This July, Ye Junjia (left), a masters student in the Geography program at York will represent the University at the Centennial Global Education Convention 2005 in Singapore. The convention, organized by the National University of Singapore, is part of its centennial celebration.
Junjia will be one of 300 young people and international education staff attending from some of the world’s top universities. The three-day convention will examine issues related to global education and its impact and implications for young people. The program includes a series of plenary lectures and workshops which culminate in a forum. Workshops include sessions on globalization and entrepreneurship, intercultural learning, global citizenship and the global village. Participants will share their aspirations and experiences, learn from one another and engage in dialogue with internationally respected experts from different fields. Guest speakers include: Peter Wollitzer, regional director of the Education Abroad Program at the University of California; Katherine Beaumont, director of the University of British Columbia’s Go Global: Student Mobility Program; and Walter Anderau, chairman of Swiss Re at the Centre of Global Dialogue in Switzerland.
Enrolled in York's MA Program in Geography, Jnjia has a BA (Honours '04) in geography and communication studies. While in Singapore, Junjia will also be working on her masters thesis topic, tilted "Multiple Identities in a Transnational Workplace: The Case of Singapore's Financial Sector."
"I will be conducting interviews with both Singaporean and transnational elite financial workers between May and August," said Junjia. "I'm anxious to get started on that because I love the practical part of research."
As part of York University's intent to support international experiences for students, the expenses to cover Junjia's time at the Centennial Global Education Convention will be provided by York's Office of the Associate Vice-President International.
For more information on international activities at York and the programs available to help York students internationalize their degree, visit the York International Web site.