Your April 2023 edition
Welcome to the International Insights newsletter, a monthly roundup of news, opportunities and updates with an international focus, curated by Western International for the Western community.
Graduate student dreams of global recognition for home country’s folk games
As an undergraduate student at the University of Ghana, Ivy Osei was surprised to discover in herself a passion for learning – and teaching others – about traditional folk games.
Now a student of Master of Arts in kinesiology in the field of management and leadership in kinesiology, Osei plans to use her current research in “The role of standardization in safeguarding traditional folk games” to grow SportDrive, a non-governmental organization (NGO) she co-founded in Ghana focused on developing traditional games into standardized sports.
“I had never played sports, so it was a bit strange for me to take a sports class, but I did for some reason. During my lecture on the first day the professor told us the course was not necessarily for athletes – it was also for people who want to use sports as a tool for development,” said Osei, who completed a BA in sociology, physical education and sport studies at the University of Ghana in 2019.
“Sports are much more about social development than just the sports themselves and can be used to cause positive change in individuals and communities. That’s what I’m interested in doing.”
“I’ve never been outside of North America on my own, and I didn’t know there was a summer exchange option until recently. When I found out there was, I jumped on it! I think it’s a great way to reward myself, to meet new friends and take some unique courses. It’s going to be something that I’ll always remember from my undergraduate degree.”
-Kriti Bhatt (pictured above, left), a fourth-year student heading to Leeds University this summer
Students gather to connect before going abroad
More than 200 students registered to go abroad over the next year gathered in the International and Graduate Affairs Building for an outbound student social event earlier this month.
The event created an opportunity for students to meet other students who are travelling to the same location, as
well as to hear from staff who offered tips on preparing to travel and what to expect when they arrive.
“We want to bring participants together so they can make connections before they go, where possible, and where we could also be available to answer any questions they have,” said Eunjung Riauka, director of international learning at Western.
“We have nearly 350 students heading out on Western international programs this summer who will be leaving anywhere between May 1 and the beginning of July.”
Costa Rica Global Learning Programs - Virtual Internship
If you know of any students who might be interested in earning international work experience, immersing themselves in a new culture, and learning Spanish, all from the comfort of home, encourage them to apply for a new virtual internship in Costa Rica!
This internship is the perfect way to gain cross-cultural understanding that will help students stand out in the job market. It also provides experience in communicating across different time zones, cultures, and languages, giving a more global experience than a local internship.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2023
Internship Start Date: July 5, 2023
“My experience at Western has been amazing and more than I could have imagined. I was already grateful for the ELAP scholarship and opportunity to come to Western to work on my research. When I also was chosen for the study tour, I couldn’t believe it. That was an incredible chance to meet colleagues from around the world."
Meet Maria Rodriguez
A visiting PhD student from the Universidad Nacional del Sur in Argentina, Maria was awarded a scholarship from Global Affairs Canada to spend six months at Western working with Graham Thompson, professor in the Department of Biology, as part of the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP).
Her research is focused on developing an innovative source of probiotics for beekeepers to feed to bees to prevent disease.
Maria was also selected as one of 30 graduate-level scholars from the ELAP and Study in Canada scholarships initiatives to participate in the International Scholarships Study Tour, which took place in Ottawa from February 20 to 24, 2023.
Pictured above: Ziya Tong, author of The Reality Bubble and award-winning broadcaster
Join us for the World's Challenge Challenge Global Final Public Events
Members of the Western community are invited to attend these special events taking place as part of the 2023 World's Challenge Challenge Global Final.
Ziya Tong Keynote, Networking Lunch & Research Forum (Hybrid)
June 6, 2023, 11:00 am
Global Final Competition (Hybrid)
June 8, 2023, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
Global Final Awards Celebration & Dinner (Hybrid)
June 8, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Reminder: International Orientation: May 4-6
New international students and international students who missed their previous orientation are invited to take part in programming designed to help them:
- learn important information about Western,
- get connected with resources across campus,
- make friends and connections to last,
- and much more!
Students can visit our International Student Orientation website to see a schedule of events, photos of previous orientations, and access resources designed to ease their transition to Western and Canada.
Have questions? Contact iescwelcome@uwo.ca.
Did you know?
Every year, Western International recruits hundreds of volunteers who assist with the coordination, planning and implementation of various activities and programs. In celebration of National Volunteer Week and to thank this year's volunteers, we highlighted some of these amazing supporters on our Instagram Stories.
If you have ideas, suggestions or opportunities with an international focus to share, please let us know at wicomms@uwo.ca.
