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Global Leadership Program Supports Diversity and Student Success
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| 2015 Global Leadership Program participants (l-r) Kevin O'Brien, Elissa Curr and Conni Heshka-Argue Photo: U of R Photography |
The Professional Global Leadership Program 2015 is a one-week intensive program hosted by the Escuela de Administración de Instituciones - ESDAI (School of Administration of Institutions) at Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City. ESDAI is well known for its leadership and service training programs. A similar exchange took place with the Universidad Panamericana in the summer of 2014 when 19 faculty and staff from that university attended a month long program at the U of R to participate in leadership training and to exchange ideas about accommodating students of different needs.
“The experience will provide the participants with advanced knowledge and skills to better service the University's growing international student population in support of student success,” says Livia Castellanos, Director UR International. “Staff were invited to apply to take part in the program and 30 were selected based on their roles in working directly with international students.”
Over the last five years the number of international students on campus has grown to over 2,000, a growth of 96 per cent over that time span. These students generate more than $20 million in revenue to the University and over $35 million per year in GDP for the Regina area. Many of these students are experiencing a new culture for the first time and are often coping with learning a new language on top of their course work.
The exchange will offer participants the opportunity to improve their understanding of the challenges that international students go through, supporting the objective in the University’ Strategic Plan to enhance supports to better facilitate student preparedness for academic success.
“I’m very excited to be able to participate in this program, which is about expanding your perspective to be inclusive of the viewpoints of others, as it supports my desire to see all our students be successful,” says Connie Heshka-Argue, Academic Program Advisor, Faculty of Science. Heshka was part of the group that went to Mexico City in February 2015, to hone their leadership skills and increase their understanding of our campus’s growing diversity.
“Professionally this program will be very beneficial to me as I work closely with international students in the Co-op Education program and cultural differences become very apparent when applying for professional positions inside and outside of the University,” says participant Elissa Curr, Recruitment Liaison Coordinator, Career Center. “Having a better understanding of other cultures will benefit me as well as the student when assisting them in finding work terms and professional job experience.”
“As diversity increases among our student and faculty we are experiencing increased demands to support a variety of cultural and linguistic expectations,” says participant Kevin O’Brien, Academic Program Coordinator, Faculty of Arts. “This immersion experience will provide excellent first-hand knowledge about the realities confronted by our international students and faculty on a daily basis.”
The cost of this year’s program is being paid for through contributions by each participant’s department, the employee’s individual professional development allowances, and scholarships. UR International is also contributing to the program using funds generated from previous exchange programs. Planning for the exchange has been underway for nearly a year.
“The success of our international students depends on how well the University is able to meet their needs,” said Castallanos. “These staff have demonstrated a commitment to helping our students succeed.”
International students contribute to our University by increasing the diversity of viewpoints on campus, permitting Saskatchewan students to come to know their peers from more than 90 countries around the globe, and helping connect the University to partnerships around the world. In many cases, international students end up moving to Saskatchewan permanently. In 2012-13 more than 1,600 current and former international students made Saskatchewan their home through the Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program, supporting the growth of our province and economy.
