TORONTO, March 10, 2006 -- More than 200 participants from universities across Canada met at the Internationalizing Canada’s Universities Symposium, held from March 2-3, 2006, on York’s Keele Campus.
Rather than focus on the traditional show-and-tell approach, a unique mix of participants – including academics, administrators, staff, policy makers, private-sector representatives and students – undertook a critical examination of internationalization efforts. Presenters spoke about pedagogical approaches to integrating international concerns into curriculum.
This critical approach was furthered by a Greek chorus panel of international experts, which gathered at the close of both days for discussion. Members of the panel helped synthesize concepts put forth by speakers and added their unique perspectives on university internationalization in their own countries and contexts.
In introducing the symposium, Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Hon. Chris Bentley, emphasized the provincial government’s commitment to expanding trade and educational opportunities, demonstrated by Premier Dalton McGuinty’s November 2005 trade mission to China, which included a significant educational contingent.
A publication, including many of the papers presented at the symposium, is currently in planning. In the meantime, many conference papers and presentations can be found on the York International website.
The Internationalizing Canada’s Universities Symposium was the fourth annual York International Conference. Past conferences have been held on such topics as Experiential Education & Internationalization, and Science & Internationalization.
This year’s symposium was sponsored by the Office of the Associate Vice-President Academic, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, the Faculty of Education, and the Canadian Centre for German and European Studies.
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 190,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 faculties and 22 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
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For more information, contact:
Melissa Hughes, Media Relations, York University, 416-736-2100 x22097/mehughes@yorku.ca
