January 16, 2023
THE VARSITY The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
Vol. CXLIII, No. 14
This week's Feature: The loose threads in U of T’s labour standards pg. 10–11
U of T launches International Strategic Plan
NEWS Remembering the students lost
Jessie Schwalb Assistant News Editor
On January 9, U of T hosted a panel on international students’ success and mental health. The panel promoted the launch of U of T’s International Strategic Plan (TISP), a collection of commitments that will guide U of T’s global approach between now and 2027. However, the plan received criticism from the UTSU for failing to adequately support international students. The International Strategic Plan In December 2022, the office of the Vice President, International released the most recent TISP, a five-year plan to support learning abroad, increase diversity on campus, partner with global businesses and universities, and strengthen the university’s presence on the world stage. The plan reflected eight months of consultation with faculty, staff, and students. The TISP focuses on three dimensions — global learning, global reach, and global impact — and includes 10 strategic objectives. According to the plan, U of T is committing to increase the number of countries of citizenship represented among students. During the 2021–2022 academic year, the university represented students from 170 different countries and regions. According to the plan, U of T also hopes that, by 2027, two out of five undergradu-
ate students will participate in one or more learning abroad experiences during their undergrad; in comparison, only 3.9 per cent of undergraduates studied abroad in 2019–2020. The university specifically aims to increase participation in learning abroad for students of “diverse backgrounds,” committing to a 10 per cent increase each year of the plan. They plan to drive these increases by supplementing financial aid, advertising, and expanding partnerships with universities in the global south. Additionally, the TISP includes commitments intended to support international students, who made up 28 per cent of U of T’s student body in 2021–2022. By the 2023–2024 school year, U of T pledges to devote six per cent of international tuition to financial awards for international students. The university also hopes to increase international student participation in paid work-study positions from 2.9 per cent in 2022 to six per cent in 2027. The panel U of T’s virtual panel on international student success drew over 150 attendees. “International students’ success is a very complex topic because it has many facets,” said Thaisa Tylinski Sant’Ana, a panelist and fourth year UTM student from Brazil specializing in biotechnology. “As international students, we’re not only facing the challenges and the learnings of
navigating the university experience, but we’re also understanding and adapting to what it means to exist and succeed in a country that is not your home.” Many such difficulties affect international students’ mental health. Sandy Welsh, vice-provost, students, highlighted the “additional stressors” faced by international students, who often lack local family, face financial burdens, and fear losing legal status in Canada. According to Alexie Tcheuyap, head of international student experience and the panel’s facilitator, 33 per cent of international graduate students reported that they were concerned about their ability to maintain good mental health. Data from Navi, U of T’s campus mental health wayfinder, indicates that international students primarily ask for help dealing with anxiety, homesickness, and stress. Some international students also face difficulties identifying when to seek help. “Our international students are coming from parts of the world where mental health may not be something that is talked about and/or certain services may not even be available,” said Welsh. Even if a student decides to seek help and manages to navigate the Canadian and university health-care systems, Welsh explained that language and cultural barriers can limit the effectiveness of counseling. Continued on page 2
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