York and three other Canadian universities have won national awards for excellence in internationalization.
The Scotiabank-Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada Award (AUCC) for Excellence in Internationalization recognizes Canadian university initiatives that foster understanding of an increasingly global world. York Vice-President Academic Sheila Embleton accepted York's award at a ceremony Oct. 25 at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. She was accompanied by undergraduate Polina Kukar, a 2006 summer intern at the Hong Kong Institute of Education.
York won the award for its international internship program, which has placed undergraduate and graduate students in studies-related, non-credit internships around the world for the past three summers. "This is important recognition of the work York has been doing recently," says Adrian Shubert (right), associate VP international. "The Scotiabank-AUCC award is the most prestigious in Canada for international initiatives among Canadian universities."
The York University International Internship Program was created three years ago as part of the University’s commitment to internationalization, spearheaded by Embleton. This summer, York sent 53 students from every Faculty to 34 countries.
York has won four Scotiabank-AUCC awards, more than any other Canadian university, since they were created 10 years ago, says Shubert. Schulich's East-West Enterprise Exchange Program and its International MBA Program won in 1997 and 1998, respectively, and Glendon's International Studies Program won in 2004.
York has won other awards for its international initiatives. Last year, the Canadian Bureau of International Education recognized Embleton for leadership in internationalization and the York International Internship Program for outstanding international programming (see YFile, Oct. 3, 2005).
Scotiabank-AUCC 2006 awards also went to the University of Alberta's Global Education Program in peace and governance; McGill University's international courts and tribunals program; and the University of Western Ontario's Western Heads East program.
"Scotiabank understands the value of a global perspective and that's why we're proud to recognize the achievements of Canadian universities in preparing students – Canada's next generation of political, social, cultural and business leaders – for a global future," said Scotiabank chief executive Rick Waugh.
"These Scotiabank-AUCC Award winners underline the important role universities have in preparing Canadian students for today's global world," said Claire Morris, AUCC president.