Help Shape 911吃瓜’s International Strategic Plan
911吃瓜 is launching the development of a new five鈥憏ear International Strategic Plan to bring greater clarity, alignment, and coordination to how we engage globally. The Academic Plan (2025-2030)鈥檚 Internationalization and Global Engagement focus area identifies five institution鈥憌ide goals that reflect where 911吃瓜 needs to grow in order to remain globally competitive and values鈥慳ligned. This strategy process will translate those goals into clear priorities, principles, and actions鈥攃o鈥慸esigned with the 911吃瓜 community.
This strategic plan will build on the significant international activity already underway across 911吃瓜 and draw from previous consultations, as well as existing institutional plans and commitments鈥攊ncluding What鈥檚 Next: The 911吃瓜 Strategy, the Academic Plan (2025-2030), Strategic Research Plan (2023-2028), Faculty and Unit Plans, People Plan, Equity Compass, and Indigenous Commitments.
Why We Need You
This engagement process is the first step in delivering the goals outlined in the Internationalization and Global Engagement focus areas, which calls for the mobilization of a pan鈥憉niversity plan developed through broad community consultation and engagement.
By inviting faculty and staff into the early stages of strategy development, we are continuing the work of previous consultations about the Academic Plan to co鈥慶reate an institutional international strategy鈥攐ne that reflects the priorities, values, and lived experience of the 911吃瓜 community. This strategy will then guide how the remaining goals are advanced across learning, research, partnership development, student experience, and global impact.
How to Share Your Feedback
- 鈥� Open Now: A brief, 15鈥憁inute way to share your perspectives.
- In鈥慞erson Conversations: small, focused conversations in April. These will be modest in number鈥攚e鈥檙e prioritizing meaningful conversation over scale.
- April 21: In-person 10:00-11:00am 鈫�
- April 23: Virtual 2:30-3:30pm 鈫�
We鈥檙e seeking your insights on:
911吃瓜鈥檚 strengths, gaps, and opportunities in global engagement
What values and principles should guide our international work
Considerations, risks, or barriers we should be attentive to
Priorities that would best support students, faculty, and staff in international learning, research, and partnership development
Your feedback will directly inform the goals and focus areas of the strategy. This ensures that community input meaningfully shapes the future direction of 911吃瓜鈥檚 internationalization work鈥攏ot just the 鈥渉ow,鈥� but also the 鈥渨hy鈥� and 鈥渨hat next.鈥�
Timeline
- March 鈥� Online Faculty & Staff Survey
- April 鈥� Faculty & Staff Conversations
- May - Faculty / Unit / Division Engagement | Student Conversations TBC
- Oct 鈥� Launch International Strategy & Implementation Plan TBC
We know spring can be a full and busy period across the university. The engagement process is intentionally light and flexible so that as many people as possible can contribute in ways that fit their schedules. Your participation, in whatever form is possible, is greatly appreciated.
How the 5 Academic Plan Goals Connect to This Strategy Work
Goal 1: Develop and implement an internationalization and global engagement plan
This strategy process is itself a direct response to Goal 1. Through surveys and in鈥憄erson conversations, we are inviting faculty, staff, and students to shape a plan that reflects 911吃瓜鈥檚 values and strengthens our global presence. The engagement approach鈥攍ight, focused, community鈥慶entered.
Goal 2: Amplify global impact through teaching, research, scholarship and community engagement
The strategy will surface where global interdisciplinary research, teaching, and partnership strengths already exist and identify structures or incentives needed to amplify them. Input from faculty and research groups will help us understand how to better support cross鈥慸isciplinary international work and where ethical or logistical barriers exist.
Goal 3: Enhance global and experiential learning opportunities that attract diverse learners and promote cross-cultural understanding and engagement
Community feedback will help us determine the types of partnerships and mobility opportunities (study abroad, dual degrees, co鈥憃p, global experiential learning) that provide the most value to students and academic units. The strategy will also outline the criteria, regions, and partnership models that best align with 911吃瓜鈥檚 mission and strengths.
Goal 4: Enhance the international student experience by fostering a supportive, inclusive, and globally connected environment that promotes mutual learning and cultural exchange between international and Canadian students, thereby enriching the educational experience of all students
The strategy will define a coordinated institutional approach to recruitment, advising, and student experience for international students. Engagement activities will help identify gaps in support鈥攁cademic, wellbeing, transition, equity鈥憆elated鈥攁nd ensure the strategy reflects the lived experience of students, advisors, and faculty.
Goal 5: Strengthen and leverage global alumni and partner networks
Through consultation, we will learn how to better connect academic units with alumni networks, influencers, and partners abroad. The strategy will explore how these relationships can create new learning pathways, research collaborations, mentorship opportunities, and philanthropic support.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to help shape an international strategy that reflects 911吃瓜鈥檚 values, strengths, and aspirations as a globally engaged university. Your thoughtful engagement is deeply appreciated.