Your February 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.
Graduate students can now give their degrees global appeal with Global Honour distinction
Long before she began her undergraduate degree at Western, MacKenzie Brash, BA’17, MA’18, dreamed of going abroad and discovering new places and cultures.
After earning both an undergraduate and graduate degree, completing the Global & Intercultural Engagement Honour, she said, provided those opportunities she was looking for and more.
“I always knew I wanted an international learning experience in university. I chose Western specifically because it had a study abroad program in the country I wanted to go to,” she said.
Brash describes living and studying in Malta as one of the best experiences of her life. She was able to learn the history of a country where her extended family was from.
“I’m still a historian today,” said Brash, who now works for a private historical consulting firm, based out of Ottawa, focused mainly on Indigenous history.
Western’s Global & Intercultural Engagement Honour is a special distinction that appears on a student’s official transcript when they graduate after completing the requirements. First launched for undergraduate students nearly 10 years ago, the program will expand to include a stream for graduate students this month.
“When I learned about Western’s Global Honour, I realized there were so many ways to incorporate international learning into my university experience, such as volunteering and taking courses related to global studies and history,” she said.
“Getting to see that the world is much, much bigger than Canada really makes you a better citizen of the world.”
The structure of the program allows students to incorporate coursework and extracurricular activities and earn points towards completing certain categories, such as global experience at home or abroad and global or intercultural engagement and training.
Global Undergraduate Awards 2024
Do you know an undergraduate student who completed outstanding coursework this year? Encourage them to submit it to The Global Undergraduate Awards, the world’s largest pan-discipline academic awards program that identifies leading creative thinkers through their undergraduate coursework.
It's free to enter and they could earn international recognition and a trip to Dublin, Ireland for the UA Global Summit!
Deadline to submit is June 7
Wajd, pictured above right has been an active volunteer with Western International for the past three years.
Student Spotlight: Meet Wajd Abuzaid, fourth-year, Medical Sciences
Home countries:
- Grew up in Dubai, UAE until grade 8
- Completed high school in London, Ontario
- Has Canadian citizenship
Involvement with Western International:
- Volunteer for International Student Orientation & International Week Student Ambassador
Western Experience Highlight:
"Completing the Global & Intercultural Engagement Honour is one of the best extracurricular choices I made at Western. It encouraged me to further my knowledge and cultural understanding by taking courses and workshops that focus on global topics and diversity, and by volunteering for international programs and events.
"As a volunteer, I was provided with a safe environment to get involved on campus. I have made some of my best friends from all around the world through this program!"
ICYMI: Radboud-Western Collaboration Fund Information Session Recording
Applications for the Radboud-Western Fund for 2024-25 are being accepted until April 1, 2024. Interested in learning more? Find a recording of our information session on our website.
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.
AWB: Call for Project Proposals - Feb 2024
Academics without Borders (AWB) is looking to develop and support projects that enable volunteer experts to engage in capacity-building activities at institutions of higher education in low or middle-income countries.
Please note: for environmental reasons, AWB has revised its emphasis on projects and travel to encourage submission of projects that can be implemented in whole or in part via online methods.
- First Step Deadline: Monday, March 11, 2024
- First Step Decision: Monday, March 25, 2024
Did you know?
The Western Heads East Fundraising and Education Committee holds an annual conference open to all undergraduate and graduate students.
This year, they are “Igniting Change” by diving into the heart of women empowerment. Participants will engage with expert speakers from Western and participate in a case competition, where they will take the lead in shaping the conversation around women's health, education and empowerment worldwide.
March 9, 10 am to 3 pm, Community Room, Weldon Library
If you have ideas, suggestions or opportunities with an international focus to share, please let us know at wicomms@uwo.ca.
