Intercultural Programs
The Intercultural Learning Program (ILP) is a way to build your intercultural skills at home or abroad. The ILP involves discovering how your own cultural identities shape the way you understand and operate in the world and recognize culture at work in your everyday experiences. Simply immersing yourself in a different culture does not automatically lead to deeper intercultural awareness. Growing your intercultural understanding depends on a blend of personal motivation and guided learning.
Students who participate in our program have reflected on the benefits of this learning, including more confidence in their intercultural communication skills and becoming better mentors and leaders in their communities.
There are many benefits to enhancing your intercultural sensitivity, but here are just a few:
- Reflect on how your cultural identities shape the way you understand and operate in the world;
- Recognize the multiple ways that a person’s culture can influence their behaviour and expectations;
- Develop intercultural awareness, knowledge, and skills transferable to the social, academic, and professional contexts;
- Understand the hidden history of Canada and the impact of colonialism on the Indigenous peoples;
- Develop your own intercultural learning goals and strategies to better communicate and understand across cultural differences.
Your participation in the ILP is eligible for Co-Curricular Recognition. To receive CCR recognition, participants must complete the following requirements:
- Attendance of all 5 sessions
- One 30-minute Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) coaching session
How the Program Works?
These interactive sessions will provide you opportunities to meet and engage in discussions with other students who strive to develop intercultural fluency and competence.
You can choose to join one of the two cohorts, attend all five sessions, and book an IDI coaching appointment to receive CCR recognition. You can also participate in the sessions depending on your interests and availability.
Winter 2022 Workshops Schedule
Session 1: Foundations of Intercultural Communication
The workshop aims to help you reflect upon multiple cultural identities and how they impact your daily interactions with others. In this workshop, you will explore intercultural communication models and identify your styles in different settings. By doing so, we can increase intercultural awareness and develop strategies for communicating and understanding more effectively across differences.
- Cohort 1: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
- Cohort 2: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Session 2: Speaking Our Truths: The Journey Towards Reconciliation
This workshop will be presented and facilitated by the Indigenous Training Coordinator from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. In this workshop, we look at the hidden history of Canada, a history that has been largely untold that examines the attitudes, legislation and policies of the Crown that erased Indigenous peoples’ history from Canadian landscape. We examine how powerful Indigenous nations, critical allies and trading partners were devalued and systematically stripped of their lands, resources and eventually their identities.
- Cohort 1: Thursday, February 3, 2022
- Cohort 2: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Session 3: Making Connections with An Intercultural Lens
The workshop aims to support you to build connections beyond your cultural identities and learn how assumptions, biases, and stereotypes impact communication. Through a series of interactive activities, discussions, and case scenarios, we will learn to develop strategies for communicating and collaborating more effectively across differences.
- Cohort 1: Tuesday, February 15, 2022
- Cohort 2: Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Session 4: Community Building with An Intercultural Lens
The workshop aims to enhance your community building knowledge and skills with an intercultural lens to empower you to integrate inclusivity into your everyday experiences. Through a series of group discussions and scenarios, you will learn to navigate intercultural community building, investigate the roles of power and privilege in communication, and develop strategies to create sustainable inclusive, equitable environments.
- Cohort 1: Tuesday, March 8, 2022
- Cohort 2: Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Session 5: Reflection – Virtual Gallery
In this final session, you will reflect and share with your peers how you have applied the intercultural frameworks in your daily life through our first ever Virtual Gallery. You will have the opportunity to share your experiences in a creative approach through visual and oral storytelling and listen to the stories of your peers.
- Cohort 1: Tuesday, March 22, 2022
- Cohort 2: Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Program Eligibility
All U of T graduate and undergraduate students. Ideally, the program will be a mix of domestic students, international students, and both inbound and outbound exchange students.
Program Registration
Register for the programs at CLNx. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact You Jia Lee at youjia.lee@utoronto.ca.
Indigenous Learning in Local & Global Contexts
Explore issues facing Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world and examine their interconnectedness.
Program Description
The Indigenous Learning in Local & Global Contexts Program provides you with the opportunities to deepen your awareness and understanding of issues facing Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world. The program is in collaboration with the Cultural Competency Training Officer from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Through the program, you will learn about the history and cultures of Indigenous peoples, explore historic and contemporary social justice issues faced by the Indigenous communities and their resilience, and examine their interconnectedness in local and global contexts.
Program Eligibility
All U of T graduate and undergraduate students.
How the Program Works
These sessions will provide you with the opportunity to learn the hidden history of Canada and examine its impact on the Indigenous peoples up to the present. Then, we will dive into social justice issues facing Indigenous peoples communities in Canada and globally. We will wrap up the program by exploring the meaning of allyship to Indigenous peoples.
These sessions will be led by the Cultural Competency Training Officer from the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.
Program Registration
You may enrol in the program on the CLNx and register for individual workshops.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact You Jia Lee at youjia.lee@utoronto.ca.
Winter 2022 schedule
Session 1: Speaking Our Truths: The Journey Towards Reconciliation Part 1
Session 2: Speaking Our Truths: The Journey Towards Reconciliation Part 2
Thursday, February 17, 2022, 3 – 5 p.m. ET
Session 3: Land, Climate Change, and Indigenous Peoples
Thursday, March 3, 2022, 3 – 5 p.m. ET
Session 4: Water and Indigenous Peoples
Thursday, March 17, 2022, 3 – 5 p.m. ET
Session 5: Reconciliation: Walking the Path of Indigenous Allyship
Academic and Career Growth
You will find all our events to help you pave your own path to academic and professional success.
Academic Success Series
University Prep: Academic Q&A for International Students
Are you a first-year – or returning – international student who attended the University Prep workshops and still have some questions about the upcoming academic year?
This space is for you! Come join this session co-facilitated by friendly advisors from Academic Success and the Centre for International Experience. They can answer your questions, offer updates, and provide support to you about learning remotely this year or finding community as an international student.
All academic questions are welcome in this space, and you can join for however long you would like.
This program is organized in collaboration with Academic Success Centre Career and International Prospects.
Program Details/Schedule
Date and Time: TBD
Registration
Check our event calendar under Centre for International Experience.
Career and International Prospects
Navigating the Job Search for International Students
Are you an international student considering a job or career in Canada? Curious about strategies to improve your application documents and approach to job searching?
In this interactive themed discussion, co-hosted by a Career Exploration & Education and the Centre for International Experience, you and a small group of your peers will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss job search strategies and approaches in Canada.
This program is organized in collaboration with Career Exploration and Education.
Program Details/Schedule
Date and Time: TBD
Registration
Check our event calendar under Center for International Experience.
Global Careers
Global opportunities and employment are abundant, especially for University of Toronto students and graduates.
Taking Your Degree Abroad: Global Employment Opportunities
You can find information about working abroad on various international job boards:
GoinGlobal – Country career guides written by local employment experts.
CareerJet – Jobs and careers in the USA
Indeed Worldwide – International job site
Expat Network – Jobs, news, insurance resources for expats
Go Abroad – International job board
Eurojobs – Online portal for jobs in Europe
International Volunteering
Volunteering can help students build important skills, while encouraging them to make a difference.
International Volunteer HQ – Student volunteer abroad programs
Go Overseas – Volunteering abroad for free
GVI Canada – Student volunteering within Canada and abroad
Projects Abroad CA – Internships and volunteering for college students
Canada World Youth – Offers international educational programs to youth ages 17-24
Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) – Volunteer or work in Canada or abroad to combat poverty and exclusion.
Graduate Studies Abroad
There are plenty of opportunities for U of T graduates to attend global institutions.
Masters Portal – Discover graduate degrees worldwide
Study EU – Database for European graduate programs
GradSchools – American graduate school directory
Post Grad Australia – Database for Australian postgraduate programs and scholarships