Your June 2022 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.
Students from around the world pitch solutions to global issues and win funding at Western-led annual summit
Three teams with big ideas to help people facing domestic violence, mental health issues and immigration challenges were named as the top winners at the 2022 World’s Challenge Challenge Global Final, hosted virtually June 6 to 9 by Western.
Dalhousie University students Anamika and Anik Ahmed took home the top prize of $30,000 for their project, Mitro, an app disguised as a recipe app that offers resources for women in Bangladesh experiencing domestic violence.
Coming in second place was a four-person team from Bond University – Jackson Miller, Ellie Mackey, Holley Slatterey and Megan der Velde – and their project, vybu, software designed to promote mental health in young people by reducing perceived loneliness using pre-recorded messages from loved ones.
The third-place team, comprised of Boon Kent Chin, Hongwen Xu (Miley) and Jia Qi Liu (Leo) from the University of Waterloo, presented Next: Immigrant Service: All-in-One App, which would provide housing, banking and other resources to newcomers immigrating to Canada.
“We were amazed that we won first prize. There were some really great ideas,” said Anik Ahmed. “The best thing about being part of the Global Final was seeing what other people’s minds can come up with. Everyone there was part of our generation and it’s amazing to see what they can offer to the world to make it a better place.”
The World’s Challenge Challenge began at Western in 2013 and expanded to include a global competition in 2017. The Challenge asks students at participating universities from around the world to form diverse teams to propose solutions based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at their own campuses. The winning teams at each university are then invited to participate in a four-day summit hosted by Western.
In addition to the pitch competition and question and answer session with a panel of judges, this year’s Global Final featured a number of keynote speakers, including Western alumnus and Olympic Gold Medalist Alex Kopacz, alumnus and entrepreneur Jake Karls and alumna and entrepreneur Charity Kabango, as well as mentoring and networking opportunities for the participating teams.
“We were thrilled to welcome 16 incredible teams from around the world to this year’s World’s Challenge Challenge Global Final. Every year, I am impressed by the student participants and their creativity, ingenuity and desire to solve some of our world’s most pressing issues,” said Lise Laporte, Senior Director at Western International.
“As a higher learning institution, we have a responsibility to find opportunities to create experiences like the Challenge, that promote and support global citizenship, multidisciplinary collaboration and the betterment of society.”
Ukraine president delivers virtual address to Canadian universities
On June 22, Western students, including current Ukrainian international students and recently arrived exchange students attending Ivey’s MBA program, gathered on campus to hear a nationwide video address by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted by the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.
In his address, the Ukrainian president highlighted the importance of protecting Ukrainian security and its economic institutions.
“We need to stand strong for our universities and our cities. We need to start developing when peace comes to our land,” he said. “That’s the most important precondition that we can put in place for our future generation."
Save the date: International Week 2022 - November 21-25
International Week celebrates diversity at Western, engages students, faculty and staff in discussion and debate about international issues, and encourages learning about international education, intercultural skills, and cultural traditions and activities.
During the week we aim to:
- Celebrate Western’s international community and international collaborations
- Provide information about international opportunities for students, staff, faculty and alumni (both at home and abroad)
- Engage with the London and campus communities in global learning and intercultural sharing
Watch for more details to be shared soon!
Expanded International Student Orientation: Aug. 31-Sept. 3
Western International is developing an expanded and enhanced International Student Orientation for all incoming international graduate, undergraduate, and exchange students and their families this year. Over the four-day program, participants will be provided opportunities for:
- learning important information about Western
- making friendships and connections to last
- shopping and finding essentials in London
- setting up a Canadian phone and bank account
- and much more!
All new undergraduate students (including exchange and transfer students) are encouraged to attend this program in addition to Western's Orientation Week (OWeek) taking place September 5 to 11, 2022.
New graduate students should also plan to attend this orientation program and Western's Graduate Student Welcome, in addition to orientation sessions offered through their department and the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) in early September.
Did you know?
Our team of International Student Advisors continues to offer drop-in Immigration FAQ Friday sessions throughout the summer to provide support and answer questions for students travelling to Canada from abroad.
If you have ideas, suggestions or opportunities with an international focus to share, please let us know at wicomms@uwo.ca.
