Students seeking new experiences with international study – both on campus and abroad – are invited to attend the Go Global Fair this week at the Keele Campus to learn more about the opportunities available.
York International’s Global Learning team will host the event, which gives students information about studying and working abroad, earning credits towards their degree and building transferable skills. Students who have previously studied abroad, and exchange students currently studying at York, will be in attendance to share their experiences and offer their perspectives on the value of participating in a global learning opportunity.
“York’s global engagement strategy prioritizes providing opportunities for students to immerse themselves in other cultures and gain diverse perspectives about the world,” says Ashley Laracy, associate director, Global Learning. “The University is committed to graduating global citizens, and the skills acquired from studying or working abroad can set recent graduates apart on the job market, increase their employability and ensure they are equipped to enter a diverse workforce.”
Students can optimize their post-secondary experience through global learning programs offered by York. With more than 300 global partners in more than 65 countries, York offers a variety of opportunities such as academic exchanges, summer schools, research and internships.
These experiences, however, don’t always require a passport – professors can also bring international experiences to students from their own classrooms. Through Globally Networked Learning, faculty and students from around the world can connect virtually, while participating in, and collaborating on, projects related to their field of study. This program creates global classrooms and aids in learning intercultural communication skills that will benefit them in the professional world.
Alyana Borras, a fourth-year communications and media studies student, completed an exchange in Singapore at the National University of Singapore and an internship at the Canadian Institute in Greece.
“Going abroad not only helped immerse myself in a new culture but allowed me to gain valuable skills like problem solving and independence,” she says.
Global learning is open to all students at York University – undergraduate, graduate, domestic and international – with travel funding and safety abroad assistance to support them on their journey.
“Hearing about this opportunity from my professor, and seeing they had a course that was specific to my creative writing interest, was so exciting – it felt like it was tailored to me. I sent my application right away,” says Sathana Muraleetharan, a fourth-year political science major with a minor in English, who was inspired by a professor to explore international and experiential learning on the Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica.
Muraleetharan received the York International Mobility Award as well as pre-departure training before her trip and a re-entry debriefing upon return to Canada. While in Costa Rica, she stayed with a local family, which nurtured her biggest accomplishment: learning Spanish.
“The family I stayed with only spoke Spanish,” she says. “I thought, ‘What am I doing here if I’m not willing to learn their language?’ And even though I was nervous to learn, it was one of the most rewarding things I have done.”
“These are experiences that students won’t forget. Global learning can build personal and professional networks to live on for years to come,” adds Laracy.
The Go Global Fair will be held Oct. 5 at Vari Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to all students.
Learn more about York’s Global Learning initiatives, upcoming events and more through the York International website. Register for information sessions through the York International events calendar. For questions about how to get involved and or for more information, email Laracy at alaracy@yorku.ca.