Your February 2025 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.
Celebrating Global Perspectives
Each week on our website and social channels, we celebrate a student whose international journey enriches our community.
Whether they're a student here from another country, a participant in an education abroad program, or a dedicated volunteer supporting international initiatives, they embody global citizenship and bring fresh perspectives to our campus.
Meet a few of our recently featured students below and visit the website for more spotlights.
University of St Andrews Global Fellowship
Applications are being accepted for the University of St Andrews Global Fellowship Scheme, which provides funding, travel and accommodation for academics to visit the university for up to 28 days.
Global Fellows will contribute to the scholarly community at St Andrews, including interacting with a wide range of staff and students and participating in scholarly activities throughout the 2025-2026 academic year.
Deadline to submit is March 3.
Upcoming Immigration Sessions
In an effort to support faculties with questions about provincial attestation letters (PALs), immigration trends and concerns, Western International will host some upcoming sessions for staff to ask questions and get support.
Dates and times will be shared on our event calendar once they are confirmed.
Mental Health Abroad Webinar
Join us for a webinar on supporting mental health for students abroad, presented by Dr. Megan Hart-Fernandez from International SOS, Western's partner in emergency assistance for outbound mobility.
This session is designed for faculty and staff involved in leading, coordinating, or supporting international programs at Western.
March 6, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Anna Kurach: Five Things About Me
- I am the International Partnership Specialist at Western International. It’s a dynamic role that blends education, diplomacy, and global networking. It allows me to connect people across cultures, create opportunities for students and staff to grow through international experiences, and contribute to building strong global partnerships.
- I am Ukrainian, born in Kazakhstan and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
- My family and I have been living in Canada since July 2022.
- I joined Western international in 2024, but my experience with international partnerships began more than seven years ago in Ukraine at Kharkiv National Medical University. Since then, I have been involved in establishing and maintaining agreements with foreign universities for student and staff exchanges, joint programs, and research partnerships.
- Fun facts about me: I don’t have a dominant hand, I can write, eat, and do many tasks with both hands equally. I speak four languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English and French.
Did you know?
There is support available to build global partnerships, including for student mobility, industry engagement, research, or teaching.
The Western International team works in collaboration with other campus units and committees to develop strategic partnerships with university and research partners across the world. We support and advise staff in their activities including how to develop partnerships at the departmental, faculty and institutional level, and in the drafting, managing, and renewing of international agreements.
If you have ideas, suggestions or opportunities with an international focus to share, please let us know at wicomms@uwo.ca.
