Amid a global polycrisis that includes climate change and escalating geopolitical tensions, the United Nations has underscored the importance of cross-cultural collaboration. As a progressive public university, York is continuing to strengthen its global impact through innovative initiatives and partnerships that transcend borders and emphasize inclusivity and sustainability.
This year, we have signed new MOUs to facilitate greater academic exchange, strengthened our existing partnerships with influential organizations ranging from the World Health Organization to UNITAR, launched new global research initiatives, and facilitated transformative learning experiences that prepare students to thrive in a globalized world, including through our Eco-Campus in Costa Rica.
As we navigate a rapidly changing world, our dedication to global citizenship and equitable education drives us to create meaningful change and shape a better future for all.
By the Numbers
Our collaboration with York University is a story of shared values, mutual respect, and the pursuit of knowledge for the holistic development of our community to build a better society.”
Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University
York’s commitment to empowering young people to improve the world inspired me to create startup programs for underrepresented communities across Canada and train 1,000+ social impact entrepreneurs in India.”
Christopher Carder, Schulich School of Business, Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
York University’s focus on research, innovation, inclusion and community engagement has fueled my work with Umoja Robotics, mentoring young Black scientists and engineers through hands-on projects and experiential learning.”
Solomon Boakye-Yiadom, PhD, P.Eng, Lassonde School of Engineering
Advancing Global Engagement Highlights
WHO recognizes York University’s Global Strategy Lab for global health leadership
In February 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) re-designated York University’s Global Strategy Lab as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Global Governance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
In the past four years, the lab played a critical role in bridging science and policy to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and combat AMR, which is one of the greatest public health emergencies of our time, impacting health, food security, and economic growth. This renewal recognizes the lab’s achievements in leveraging rigorous interdisciplinary research, practical resources and tailored advisory services to inform policymaking, locally and globally.
The lab’s expanded mandate includes continuing to advocate sustainable antimicrobial use with a greater focus on equity and a “One Health” approach, which recognizes that the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment are all equally essential for a healthier, more sustainable future.
Cultivating longstanding academic relationships with India
In October 2023, York University and O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) cemented a strategic partnership aimed at advancing global education and research, reflecting both universities’ commitment to advancing global excellence, inclusion and empowerment in higher education.
Central to this new MOU are exchange programs designed to enhance student learning, support international students through academic transitions, and leverage existing York supports for matters ranging from visa processes to mental health challenges. The partnership expands upon York’s decades-long relationships with Indian institutions, which include a collaboration between JGU and Osgoode Hall Law School to host joint conferences, endorse joint research publications and promote faculty mobility.
Championing creativity and sustainability in Costa Rica
In the heart of Costa Rica’s Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor, York University’s Las Nubes Campus thrives as a nexus of creativity and learning. Founded as part of York’s commitment to environmental stewardship and cultural immersion, the EcoCampus has been engaging York students and local communities in celebrating Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity and fortifying long-standing relationships with diverse communities and groups in the area.
In May 2024, the Las Nubes academic library and vital community hub, Casita Azul, hosted its first Eco-Arts Residency, led by AMPD professors Brandon Vickerd and Laura Levin. The 10-day intensive course allowed 25 students to live with local families, learn about Indigenous culture, and contribute to community art projects. The residency culminated in the ExpoCOBAS festival, a local festival uniting art, culture, and environmental advocacy.
Launching the Global Research Excellence Fund
In April 2024, York launched the Global Research Excellence Seed Fund (GRE) to fortify the university’s global research footprint. The fund is designed to foster international partnerships across academia, industry and communities through a funding stream that focuses on strategic partnership development, and another that supports multilateral engagements with global organizations.
One of the first recipients of the GRE is Faculty of Education Associate Professor Cristina Delgado Vintimilla who was awarded funding to support a research collaboration focussed on the climate crisis with Indigenous arts, cultural and community organizations in Ecuador. She is leveraging GRE funds to use as a match in her SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant and Insight Grant applications in 2024.
This initiative, integral to York’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy, reflects the university’s commitment to fostering transformative connections that span disciplines and borders.
Fostering global education and collaborative learning
For almost a decade, York’s Globally Networked Learning (GNL) courses have been internationalizing curriculum to support global engagement and the development of cross-cultural competencies.
Since Fall 2023, six faculties and the York University English Language Institute hosted 51 GNL projects, four times as many as the previous year.
One of these was the course “Hispanic Geopoetics: Geography, Literature, Identity.” Under the guidance of Glendon Professor Alejandro Zamora, students from York University and Colombia’s Universidad del Magdalena participated in a cutting-edge Hyflex classroom to explore the fusion of literature, geography, and cultural identity in Gabriel García Márquez’s influential novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude. The semester culminated in a field trip to Colombia, where students met their peers in-person to deepen their immersive study of Márquez’s masterwork.
