natalina Salmaso from the Department of Neuroscience has been awarded a $278,000 grant to study the role played by a specific brain cell known as the glial cell. This is part of a larger three-year USD $9 million grant from (ASAP), a co-ordinated initiative devoted to accelerating the discovery of a cure through research collaboration and knowledge sharing. As implementation partner, the issued the grant.

Read the full story .


Engagement with the Czech Republic

On June 1, members of the 杏吧原创 community met with a small Senate delegation from the Czech Republic, including the Chairman of the . Gathered in 杏吧原创鈥檚 beautiful ARISE building, a broad range of topics were discussed, as well as ideas for possible future collaborations between our two countries. In regard to next steps, committee members agreed to look into researchers interested in working alongside Canadian universities in hopes of facilitating faculty matchmaking.

The day also included a tour of the 杏吧原创 Mass Spectrometry Centre and an evening reception at the residence of the Czech Ambassador with international and Canadian senators, 杏吧原创 representatives, and other important academic partners of the Czech Republic.


International Student Survey Highlights

In our January newsletter, we announced that 杏吧原创 was participating in for the first time, underscoring the importance we place in the international student experience and how it鈥檚 shaping our strategic direction moving forward. This information will help us identify where we鈥檙e excelling and where we can improve. A big thank you to the 1,235 杏吧原创 international students who took the time to share their voice.

The data is still under review, but the following two tables highlight some of the areas in which 杏吧原创 is providing a positive university experience.

杏吧原创 Participants:

Strongly/Somewhat Agree Strongly/Somewhat Disagree
I feel I belong at 杏吧原创 62.4% 12.7%
I am treated with respect 78.5% 6%
Faculty members help me feel included in class 73.3% 6.5%
I feel included in academic study groups 67.5% 9.6%

Comparative Report:

Services Offered: “Satisfied” to “Very Satisfied”

杏吧原创 University Average of All Other Institutions
Registrar鈥檚 Office 78.3% 65.3%
International Office Services 67.3% 60.3%
Financial Services 53.7% 52.3%
Residence and Housing 44.5% 39.8%

International SOS

杏吧原创 students, faculty, and staff who are travelling or living abroad have free 24/7 access to , a health and security services firm that offers medical and safety advice, and personal assistance to registrants anywhere in the world almost instantly. Services include pre-trip information, appointments with doctors, financial assistance, legal counsel, support during emergencies, and more.

Since becoming partners in 2018, the Office of Risk Management has continued to expand our offerings, which now include mental health counselling for international students studying in their home countries as a result of the pandemic.

It is imperative that the university provides the necessary resources so that our valued community members have a safe pathway to pursue their international interests and become global citizens. As of December 2021, 619 杏吧原创 individuals have downloaded the app.

Click here for more information on accessing International SOS, or watch the following .


GSO Research Internship

Promotional poster for Global Skills Opportunity

Are you a 杏吧原创 undergraduate student looking for opportunities to go abroad and gain new skills? You can now apply for a 3-4 month research internship in Mexico or Colombia through the International Research Mobility Experience (IRME) project. Up to $6,000 will be awarded per person, but extra financial support will be given to Indigenous students, low-income students, and students with disabilities. Internships are available in a wide range of academic disciplines.

The IRME project is partially funded by one of two Global Skills Opportunity grants 杏吧原创 received last year. This project aims to break down barriers that prevent mobility to Latin America and the Caribbean by providing students with funding.

Only 4 internships are available, so act fast!


New Internship Opportunities in Japan

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award program supports research collaborations between Canada and select international partners. Through these opportunities, recipients can expand their knowledge, make new connections, learn intercultural skills, and travel to exciting places.

Full-time senior undergraduate, master鈥檚, and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, can now apply for a 12-24 week internship with the , a Japanese research organization focused on the creation of innovative technologies that address socio-economic needs. Internships are open to students specializing in robotics, artificial intelligence, human informatics, cybersecurity, and a number of other areas. In addition to airfare and accommodations, $3,000 will be awarded to successful applicants.

The call for proposals is open all year.


Stay Up-To-Date on All Things International

Did you know that our website has an active newsfeed? Here you will discover the most recent mobility opportunities for students and faculty, calls for visiting professors, info sessions and workshops, and much more. This page is updated frequently to bring you the most relevant and time sensitive information.

Click here to browse current and past news posts. And be sure to check back often so you don鈥檛 miss out on all the exciting opportunities our office has to offer!


Feedback

We鈥檇 love to hear from you! If you have any content recommendations or suggestions on how we can improve our newsletter, please contact Nathaniel Whelan.