Your January 2024 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.
New Study Permit Cap and Immigration Supports
As you may know, the Canadian government recently announced it will cap the number of study permits available for the next two years. This temporary measure does not impact currently enrolled undergraduate Western students, nor current or prospective graduate students.
Western remains committed to responsible growth in international enrolment. Great educational and social experiences require a mix of domestic and international students who bring diverse research strengths and multicultural perspectives to the entire community.
We have many supports in place to help prospective students as they navigate this new process, including international student advisors trained in immigration, frequent immigration FAQ Friday drop-in sessions, and a list of study permit-related Frequently Asked Questions on our website.
We will continue to provide updates via email and on our website as details are confirmed. Students with questions are encouraged to reach out to our team at iesc@uwo.ca.
Radboud-Western Collaboration Fund 2024-25
Applications for the Radboud-Western Fund for 2024-25 will open February 1.
Radboud University (The Netherlands) and Western have created a Collaboration Fund to facilitate and support joint initiatives that will strengthen the two universities’ strategic priorities through innovative education as well as multidisciplinary leading-edge research to create academic and societal impact.
The Collaboration Fund encourages proposals for one-year joint projects (up to $25,000 CAD) in the areas of research and learning & teaching (education) as well as opportunities for short-term mobility visits.
Interested in learning more? Come to an information webinar on February 19! The registration link will be available soon on the website.
New Format for Winter Term International Student Orientation
This January, we welcomed a group of more than 200 international and exchange students and piloted a new format for International Student Orientation.
The vision for this new format was based on student feedback requesting more support with "self-navigating" and opportunities to socialize and make friends.
Some of the highlights included:
- Enhanced pre-arrival modules paired with pre-arrival webinars to support students as they prepared to journey to Canada
- In-person Welcome Centre where student and staff volunteers offered a warm welcome and support
- A three-part webinar series that highlighted important campus resources and strategies to thrive both academically and personally
- In-person social events including two New Student Celebrations, a special edition Global Café and a lunch for international students and their families
- Partnership events with Western Libraries providing library tours and Mustang Athletics hosting our group to cheer on the men’s varsity basketball game
We hope to continue collaborating with campus partners as we build on the success of this pilot and begin planning ahead for Fall 2025.
Student Spotlight: Meet Oskar Martinez, MMus Contrabassoon/Bassoon
Time as a Mustang : September 2023-present
Home country: United States of America
Why I Chose Western
I chose Western because they were open to me doing a contrabassoon-oriented performance track while keeping up with the bassoon.
About Me
I am a contrabassoon player from the US who plays in the university orchestra and wind ensemble. I play electric bass as well, and I play it with the Western Salsa Band (Los Gansitos). Outside of music, I am also an avid video gamer!
Western Experience Highlight
Getting to the campus and getting to know all kinds of cool folks!
Western's Global & Intercultural Engagement Honour Expanding
Beginning in February, 2024, graduate and professional degree students at Western will be invited to apply for Western's Global & Intercultural Engagement Honour, which recognizes and rewards students' experience and engagement in such activities during their time at Western.
Once achieved, the Global Honour appears on a student's official transcript upon graduation. The structure of this program allows students to incorporate both curricular and extracurricular activities. Students awarded this Honour will be global-ready graduates. Through their participation, they will develop the skills required to navigate and succeed in an increasingly globalized reality, both professionally and personally.
Did you know?
Western International offers many different programs for new and current undergraduate and graduate students, including:
English Conversation Program
Peer Guide Program
Tea & Information for Spouses/Partners
If you know of any students who could benefit from connecting with their peers and/or our team, encourage them to take a look!
If you have ideas, suggestions or opportunities with an international focus to share, please let us know at wicomms@uwo.ca.
