Tandem Language Program karaoke over Zoom.
As Laurier abruptly switched to a remote environment on March 17, 2020, few anticipated that the university could effectively fulfill its mission without in-person contact for such a long period of time. The pandemic has profoundly impacted all aspects of higher education. By design, international education is supposed to be in person and experiential. However, with the travel ban and strict restrictions for international students to enter Canada, international education as we know it has been significantly changed.
How do we best support international students in a remote environment? Can a web-based platform meet students’ intercultural learning needs? How do we maintain and enhance international partnerships without in-person contact? These are the questions that have been constantly discussed at Laurier International. In spite of the challenging circumstances, the Laurier International team has demonstrated remarkable resilience, innovation and adaptability to support both international and domestic students and expand partnerships to provide intercultural programs.
The International Student Support (ISS) team has planned, organised and delivered the Safe Travel, Arrival and Quarantine (STAQ) program to support international students coming to Canada. From an international student expressing an interest to come to Canada to the completion of the STAQ program, an average of 40-50 email and online interactions occurred between the ISS team and the student. The STAQ program is not only a labour-intensive service; there are the additional challenges of communicating through different time zones and frequent government policy changes. However, when it comes to minimizing the risk of the COVID-19, no detail is too trivial to escape the attention of the ISS team.
While international mobility has been mostly put on hold, the Global Engagement team has actively explored web-based intercultural learning opportunities. The Intercultural Certificate (IC) program has been delivered online with both synchronous and asynchronous content. The remote delivery has achieved a broader outreach that allowed students from partner institutions in Japan and Slovenia to participate in the program with students in Canada. For the first time, the online IC program has also been offered to community groups outside of Laurier.
The LEAF program has experienced a significant drop in student enrolment in its past several cohorts, a decline that is consistent with industry trends. A concerted effort and additional investment have been made to enhance the digital recruitment for the LEAF program and expand non-traditional LEAF offerings, including the successful online Business English program for 40 students from Yuncheng University in China. Due to low application numbers, the Pre-MBA program has to be postponed one more year until fall 2022.
This Status Report provides further details and highlights of Laurier International’s activities in the past year.
The pandemic will continue to present challenges and uncertainty to international educators across the global. When will international travel resume? To what extent can in-person international programs be delivered? As the pandemic remains volatile, there are no definite answers to these questions. The patience and resilience of the Laurier International team will be tested again in the new academic year.
As Winston Churchill once said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” As a result of the pandemic, web-based learning and interactions have been accepted as the norm rather than a novelty. Remote connectivity has made physical distance and location irrelevant. The new paradigm has broadened the imagination of international educators to provide accessible, sustainable and affordable programs and services. Many of Laurier International’s web-based initiatives in the past year will be solidified and continued after the pandemic.
It is exciting to see the establishment of the Senior Executive Officer, Internationalization at Laurier. It demonstrates the university’s unwavering commitment to internationalization. Developing intercultural competence and graduating global citizens are integral parts of “thriving community” and “future-readiness”, the two pillars of the Laurier strategy. The prioritization of internationalization will provide inspiration and new energy to the work of the Laurier International team. The team will certainly step up and make a significant contribution to developing and implementing the Laurier’s internationalization strategy
Laurier has had a steady increase in international student enrolment over the past several years. While international students have remained consistent at 7-8% of the overall student population, the actual number has grown. International Student Support (ISS) has responded to this growth by ensuring that all international students have the support and engagement opportunities they need to be successful at Laurier.
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic saw the implementation of international travel restrictions as well as the transition to virtual and online learning at Laurier for the 2020/21 academic year. Even with these changes, we had 1,504 international students study at Laurier this past academic year, only 70 less than in 2019/20.
ISS understood that international student enrolment could be impacted by the pandemic, but was prepared to deliver the same level of service and support to our international students, even in a virtual environment.
|
Academic Year |
Total Student Population |
Actual Number of International Students |
International Students as Percentage of Student Population |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2020/21 |
21,586 |
1,504 |
6.9% |
|
2019/20 |
20,638 |
1,574 |
7.6% |
|
2018/19 |
19,953 |
1,481 |
7.4% |
|
2017/18 |
19,546 |
1,392 |
7.1% |
|
2016/17 |
18,596 |
1,266 |
6.8% |
Table source: Wilfrid Laurier University Registrar’s Reports
Over the 2020/21 academic year:
Lunar New Year decorations at home.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ISS transitioned to virtual program and service delivery for 2020/21 as Laurier’s students studied remotely. Approximately one-third of Laurier’s international students accessed services and participated virtually in programs from outside Canada. In 2020/21, ISS offered the following virtual programs and services:
In Fall 2020, International Orientation had an almost 90% participation rate with students attending remotely from over 25 countries. Travel restrictions prior to October prevented incoming exchange students from studying at Laurier in 2020/21. International Student Support received support from Service Laurier and Teaching and Learning in the delivery of online services and programs.
International students reaching out to International Student Advisors for advice and support related to changing immigration regulations increased the number of student contacts in 2020/21. International students had new concerns related to the pandemic, including internet connections and restrictions; time zone differences; studying while living with family members; studying without a study permit; and quarantine requirements.
The largest challenge for ISS was supporting international students in meeting their quarantine requirements for entry into Canada. Between November 2020 and May 2021, 100 of Laurier’s international students participated in the Safe Travel, Arrival and Quarantine (STAQ) Program offered by ISS. In partnership with the Department of Residence, Food Services, the Student Wellness Centre and Special Constables, international students were supported in traveling to Canada during the pandemic, entry into Canada and completing their 14-day quarantine.
Efforts to maintain connections among the international student community included weekly Coffee Clubs, online movie viewing and e-gaming events. The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) program hosted a series of online talks with former refugee students as well as faculty members currently engaged with immigration and refugee research and supports. Laurier International’s Multicultural Gala, and other cultural celebrations, were hosted online, providing international students an opportunity to engage with one another in a social and celebratory way. Take-away dinners replaced drop-in lunches and included online gatherings in recognition of numerous cultural holidays throughout the year.
Sonaina Chopra, an international student from Pakistan, is in her fourth year of a double major in Biology and Psychology with a specialization in research. In 2016, Sonaina was the recipient of the first Ziauddin Yousafzai Scholarship and, as part of the scholarship, had the opportunity to meet Malala Yousafzai. “I was privileged to be invited,” said Sonaina. “I was able to meet her in person and I’m really grateful and thankful for that experience. And a special thanks to Laurier International for arranging my visit and making it possible for me to meet Malala.”
Before beginning her undergraduate studies, Sonaina completed the LEAF program. “I’m really thankful for being in the program because it was something that helped me prepare for my first year and undergrad in general,” Sonaina said. She began her undergraduate studies in biology but changed to a double major when she discovered how much she liked psychology. In her third year, “I got interested in doing research, instead of just reading about research,” she said. She has focused her research on technology use, literacy, self-regulation and well-being in children in Pakistan, specifically differences in access to technology and its impact on children in rural areas of Pakistan compared to urban areas. Sonaina completed her undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Dr. Alexandra Gottardo and will be presenting her thesis at an international conference hosted by the Society of the Scientific Study of Reading.
While at Laurier, Sonaina has also been involved in many on-campus and off-campus initiatives and groups, including International Orientation volunteer, Global Engagement Student Ambassadors, Wellness Ambassador in Brantford, instructional assistant for biology labs, Culture Exchange Project Mentor, Laurier International Ambassador, YMCA Youth Fusion mentor in Brantford, unit volunteer at Grand River Hospital, and several more.
Sonaina will graduate in fall 2021 and plans to work before pursuing graduate studies. “I am very grateful for everyone who has played a part throughout my journey,” Sonaina said. “I am also very grateful for all the opportunities and unforgettable experiences Laurier has provided me which helped me grow academically, professionally and personally.”
Abdirahman Yassin is an international student originally from Somalia who came to Laurier through the WUSC Student Refugee Program (SRP). Abdirahman began his studies at Laurier in 2015 in biochemistry and biotechnology but changed his programs of study a couple of times before determining a double major in computer science and economics was the right academic path. His computer science courses also helped him secure a co-op position with a company in Cambridge. “They hired me because they wanted someone who has technical know-how,” he said.
Arriving in Canada and beginning his undergraduate studies was initially a challenge. “When you arrive here in Canada, you’re trying to set up your life and all that you need,” Abdirahman said. “At the same time, you are trying to focus on school. It’s like two things, running parallel, hand-in-hand.”
Abdirahman persevered and chose to give back by volunteering with the WUSC program that had provided him with so much support. “I was on the WUSC SRP committee and the local committee as well. I got involved with the selection process for the newest students and I was involved in welcoming them and setting them up when they arrived on campus.”
Abdirahman graduated in spring 2021 and plans to stay in Waterloo to pursue his career. “The region is great. It’s growing so fast,” he said. “I just want to be part of it.” He is also grateful for the role the WUSC program and local committees played in his journey to, and experiences at, Laurier. “I just want to thank Laurier International and the Laurier community as a whole. And the World University Service of Canada, I want to tell them to keep doing what you’re doing. It’s changing lives.”
Business English Students, Yuncheng University.
In response to the ongoing travel restrictions, the Global Engagement team optimized the new potentials of remote learning for global engagement. Our team worked tenaciously with students on an individual and program basis to delay and adapt travel plans in hopes of a change in restrictions in time for their travel. Despite the pandemic, Laurier students have remained optimistic and enthusiastic about studying abroad. Almost 300 students attended virtual information sessions on the exchange program and over 190 students applied to participate. When exchange for the Fall 2021 term was canceled, students were given the option of deferring their exchange term; 55 students selected this option. As well, 167 students are scheduled to study abroad in the Winter 2022 term.
In addition to information sessions, virtual promotions included the International Opportunities Fair, which was a highlight of our annual International Education Week. Throughout the week, 17 partner institutions and 24 student exchange representatives gave virtual presentations to Laurier students and staff about the opportunities to visit, study and collaborate at university partners around the world. Over 75 participants attended the presentations.
Other virtual events included a Partner Deep Dive with the University of Neoma. Partner Deep Dives are events which provide an opportunity to learn from an exchange alumnus all about their exchange experience at a certain university.
Other highlights included Understanding and Responding to Xenophobia, a session led by Lauren Burrows, Education and Inclusion Coordinator, CSEDI, and International Experience Canada, a presentation on work-abroad opportunities available through the Canadian government, sponsored by the Career Centre.
As our world becomes more complex and interconnected, it is essential to develop intercultural skills, knowledge and attitudes. The Intercultural Certificate supports the development of intercultural competencies, supporting students and staff to better engage with communities at Laurier and around the world.
The eight-module certificate shifted from an in-person to virtual delivery, which allowed participation and synchronous engagement by students in various programs, years and levels of study from universities around the world, including Laurier students in their home countries. The certificate allowed students to share and discuss, through a cultural lens, their diverse experiences of the shared global pandemic.
Over the year, more than 138 students from Laurier, as well as students from the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Saga University (Japan) and many international students studying from their homes around the world, were able to complete the certificate. The Intercutural Certificate was also embedded in courses in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics and Human Rights and Human Diversity.
Over 110 staff members also completed the certificate; cohorts came from the Lazaridis School, the Centre for Experiential Learning and the Career Centre, as well as through open registration.
In addition to the Intercultural Certificate, students connected remotely over language with the Tandem Language Program, which is about sharing and learning language and culture with a peer, while getting to know someone new. Through the program students have a chance to improve language skills, make intercultural connections and learn in a social way. A total of 95 students participated in the Tandem Language Program in 2020/21: 40 in the fall term and 45 in the winter term.
Student leadership opportunities continued in a remote manner, with the Global Engagement Student Ambassadors (GESAs) helping to promote a globally aware culture through promotional events and intercultural learning activities. Thirty-six GESA volunteers, from both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses, successfully moved their programming online and continued to build connections and expand intercultural learning in a virtual environment.
In December 2020, the WUSC local committees in Brantford and Waterloo welcomed two students to Laurier through the WUSC Student Refugee Program (SRP). Because the students were arriving during the COVID-19 pandemic and had to complete a 14-day quarantine, the Brantford and Waterloo committees conducted extensive planning and preparation to ensure the students had safe transportation from the airport to their quarantine accommodations.
As well, the local committees scheduled daily check-ins with the students to support them in preparing the many items needed for success in their academic and personal lives. After successfully completing quarantine, the students moved in together in residence and have had a successful first term at Laurier thanks to their perseverance and the ongoing support of the WUSC local committees.
In Spring 2020, Laurier International confirmed a new software purchase, provided by Symplicity, to improve administrative processes for international mobility programs, such as the student exchange program, international internships and faculty-led courses abroad, and to respond more efficiently in emergency situations by having a centralized system for all Laurier-sanctioned travel, both domestic and international.
Global Engagement staff collaborated with SHERM, ICT and Symplicity’s Implementation Manager from September 2020 to April 2021 to learn to use the software, and to develop program-specific application and reporting processes. Laurier International named the software Journey to reflect the many stages of any trip as it relates to preparation, participation and reflection upon return. The software launch will be in Fall 2021 for Laurier community members planning travel in 2021/22.
Exchange partner presentation during International Education Week.
“I have been able to experience global engagement in the remote environment by participating in presentations talking about my own experiences abroad and helping students find the place that’s right for them. I have also learned more about technology in the last two months than I have during all my time at Laurier by working in a remote environment.”
International at Home programming is a key initiative offering global learning opportunities on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses, and enabling Laurier students to develop intercultural competence and global awareness throughout their academic studies.
The variety of programming offered allows participants to build their intercultural knowledge and skills and explore global issues, both inside and outside of the classroom. International at Home programming in 2020/21 included:
In keeping with the objectives of Universities Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program’s Innovation Fund call for proposals, Laurier’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives, with support from Laurier International, set out to better understand Indigenous students’ learning needs and obstacles related to international education.
By gathering knowledge about student experiences, needs and wants in a culturally appropriate way, the project generated evidence-based insights that will inform the design of learning-abroad programs to ensure they meet Indigenous students’ ways of learning and requirements for a safe and healthy experience. The information will be used to implement and further test approaches to better prepare Indigenous students for in-person mobility experiences.
The research portion of the project included a literature review conducted by an Indigenous graduate student; a survey completed by over 90 current Indigenous students at Laurier as well as Indigenous alumni; a focus group with 11 current Indigenous students from Laurier and three Indigenous alumni; and a stakeholders meeting involving 64 Indigenous faculty members, staff and students from Laurier as well as Laurier staff and faculty from various departments and at least 30 attendees from international and Indigenous offices at other universities across Canada.
Feedback from project participants indicated that there is significant interest among Indigenous learners for intercultural and international experiences, and identified factors related to the nature of those experiences that would make them of interest and doable for Indigenous learners. The research also gathered feedback from participants about the barriers Indigenous students face related to international experiences, with finances identified as the primary barrier. Other barriers included personal commitments, such as having dependents (many Indigenous post-secondary students are mature students); process complications (such as paperwork, lack of role models and absence of dedicated support staff as a contact person); racism and safety (such as travelling to cultures or communities where sensitivity to Indigenous ways of knowing is limited); and a desire for programs that apply an Indigenous approach to study abroad.
The process of conducting the research and knowledge sharing has proven to be a catalyst not only for greater understanding of Indigenous students’ experiences and needs as they pertain to international education but also to develop opportunities to build a network of partners who can work together to advance the state of Indigenous post-secondary education in Canada while improving international mobility as a whole.
The Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) Program launched in 2010 to provide training in academic English to future Laurier students who do not meet English-language requirements. The LEAF Program offers four terms of study each year–in January, April, June and September–and places students in the appropriate level based on their English-language proficiency test score. Once Level 5 is successfully completed, students can move on to undergraduate studies at Laurier.
Enrolment in the LEAF Program remained steady until 2019, when we experienced a sharp drop in enrolment due to a confluence of global factors. We are working diligently with our partners at Laurier and beyond to continue to recruit bright and motivated students to Laurier and the LEAF Program.
|
Year |
LEAF Program Enrolment (All Levels) |
LEAF Program Graduates |
|---|---|---|
|
2021 |
64* |
24** |
|
2020 |
156 |
52 |
|
2019 |
331 |
126 |
|
2018 |
430 |
129 |
|
2017 |
395 |
128 |
|
2016 |
418 |
105 |
*Enrolment for winter 2021, spring 2021 and summer 2021 terms only.
**Graduation rates for winter 2021 and spring 2021 terms only.
Institutional research has shown that international students who study in the LEAF program before beginning their undergraduate studies frequently achieve a higher grade-point average than international students who go directly into their undergraduate program. This shows that the benefits of the LEAF program go beyond helping international students meet their English proficiency requirements; the program also sets students up for academic success in their undergraduate studies.
Since March 2020, the LEAF Program has offered a completely remote, online-based curriculum to adapt to the circumstances caused by COVID-19. With dedication, teamwork and focus, the LEAF Program team has maintained a commitment to thoroughly preparing students for the academic culture and programs at Laurier.
Looking forward, LEAF Program staff, students, and facilitators alike are eagerly anticipating our gradual return to campus and in-person learning, where some of the valuable techniques and strategies learned in the last year can be put to use alongside traditional classroom teaching.
The last class of Level 5 in the spring 2021 term.
“The LEAF program teaches students many of the skills and habits that are integral to success in undergraduate studies. The LEAF program also provided me with the opportunity to form close relationships and friendships with other students, which supported me through the program and my studies. The LEAF program was an excellent choice and I sincerely enjoyed my experience. I would highly recommend the LEAF program.”
In 2015, the LEAF Program began running the LEAF Business English Program for students who are studying business or who have an interest in international business, and for working professionals who want to improve their English.
The LEAF Business English Program runs every summer and, from 2015 to 2019, hundreds of students have participated in the four-week program. Students have come from China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Ukraine, Honduras and Ontario. Unfortunately, the LEAF Business English Program was canceled in summer 2020 and again in 2021 due to COVID-19, but the LEAF Program has adapted this program to the current online environment.
The LEAF Program developed and delivered an Online Business English Program over 12 weeks to students at Yuncheng University in Yuncheng, China during the spring of 2021. With support from colleagues in International Student Support, the Career Centre, and Laurier Launchpad, as well as the hard work and dedication of LEAF Program facilitators and support staff, 40 third-year business students in Yuncheng improved their comprehension, speaking, formal presentation skills, and generally became more comfortable interacting in English. The program was a great success and the LEAF Program plans to market the online Business English option alongside the in-person program once the pandemic has passed.
Yuncheng University students.
Due to low applications for the Pre-MBA program amid the pandemic, the program has been postponed until fall 2022.