Your March 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.
Celebrating 30 years of the International Peer Guide Program
Thirty years ago, a powerful student mentoring program was launched at Western. Since then, the International Peer Guide program has been helping new international students succeed, while helping upper-year students build connections, friendships, and career skills.
Developed as an initiative to provide mentorship and resources for students coming from abroad, the Peer Guide program quickly became a community, offering the more than 5,000 students who have participated countless opportunities to share laughter, to provide or accept a helping hand, and to find a sense of belonging at Western.
“The Peer Guide program was my home at Western,” said Rachel Crowe, BSc’00, a former peer guide and former program coordinator. “If you're coming from overseas and adjusting, you're so far from home. There are a lot of differences. Sometimes it can be hard to connect with people who haven't had that experience, so connecting with someone who is familiar with what you're going through is huge.
“The program does a lot of practical things too, but the fact that there's such an emphasis put on developing meaningful connections, amongst the peer guides, between peer guides and peers, and with the staff, makes it as successful as it is.”
Western announces $600K in new funding for globally displaced students, scholars
As the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues, Western is investing $600,000 to increase direct financial support for students and scholars facing disruption and displacement due to conflict, war or natural disasters in their home countries.
With supports and services available across campus, the goal is to provide a single point of entry for affected students, as well as for community members interested in helping displaced students and scholars.
“We want to provide a central point of contact for students and prevent them from having to knock on different doors during a difficult time,” said Lise Laporte, Senior Director at Western International. “Western International acts as this access point for students, and we then help connect them with additional, wrap-around supports – whether they be financial, or health and well-being-related.”
Scholar Rescue Fund: Fellowships for Threatened Scholars
The Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) is accepting applications from professors and researchers facing threats to their lives or careers. Fellowships support temporary academic positions at universities and other higher education institutions anywhere in the world where the scholars can continue their academic work in safety.
Professors, researchers, and public intellectuals from any country, field, or discipline may apply.
- Qualifying applicants are currently facing or have recently fled from direct and immediate threats.
- Strong preference is given to scholars with a PhD or other highest degree in their field.
- Qualifying applicants typically have teaching experience at an institution of higher learning and an established record of published academic research.
- Women and scholars from under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
More information on eligibility can be found here.
The Undergraduate Awards 2022
Western is once again participating in The Undergraduate Awards, the world’s largest pan-discipline academic awards program that identifies leading creative thinkers through their undergraduate coursework.
If you know of any students who might be interested and eligible, please consider encouraging them to submit coursework for consideration.
Did you know?
Six projects were funded during the last cycle through the Radboud-Western Collaboration Fund.
Funding of around 140,000 CAD is available each year, and individual projects can receive up to $25,000 CAD if selected.
Applications for 2022/23 are being accepted until April 1. A list of successful projects to date, the application guidelines document for selection criteria and the application timeline can be found on the website.
If you have ideas, suggestions or opportunities with an international focus to share, please let us know at wicomms@uwo.ca.
