Your May 2021 edition Jansen Acosta visits Victoria Park in London, ON, in 2019 while participating in the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program. Jansen Acosta with Santiago Zuluaga and other 2021 participants in the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program. Scholarship program offers long term opportunities for international studentsJansen Acosta believes it’s possible to meet the right people at the right time. Now pursuing his PhD in chemical and biochemical engineering, Acosta’s Western journey first began at a London Language Institute classroom a few years ago, when a teacher mentioned the Global Affairs International Scholarships Program for undergraduate students to him. “It’s so hard to believe that things have worked out the way they have for me,” said Acosta, who graduated from the National University of Colombia in 2020. “I never would have imagined that I would be back in Canada doing my PhD and working with the same professor I worked with when I came to Western as a Visiting Engineering Student." When he applied, Acosta said he didn’t expect to be selected for the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP), one of the streams offered as part of the larger Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships Program. The goal of the initiative is to provide opportunities for international students from participating countries to conduct short-term study, research or professional development in Canada. Read more. CIES appoints Dr. Jun Li as Vice-President The Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) recently announced the appointment of Dr. Jun Li, Chair & Professor, Cluster of Critical Policy, Equity & Leadership Studies at Western’s Faculty of Education, as Vice-President and President (designate). The CIES is the largest and oldest in its kind in the world, with over 3,500 active members from more than 1,000 universities, research institutes, government departments, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral agencies in nearly 130 countries across the globe. Dr. Li is the first CIES Vice- President and President (designate) from Western and also the first East-Asia born minority to hold this leadership role.
Global Skills Opportunity call for proposals – internal competition As part of Canada’s International Education Strategy, Canadian universities are invited to submit multi-year project proposals through Canada’s outbound student mobility pilot program, known as Global Skills Opportunity (GSO). Western International is pleased to administer applications for the GSO competition on behalf of Western University. We invite members of the campus community to submit applications for Western’s internal competition. Further details are available online. Submission deadline: June 14, 2021. The Africa Institute to welcome scholars and researchers at conference on African Studies in June The Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS) is a community of scholars and other researchers whose objectives are to promote the study of Africa in Canada, inform Canadian policy on and in Africa, and facilitate exchanges and linkages between Canadian and African universities and research institutions. Each year, CAAS organizes a conference that gathers scholars and professionals working on all aspects of African Studies. The conference theme for 2021 is "Achieving Ubuntu: Reframing Equity, Partnership and Social Change." More information and links to the keynote sessions will be available on the conference website. International travel requirements and restrictions Western International is continuing to provide updates and support to students who choose to travel to Canada from abroad for their studies. As government requirements and restrictions evolve, students are strongly encouraged to follow the up-to-date guidelines and steps on our International Arrival website to ensure they complete all the necessary steps before travelling and when they arrive, including completing required COVID-19 testing, a three-day stay in a government-authorized hotel and registering their quarantine plan with us in advance. Reminder: Radboud-Western Collaboration Fund apply by June 30 The Radboud-Western Collaboration Fund encourages proposals for one-year collaboration projects in the areas of research and learning & teaching (education) as well as opportunities for short term mobility visits. The application and a guide for applicants, which includes information on the selection criteria, are now available. Did You Know?Western International hosts the World's Challenge Challenge Global Final each year and invites student teams from around the world to pitch their ideas for making the world a better place by addressing issues addressed in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. This June, we will virtually welcome teams to join us for a week-long program designed to encourage big thinking, creativity and commitment to sustainability. If you have ideas, suggestions or opportunities with an international focus to share, please let us know at wicomms@uwo.ca. |