Joseph Wong

U of T grad ‘moves mountains’ to earn engineering degree

mattimar — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:44:40 +0000

U of T grad ‘moves mountains’ to earn engineering degree

mattimar Wed, 06/12/2024 - 09:44

Cutline

Vishakha Pujari, who receives her bachelor’s degree in applied science on June 18, shows off the iron ring that’s often worn by engineering graduates (supplied image)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Global Lens

Convocation 2024

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Global

India

Joseph Wong

Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

Subheadline

Vishakha Pujari says she is the first person from her rural village in India to attend a foreign university

Vishakha Pujari is profoundly committed to paying it forward.

The first student at the �ؿ�ζSM to be supported by a Karta Catalyst Scholarship, Pujari arrived at U of T in 2019 from the small Indian village of Walandi – about a five-hour drive from Hyderabad – to study industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

In addition to her schoolwork, she found time to host workshops for students from her high school and even donated some of her scholarship money back to the Karta Initiative – an organization dedicated to providing equitable access to higher education to India’s low-income rural youth.

“If I am getting something, I should make sure I am giving back,” Pujari says.

On June 18, Pujari is set to cross the stage in Convocation Hall – and then head back to her new job as a software design analyst in Montreal. While her parents are unable to attend due to the cost of flying to Toronto, they hope to watch the convocation livestream. Pujari, meanwhile, says she plans to meet up with her mentors at U of T and possibly have dinner with friends.

Reflecting on her time at U of T, which included a one-year co-op, she recalls the initial culture shock of moving from Walandi to Toronto – a city that she had never visited before.

“It was the second time I was on a flight,” she says. “I’m from a village so we don’t see many tall buildings there. My residence had 28 floors, so it was all a new experience.”

Pujari grew up the youngest of three siblings on her family’s sugarcane and soybean farm. She learned the value of hard work from her parents, who woke up at 5 a.m. each day to tend to their land before going to neighbouring farms to earn extra money.

When she was 12, she attended a government-run school, located about 80 kilometres from Walandi, and spent nine months of the year living on the campus – a long period of separation from her parents.

Pujari first learned about the Karta Initiative when she was 16 – and says the program’s emphasis on integrity, perseverance and community service resonated deeply.

She became a member after undergoing a rigorous selection process and, over the course of two years, received mentorship, academic support, and opportunities for personal development.

Receiving her acceptance to U of T and the Karta Catalyst Scholarship was a life-changing moment – one that meant all her hard work and sacrifices paid off.

“It was really exciting and scary,” she says. “My parents were really happy because no one from our village has gone to study at a foreign university.”

Karta Scholars receive funding for tuition and living expenses, personal and professional development, internship placements, and career transition support. In addition to working with their academic advisers, scholars are also connected with a faculty mentor and participate in numerous enrichment activities with other scholarship students at U of T.

Although she was accustomed to living apart from her family, being in Toronto brought new challenges.

“The classes I was used to had no more than 40 students,” she says. “When I came here, I was like, ‘Oh my God, there are so many people.’ For a moment, I was like, ‘Am I an introvert?’”

She worried that her English-speaking skills weren’t up to par.

“It was exciting to meet students from different countries, but at the same time overwhelming,” she says.

At the same time, she was unable to travel back to India to see her parents and siblings for three years due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Pujari found guidance and reassurance in the form of mentors. In her first year, she met Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, and a professor in the department of political science and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the Faculty of Arts & Science, and the two kept in touch with throughout Pujari’s time at U of T.

They would discuss everything from challenges Pujari was facing to her future plans – which she says may include pursuing a master’s in business administration and starting her own business.

“Her resilience is so impressive,” Wong says, noting the many obstacles Pujari overcame to become a U of T student. “It’s pretty incredible what she’s done, and to hear now that she’s graduating and has a job lined up is really gratifying.”

Pujari also received mentorship from Chirag Variawa, director, first-year curriculum and associate professor, teaching stream, in U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. He says her “unbridled curiosity, determination, and intelligence” is nothing short of inspirational.

“Over the years, I've seen her grow into a professional who moves mountains not just with the strength of her character, but the goodness of her heart as well – and that's exactly what the world needs,” he says.

Through it all, Pujari says her family has been among her biggest supporters.

“My father used to come with me to workshops in Mumbai, which is 12 hours away from our village,” she says. “My sister was also really supportive and helped me with my English.”

“They’re really excited and happy I’m graduating.”

SDGs@UofT brings scholars together in pursuit of UN Sustainable Development Goals

bresgead — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:58:16 +0000

SDGs@UofT brings scholars together in pursuit of UN Sustainable Development Goals

bresgead Mon, 04/22/2024 - 13:58

Cutline

(photo by NASA Goddard)

Topic

Our Community

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

SDGs@UofT

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Change

Joseph Wong

Sustainability

Subheadline

'The SDGs require innovative solutions, and universities are where cutting-edge innovations are discovered'

The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals serve as a blueprint for a better world – and universities have an essential role to play in fostering a shared future of peace and prosperity.

Members of SDGs@UofT, a �ؿ�ζSM institutional strategic initiative working to advance the goals ratified by the UN in 2015, are encouraging scholars and researchers from all disciplines – from humanities and social sciences, to public health, medicine and engineering – to lend their expertise to the collaborative effort to tackle complex global issues including poverty, hunger, gender equality, labour justice and climate change.

“The SDGs tackle problems that can never be solved by one sector or one discipline alone,” says Erica Di Ruggiero, an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and SDGs@U of T’s research director. “Many researchers see themselves working on one or two of them, but we can be that nexus at the University showing how to work on four or five together.”

But as the UN’s 2030 deadline for the SDGs fast approaches, universities need a bigger seat at the table to accelerate progress, providing a vital interdisciplinary perspective to understanding and addressing these worldwide problems, says Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international.

“The SDGs require innovative solutions, and universities are where cutting-edge innovations are discovered,” says Wong. “Gendered analysis and cultural context – both critical for the SDGs – happen here. We push the knowledge envelope and contribute to evidence-based policy, so the world has the supporting data for its decisions.”

U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

bresgead — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:44:25 +0000

U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

bresgead Tue, 01/16/2024 - 13:44

Cutline

The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative Executive Steering Committee, including U of T’s Joseph Wong and Wisdom Tettey, fourth and third from right, met in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2023 (photo courtesy of Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative)

Topic

The �ؿ�ζSM, the Mastercard Foundation and a network of leading African universities are embarking on a 10-year initiative to enhance primary health care workforce education, entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.

The partnership, known as the Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative (AHEHC), was launched in 2022 and aims to bolster the continent’s health sectors as part of efforts to improve care for millions while supporting youth employment and economic growth. Participating institutions from Africa include Addis Ababa University, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, African Leadership University, Amref International University, Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Moi University and the University of Cape Town.

The AHEHC partners are committed to reshaping the health-care landscape in Africa by preparing young people for meaningful work in health and wellness through contextually appropriate and sustainable primary health care.

According to a 2022 survey of 47 countries in Africa, there’s an average of only 1.55 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 1,000 people, significantly below the WHO’s recommended ratio.

AHEHC was a key topic at a 2023 meeting in Cape Town, South Africa that focused on a collective goal of enhancing the health sector to benefit African societies. The gathering included several U of T leaders: Joseph Wong, vice-president, international; Trevor Young, dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine who is now vice-president and provost; and Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. Representatives from all partnering institutions also participated.

“The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative is part of a larger movement – driven by Africans for Africans – aimed at enhancing the continent's economic vitality, improving access to health care and generating fulfilling employment in the health sector,” Wong said.

"The members of this collaborative are working hand-in-hand to advance local priorities and leverage our collective resources to create a healthier, more sustainable future, with each partner contributing to and learning from the others.”

Wong added that AHEHC’s work is guided by the idea of co-creation – an approach that was evident at the October 2023 convening as the partners cemented the mutual relationships, laying the foundation for the widespread adoption of African-led solutions across the network.

U of T’s participation in the AHEHC aligns with the university’s broader Africa strategy, which encompasses various initiatives from entrepreneurship exchanges to high-level summits involving representatives from universities, governments and various international development groups. It is guided by the President’s International Council on Engagement with Africa and is outlined in the university’s International Strategic Plan 2022-2027, focused on global reach, global learning and global impact.

"We aim to tap into the tremendous young talent and vast opportunities across the continent while addressing challenges facing Africa’s primary healthcare systems, including severe worker shortages,” said Penina Lam, U of T’s senior director of international relations, who is leading AHEHC’s implementation.

AHEHC’s initial focus will be in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, aiming to strengthen health sectors. Through hands-on training in various disciplines, AHEHC seeks to prepare the next generation of health-care practitioners. The approach aims to enhance the delivery of high-quality primary care, stimulate economic growth and develop robust societies. This aligns with the Mastercard Foundation’s Health Strategy, which seeks to create three million dignified and fulfilling jobs in primary care, with an emphasis on employment opportunities for women and young people.

The 2023 Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, & Adaptation (MELA) co-creation workshop was held in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2023 (photo courtesy of Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative)

As the secretariat for the initiative, U of T plays a supportive role in co-ordinating collaborations and programs tailored to each partner’s local health priorities, needs, assets and expertise. This involves facilitating learning, development and implementation across the network, managed by a team in Canada and through three regional hubs in Africa.

For example, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of family and community medicine partnered with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Together, they co-delivered continuing education courses for primary care workers in critical areas such as palliative care. About 100 Ghanaian primary care professionals participated in the courses this fall.

This program is among many guided by AHEHC’s three pillars: health employment, focusing on workforce development; health entrepreneurship, which supports the creation of businesses that will produce health innovations and self-employment opportunities; and health ecosystems, which engages partners in government, corporations, non-profits and other institutions in the collective effort to transform the health sector.

AHEHC will also build on the success of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, ushering in a new cohort of graduate students from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to pursue their studies at U of T over ten years.

AHEHC leverages U of T’s longstanding, mutually beneficial relationships with institutions in Africa, such as the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration, which brings together U of T faculty members with colleagues at Addis Ababa University to co-develop graduate programs and train professionals, many of whom remain in Ethiopia to contribute to various sectors.

Wong said the initiative is an important one for the university.

“This collaborative aligns with our institutional mission to foster an academic community in which the learning and scholarship of everyone flourishes,” he said. “We are committed to the principles of equal opportunity, equity and justice – not just here in Canada but globally.”

Joe’s Basketball Diaries: Season 2 launches with episode on community

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:04:13 +0000

Joe’s Basketball Diaries: Season 2 launches with episode on community Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 11/29/2023 - 11:04

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Joe's Basketball Diaries

Diversity and Inclusion

Subheadline

In a new season of the award-winning series, host Joseph Wong and guests take the conversation beyond the court as they discuss topics ranging from sustainability to inclusion

For Joseph Wong, basketball is more than a hobby or a passion – it’s a platform to foster meaningful conversations about community, sustainability, diversity and equity, and reconciliation.

As host of the award-winning series Joe's Basketball Diaries, Wong explores these and other themes with guests from inside and outside the �ؿ�ζSM in a new season that begins today.

“The show puts front and centre a lot of key issues we’re grappling with as a society,” says Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, and a professor in the department of political science and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“These are all big issues that are not exclusive to the world of sport or basketball, but it provides an opportunity for a discussion.”

Season Two begins by following up on a topic explored in the first season – community – and opens with a discussion about the Scarborough Shooting Stars, a local basketball team that won its first championship in the Canadian Elite Basketball League this past summer.

Sam Ibrahim, a business leader, philanthropist and co-founder of the Stars, says during the episode that it was important to name the team after Scarborough to keep its roots authentic.

“Scarborough is not a city anymore, it’s more of a historical region,” says Ibrahim, who is a major supporter of U of T Scarborough. “For us to preserve Scarborough and what it means to us – it was important regardless of what it meant to the Greater Toronto Area.”

Will Lou, writer and co-host of the Raptors Show podcast, adds that locals understand the social and cultural of importance of Scarborough.

“People always make jokes, but at the end of the day a lot of Toronto’s culture comes from Scarborough,” he says.

Aleer Leek, a player on the Varsity Blues men’s basketball team who grew up in Scarborough, says he saw first-hand how excited the community was about local sporting events, while Fabienne Blizzard, co-founder of the Capital Courts Academy and the Cadette National Team coach, speaks about how sports brought her community together growing up.

Airing biweekly on U of T’s YouTube channel, future episodes of Joe’s Basketball Diaries will delve into the intersection of sports and reconciliation, the significance of sustainability in sports and the complexities that surround transgender athletes. For instance, while much of the mainstream debate on issues of transgender inclusion and sport focuses on elite athletes, Wong says the show is deliberately steering the conversation towards the underlying issues – from the science of sports performance to the sociology of gender and the need for inclusion.

On the topic of sustainability, Wong notes that few sports fans stop to consider the volume of greenhouse gases that are emitted when tens of thousands of people travel to a stadium to watch a big game.

“Sports attract a lot of people – and all the work that goes into putting on a sporting event comes with a carbon price,” he says.

Wong says he puts a lot of thought into his hosting the series, often reading hundreds of pages in preparation for an episode, in an effort to go “beyond the headlines.”

Even so, the series’ success – the first season received more than 1.3 million views on YouTube and won several awards – has surprised Wong. “It’s talked about in the extended Toronto community,” he says.

Guests of the show have included three-time Olympian Miranda Ayim and former Toronto Raptors basketball coach Nick Nurse. In addition, the MLSE Foundation, NBA Canada, Sinai Health Foundation, Raptors for Research, and Canada Basketball have all shared interests in connecting with U of T and potentially engaging in future partnerships, Wong says.

He adds that he’s confident viewers will find the second season of Joe’s Basketball Diaries as compelling as the first – and encourages new viewers to explore older episodes.

“They’re timely, but they’re also timeless.”

Prehistoric: U of T alum Alex Wong explores the Toronto Raptors' origin story

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:41:30 +0000

Prehistoric: U of T alum Alex Wong explores the Toronto Raptors' origin story

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 11/01/2023 - 10:41

Cutline

U of T alumnus Alex Wong signed copies of his book Prehistoric: the Improbable and Audacious Origin Story of the Toronto Raptors at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport (all photos by Dewey Chang)

Jelena Damjanovic

Topic

City & Culture

Joe's Basketball Diaries

Subheadline

Alex Wong's book delves into the launch of the Toronto Raptors and examines the power of sport to foster community

The origin story of the Toronto Raptors – and the team's subsequent impact on community-building in the GTA and beyond – are the subject of a new book by �ؿ�ζSM alumnus Alex Wong, who discussed the stories and themes from the Raptors' rise at a launch party held at U of T's Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

Wong, producer and co-host of Canada's most popular basketball podcast – The Raptors Show with Will Lou – delved into Prehistoric: the Improbable and Audacious Origin Story of the Toronto Raptors during a recent panel discussion hosted by U of T's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) that featured key figures in the founding of the Raptors.

From left to right: Alex Wong, John Bitove Jr., founder of the Toronto Raptors, David Peterson, founding chairman of the Toronto Raptors, and Tom O'Grady, designer of the original Raptors' logo

“This is a story about the people who bonded over a common purpose – the launch of a professional basketball team,” said Wong, who graduated from U of T Scarborough. “But the core element of the book is community, which is at the core of basketball and is at the core of the Raptors.”

Helping Wong tell the story – in the book and on the Goldring Centre stage – were John Bitove Jr., founder of the Toronto Raptors, David Peterson, founding chairman of the Raptors and U of T chancellor emeritus, and Tom O’Grady, designer of the team's original logo.

“I got emotional over some of the passages in the book,” said Bitove. “When we started this venture, we believed in it, of course – we hoped that it would turn into something with a legacy. But when you see the positive impact the Raptors had on the community over the years, it’s really something.”

Attendees packed U of T's Goldring Centre to hear the origin story of the Toronto Raptors.

Peterson, who was premier of Ontario from 1985 to 1990, said he had never even been to an NBA game when Bitove, who he described as a diehard basketball fan, approached him about putting in an ownership bid for the team.

“I went home to my three kids and told them about this guy who wants to go after an NBA franchise and they said, ‘Do it, it’s more fun than politics,’ so the next day, I called John to say I’m in,” said Peterson.

Asked to share how the team's logo came about, Bitove said the goal was to come up with a design that was different, bold and had a global feel. To the delight of the audience, many of whom were decked out in Raptors gear, O’Grady shared a few slides showing the logo's evolution.

The design of the Raptors' original logo aimed to be different, bold and project a global feel.

“The kids from the focus groups loved it,” said O’Grady.

The audience also learned that the Raptor almost ended up being lime green, but the owners decided to go with red to highlight the team's association with Canada.

Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice president, international, and host of Joe’s Basketball Diaries – the second season of which launches soon – led another panel discussion that featured Shireen Ahmed, a sports journalist and activist; Sam Ibrahim, president of Arrow Group of Companies, co-founder of the Scarborough Shooting Stars and U of T supporter; and Tamara Tatham, head coach of the U of T Varsity Blues women’s basketball team. They spoke about their introduction to the Raptors, how they became devoted fans and where they were when the Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019.

From left to right: Joseph Wong, Shireen Ahmed, Tamara Tatham and Sam Ibrahim.

While the pre-Raptors professional sports landscape in the GTA was dominated by hockey and baseball, the panel discussed how the accessibility of basketball and soccer carried more appeal to minority and immigrant communities.

“I lived in Scarborough and we knew the basketball court was a safe place,” said Ibrahim. “That’s the power of sport – to build relationships and communities.”

“We spent all our time in the gym,” added Tatham, who started playing basketball in community centres, also in Scarborough.

KPE Dean Gretchen Kerr addressed the audience in the Goldring Centre.

When the Raptors came to town, Ibrahim, Tatham and Ahmed said they saw themselves reflected on the big court – and in the stands.

“It’s one thing to talk about inclusivity, it’s another to do something about it,” said Ahmed, who noted the Raptors were the first NBA team to offer an athletic hijab for Muslim women. “The Raptors saw their communities and they were intentional about making them all feel included.”

Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, said all proceeds from the ticket sales from the event would go to the Indigenous and Black student-athlete bursary and described the evening as a “wonderful reminder and testament of the power of sport to bring people together, and foster access and inclusion.”

U of T launches new tri-campus Minor in Global Leadership

siddiq22 — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 01:43:34 +0000

U of T launches new tri-campus Minor in Global Leadership siddiq22 Wed, 03/01/2023 - 20:43

Tabassum Siddiqui

Topic

Global Lens

Centre for International Experience

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Joseph Wong

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

The �ؿ�ζSM is launching a new Minor in Global Leadership that will begin in September 2023.

With a focus on interdisciplinary curricular and experiential opportunities, the tri-campus program aims to prepare students to become globally confident future leaders who recognize and embrace diversity, face challenges with empathy and champion respectful collaboration in a globalized world.

It will be available to students from different disciplines and represents the third element of U of T’s Global U initiative, which also includes the Global Citizen and Global Scholar programs.

“The world needs ethical leadership now more than ever,” said Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, noting that U of T is a globally top-ranked institution that draws students from around the world.

"At the same time, opportunities are now global in scope so it’s imperative that our graduates be equipped with the competencies, open-mindedness, curiosity and skills to really lead with impact globally – both here and abroad. The Minor in Global Leadership is an exciting opportunity that offers a unique experience for students looking to develop that expertise."

The program will initially be open to undergraduate students at U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough, as well as in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education and the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

The minor will include a core series of three global leadership courses to be taken in students’ second, third and fourth years – each delivered by one of U of T's three campuses.

"This will be the first global-focused program at U of T that intentionally brings students together from across our tri-campus, who are studying the full spectrum of our disciplinary offerings, as part of an annual intimate cohort,” said Lynn Tucker, associate dean of experiential and global learning at U of T Scarborough.

“This model opens up the potential for new opportunities and dialogue from which students who are pursuing a range of career pathways will learn together."

U of T Mississauga will host the first of three courses planned for the program. Global Leadership: Past, Present, Futures “will address the evolving concepts both of globalization and leadership – juxtaposing, contextualizing and applying them to the challenges of the 21st century,” said Spyridon Kotsovilis, assistant professor, teaching stream, in the department of political science at U of T Mississauga.

"Increasingly complex and global problems cross borders and affect people at all scales and levels, from the global to the local," Kotsovilis said. "We hope students will come to learn about current global challenges and what it takes to lead in efforts to address them."

At U of T Scarborough, the department of management will be the home base for the program, offering the second core course, Global Leadership: Theory, Research and Practice.

"Students will do a deep dive into global leadership approaches through a set of diverse lenses and explore and develop global competencies through experiential learning opportunities," Tucker said.

"They will engage with experienced leaders in a variety of sectors and grow networks so that upon completion of the program, they will be poised and confident to take the next steps on their unique learning and career journeys."

The final course, a hands-on capstone project, will be based at the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering on the St. George campus.

Students taking the minor will complete the three core courses plus elective courses within each participating division. The courses will be delivered online via synchronous and asynchronous methods and include regular in-person meetings, guest speakers and embedded co-curricular activities.

Beginning in the second week of March, first-year students will be able to apply to the new minor for a second-year start. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the end of April with decisions determined by June. Course registration begins in July.

The program is open to students from the participating faculties who have a modified GPA of 2.7 based on a student’s top 3.0 full-course equivalents. Previous leadership experience is not required, but applicants are expected to have an interest in the study of leadership, global and cultural perspectives, and a willingness to engage with students from diverse backgrounds, experiences and disciplines of study.

Students interested in learning more about the Minor in Global Leadership can attend one of three virtual information sessions on March 8, March 21 or April 12.

A launch event for the new minor will be held at U of T Mississauga on March 6, featuring remarks on global leadership by keynote speakers and reflections on leadership by student speakers representing each campus.

"We want to develop a real esprit de corps among the students as they move through this new program," Wong said. "It’s the kind of network that these students are going to be able to draw on for the rest of their lives – a cohort of leaders who will help shape our global future."

'The need is urgent': Earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye turn crisis into catastrophe

Christopher.Sorensen — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 00:25:02 +0000

'The need is urgent': Earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye turn crisis into catastrophe

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 02/10/2023 - 19:25

Cutline

Earthquakes have devastated Türkiye and parts of neighbouring Syria, where survivors took shelter in tents in the city of Idlib (photo by Muhammed Said/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Topic

The powerful earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria this week have caused widespread destruction and claimed the lives of thousands in the region.

In Syria, people were already living in partially destroyed buildings and tents. A 12-year civil war has destabilized the country, causing a humanitarian and economic crisis that has displaced millions of people – including an estimated 3.6 million refugees who fled to neighbouring Türkiye.

Joan Simalchik

Joan Simalchik, professor emerita in the department of historical studies at U of T Mississauga, says the earthquakes have added a “heavy layer to the embedded tragedy” in the region.

“There is an immediate urgent need to establish emergency hospitals, airlifts, and medical care and restore core services,” Simalchik says.

Organizations and governments around the world have donated millions of dollars and supplies to the devastated areas. The Canadian government has pledged to donate $10 million in aid and will match donations made to the Canadian Red Cross from Feb. 6 to 22.

In a statement earlier this week, Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, expressed concern and sympathy for those affected by the disaster, urging members of the U of T community to support each other and to reach out for help if needed.

Beyond ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those affected – a task made more challenging in Syria by the ongoing civil war and the impact of sanctions – Simalchik says mental health services will need to be established to address the traumatic effects of the unfolding catastrophe.

U of T News spoke with Simalchik about the international response so far and the challenges that lie ahead.

How would you describe the scale of the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding following the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria?

Catastrophic. The number of deaths keeps growing with much of the area's infrastructure destroyed. At this moment more than 22,000 people have been confirmed dead.

What are the implications of this disaster, now and over the longer-term, for the millions of people in Syria who have already been displaced because of the decade-long civil war?

Refugees have already been in a prolonged desperate situation. While international aid agencies had been on the ground, funds for housing, health, and schooling were severely limited. The earthquake has exacerbated their conditions and the need is urgent to supplement already scarce resources. There is an immediate, urgent need to establish emergency hospitals, airlifts and medical care, and to restore core services such as food, water, shelter and warm clothing.

Beyond the physical rebuilding that will be required, there will be longer term issues involving family and kinship reunification and support. Importantly, it will be crucial to establish psychosocial services to address the traumatic effects of surviving the disaster.

In addition, the world's countries should set up mechanisms for permanent resettlement of long-term refugees. This disaster has brought them into visibility, but "out-of-sight" is not a solution to displacement.

What has the international response been like so far?

It is still developing but the response from countries, organizations, and individuals has been as strong as typically the case in the immediate aftermath. The critical issue is to keep attention ongoing past the immediate devastation and crisis care. Once the cameras have been packed up, the needs do not disappear with them.

What does long-term recovery for the Syrian people look like following the earthquakes?

Long-term recovery will necessitate finding stable homes and resettlement. Only after uncertain life conditions are remedied, can people begin to address the multiple layers of trauma they have experienced (war, displacement, physical and emotional wounds, and loss of home, culture and community). The earthquakes have added a heavy layer to the embedded tragedy.

For members of the U of T community who may be moved or able to contribute to relief efforts:

The Government of Canada has created a matching program on donations to the Canadian Red Cross until Feb. 22, 2023. Details: Canadian Red Cross

Student groups across U of T's three campuses can post events to the Student Organization Portal, and members of the community can find opportunities to participate on the Events Calendar.

For members of the U of T community in need of support:

Students:

U of T My Student Support Program (My SSP) can be accessed 24/7 by phone or via the My SSP app.

Other mental health resources, programs and supports are available through the student mental health resource page.

Staff and faculty:

Employee and Family Assistance Program (1-800-663-1142)

In a bid to promote global ‘brain circulation,’ U of T expands partnerships with African universities

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 14:09:17 +0000

In a bid to promote global ‘brain circulation,’ U of T expands partnerships with African universities

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 02/08/2023 - 09:09

Cutline

Diplomats and scholars from Africa met with �ؿ�ζSM colleagues during a 2022 summit – part of a shared effort to expand and deepen mutually beneficial ties between U of T and institutions across the continent (photo by Ruilin Yuan)

Topic

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Global

Joseph Wong

U of T Scarborough

From ChuChu sanitary pads in Ghana to on-demand digital mental health care in Kenya, more than a dozen young entrepreneurs from across Africa recently took part in a virtual “pitch day” to make their cases for a wide range of health innovations.

The 16 teams (80 per cent of which have female founders) that participated in the Health Innovation Challenge event – organized by the African Impact Initiative, which counts the �ؿ�ζSM as a key partner – will later spend three months in Toronto to expand their entrepreneurship networks.

Tolu Faromika

“Our goal is to help African students to develop their countries,” says recent U of T Scarborough grad Tolu Faromika, who was born in Nigeria and helped organize the pitch day in early December. “We provide various kinds of training, mentorship and tech support that they can use long after we’re out of the picture and we customize that to each African country.

“But it doesn’t only work one way. I’ve learned so much from this experience. It’s helped me to learn how to generate practical ideas – ideas that will make a real difference back home and here in Canada.

“Being able to see the outcome of those ideas has been amazing.”

It’s just one of many examples of how U of T is deepening its longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship with countries in Africa – part of a carefully co-ordinated program that is informed by consultation with such groups as the President’s International Council on Engagement with Africa.

“The council is composed of people who understand the continent,” says council chair Wisdom Tettey, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. “Africa is a continent of 54 countries, so for U of T to make a meaningful contribution, we need to have a detailed understanding of its diversity, nuances and how best to effectively engage.”

In June 2022, the university hosted a two-day summit that brought together representatives from organizations engaged in initiatives in Africa to discuss ideas for partnerships that address some of the most important issues facing Africa and Canada. Participants included scholars from U of T, Academics Without Borders, Mitacs, and the Mastercard Foundation, as well as representatives from African Development Bank Group, Association of African Universities, African Research Universities Alliance, various African universities, African diplomats from Canada and the United States, and representatives from Global Affairs Canada.

Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and U of T share a longstanding partnership (photo by Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images)

U of T’s connections with the world’s second-largest continent go back decades.

In 2013, U of T became one of the first universities in the world to partner with the Mastercard Foundation’s Scholar Program, which has funded students from across Africa to study at U of T. A decade before that, U of T and Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia forged a relationship to address a serious health-care crisis: the population of Ethiopia was about 72 million, but there were only eight psychiatrists in the entire country.

Dr. Dawit Wondimagegn, then a young psychiatry resident at Addis Ababa University, says U of T’s department of psychiatry answered a call that the AAU put out around the world to help create Ethiopia’s first residency training program in psychiatry. From there, U of T and Addis Ababa University formed the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC).

TAAAC has since expanded well beyond psychiatry. There are now 29 U of T departments and divisions contributing from six faculties – Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Faculty of Information, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

The collaboration sends faculty members from U of T and partner hospitals to Addis Ababa University for a month as part of teaching teams that co-develop graduate programs under the leadership and guidance of faculty. Once trained, graduates from the collaboration are hired to expand faculties at universities throughout Ethiopia.

The results of the partnership, Wondimagegn says, have been remarkable.

“Where we once had nothing, we now have thriving programs in areas like family and emergency medicine,” says Wondimagegn, who is co-director of TAAAC. “We’ve slowed the brain drain. We used to send people abroad for training and they wouldn’t return. Now, our people can receive their education and training in Ethiopia and then find work here. There is no need to leave.”

Professor Ernest Aryeetey, secretary general of the Africa Research Universities Alliance, looks on as Professor Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, addresses attendees at a summit held at U of T in 2022 (photo by Ruilin Yuan)

As TAAAC has grown, so has the range of partnerships between U of T and African institutions, including a recently launched collaborative network with eight leading African universities called the African Higher Education Health Collaborative. The initiative has a similar goal to TAAAC – create programs to prepare young professionals for work in, and contribute to, the continent’s health sector development – and integrates a substantive partnership between U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the School of Public Health at Moi University in Kenya.

U of T President Meric Gertler, left, shares a table with Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, at the 2022 summit (photo by Ruilin Yuan)

U of T’s ongoing efforts to partner with African institutions are part of a larger partnership program the university plans to pursue through its recently published International Strategic Plan 2022-2027, which encompasses 10 objectives across three broad themes: Global Learning, Global Reach and Global Impact.

“There are many benefits to these international partnerships, but it all comes down to U of T engaging with the world,” says Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international and a professor of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the Roz and Ralph Halbert Professor of Innovation at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

“The key is building relationships that are reciprocal. Each partner contributes to the partnership and each learns from the other.”

That’s certainly how Faromika sees it.

Faromika and her family immigrated to Prince Edward Island from Nigeria in 2011. She began her undergraduate studies at U of T in psychology in 2018 and is now a research assistant and Mitacs Accelerate Fellow in the lab of Brian Levine, a U of T professor of psychology and senior scientist at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute. She has been involved with the African Impact Initiative throughout most of her U of T journey – and says it’s contributed immeasurably to her education.

“I used to just read articles about the issues facing Nigeria, but my work through the African Impact Initiative is more tangible,” she says. “I’m interacting with people who have their feet on the ground. It’s really enabled me to learn a lot about planning and co-ordinating these activities in African countries.”

Erica Di Ruggiero

Erica Di Ruggiero has seen this same reciprocal benefit in the partnership between U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Moi University in Kenya.

An associate professor and director of the school’s Centre for Global Health, Di Ruggiero says U of T’s partnership with Moi began through the late Paula Braitstein, a professor of epidemiology who moved to Kenya to live and work in 2007.

“Paula really got things going in terms of establishing a reciprocal relationship with Moi University where we would learn from each other’s experiences,” she says, adding that the goal is “to de-colonize what we mean by global health research and practice.”

As an example, Di Ruggiero points to the two institutions’ work on advancing knowledge about universal health care, a shared desire of both Canada and Kenya, through a framework that dispels the notion that equitable solutions come only from high-income countries.

“That discourse promotes a wrong idea – that Canada can’t learn from a country like Kenya because we are high income and they are more middle income,” she says, noting that the two sides engage in discussion and sharing of experiences and co-production of knowledge that enable them to learn from each other.

Tettey, who is from Ghana, similarly emphasizes the two-way nature of U of T’s partnerships.

“This is about being able to work together to create a world community,” he says. “It's important for people to understand that Canada has been a happy beneficiary of a lot of African talent. We have created a brain drain on the continent. These partnerships enable us to create brain circulation – Africa can learn from Canada, and we can learn from Africa.

“There’s a reason why the world’s gravity is toward Africa now,” he adds. “There is a lot of potential that is untapped. The youth in Africa are going to be huge players. If we can collaborate in a way that allows our students here to network with potential leaders in Africa, that will enrich all of us.”

Joe’s Basketball Diaries Episode 6: Women in Sports

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 21:21:16 +0000

Joe’s Basketball Diaries Episode 6: Women in Sports Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 02/01/2023 - 16:21

Topic

Our Community

Joe's Basketball Diaries

Diversity and Inclusion

Equity

Joseph Wong

Sports

Undergraduate Students

Varsity Blues

Women

The pressure female athletes, coaches and journalists face in sport – and society at large – is explored in the season finale of Joe’s Basketball Diaries, hosted by Joseph Wong, the �ؿ�ζSM’s vice-president, international.

Guests highlight the systemic and structural nature of sexism and racism in sports, and the importance of representation – particularly in leadership.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” says Tamara Tatham, a two-time Olympian who is the head coach of U of T’s women’s Varsity Blues basketball team.

Women athletes, especially those who are racialized, face expectations of failure and their successes are treated as anomalies, adds Hannah Flores, a U of T undergraduate student.

Other topics discussed include sexist double standards in sports, scrutiny of women’s bodies and behaviour, and the many ways these inequities are compounded for racialized and LGBTQ+ athletes.

This episode features:

Hannah Flores, spoken word artist and U of T undergraduate student
Savanna Hamilton, sideline reporter, Toronto Raptors and Sportsnet
Amreen Kadwa, founder and executive director of Hijabi Ballers
Nicole Kaniki, U of T’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion in research and innovation
Tamara Tatham, two-time Olympian and head coach of the U of T women’s Varsity Blues basketball team

Watch Joe's BasketBall Diaries Ep. 6

U of T Centre in India launches in Mumbai in partnership with Tata Trusts

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:22:16 +0000

U of T Centre in India launches in Mumbai in partnership with Tata Trusts

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 01/31/2023 - 19:22

Cutline

(Photo by Peter Adams/Getty Images)

Topic

Research & Innovation

The �ؿ�ζSM launched The �ؿ�ζSM Centre in India today in Mumbai in partnership with Tata Trusts, one of India’s largest philanthropic organizations.

Tata Trusts has been a longstanding collaborator with U of T, supporting researchers across the university to address health care, water, energy and poverty challenges. The centre will give focus to this collaboration with an emphasis on urban research and entrepreneurship, bringing together leading scholars and entrepreneurs from Canada and India to develop groundbreaking research and innovation to benefit people in India and around the world.

U of T President Meric Gertler and Vice-President, International Joseph Wong announced the launch at a roundtable on urban transitions that was held in Mumbai in partnership with Social Alpha, a social innovations accelerator supported by Tata Trusts. The discussion highlighted key challenges faced by Indian cities in their journey towards net-zero emissions, and outlined the role of research-backed deep science innovations in enabling cities to solve for the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

“The �ؿ�ζSM is one of the world’s top-ranked universities with one of the world’s most extensive global research networks – and our faculty are deeply engaged in partnerships with academic and industry leaders here in India and across the globe,” President Gertler said. “The �ؿ�ζSM Centre in India will play a vital role in expanding and building on these collaborations, creating new opportunities for scholars and innovators from both Canada and India to share knowledge, collaborate on research and develop solutions to pressing social development and economic challenges. 

“We are delighted to partner with Tata Trusts, one of the world’s leading philanthropic organizations, to help further our commitment to growing our global network for learning and innovation.”

As part of the urban research centre, the �ؿ�ζSM School of Cities will establish an alliance to build a network of Canadian and Indian researchers who will collaborate on addressing critical urban issues in India and around the world. The entrepreneurship hub, meanwhile, will help connect innovators and entrepreneurs from U of T and India, offering opportunities to share knowledge and resources and providing access to new markets. 

“Collaboration for development, and to magnify the effects of innovation has been at the heart of the Trusts’ strategy to bring about sustainable change for communities who need it the most,” said R Pavithra Kumar, Chief Programme Director, Tata Trusts. “This partnership with the �ؿ�ζSM and the establishment of The �ؿ�ζSM Centre in India will amalgamate new research and innovations with historical knowledge of community engagement to develop skills, address urban environmental and economic issues and develop a model for success that can be replicated across communities in India.”

The centre further deepens U of T’s engagement with India, which includes collaborative research partnerships and mutual opportunities for students, faculty and entrepreneurs.  While the centre will not be a satellite campus, Wong said, it will open doors and create opportunities for students, researchers and startups in both countries. 

The new centre will be working closely with Tata Trusts and Social Alpha to co-ordinate reciprocal student exchanges and competitions, support emerging startups and develop networks in both innovation ecosystems.   

“We look forward to increasing the university’s already strong connections to India,” Wong said. “In addition to our many partnerships and alumni engagement, U of T welcomed more than 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students from India last year, including high-achieving, low-income students through our collaboration with the Karta Initiative, also one of Tata Trusts’ partners. At the same time, more than 300 U of T students travelled to India for academic, research and professional experience over the past five years.

“The centre will help expand on this essential exchange of ideas and expertise.” 

“I am pleased to witness the launch of this collaboration between the �ؿ�ζSM and Tata Trusts,” said Diedrah Kelly, Consul General of Canada in Mumbai. “The focus on urban research will provide great value to both Canada and India, which will grow into engagement between Indian and Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers. I look forward to following this initiative and the contributions it makes to the shared goal of sustainable economic growth with environmental consciousness.”

U of T also has an ongoing educational partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay that includes the Indo-Canadian Entrepreneurship Exchange, an exchange program that aims to develop a two-way innovation talent pipeline. IIT-Bombay’s Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas has partnered with U of T’s Centre for Global Engineering (CGEN) and the Centre for Technology Alternatives on a joint research effort to tackle pressing issues of sustainable development in India, such as sanitation, nutrition and water supply.

Other key initiatives have included: U of T’s partnership in IC-IMPACTS, the only Research Centre of Excellence dedicated to the development of scientific collaboration between the academic and corporate sectors in Canada and India; the India Innovation Institute at the Rotman School of Management, a hub for researchers focused on how India is using innovation to transform itself; CGEN: The Canada India Initiative on Sustainable Rural Development (CIISRD), a joint multidisciplinary research effort between U of T’s CGEN and the Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA) at IIT-Bombay, which tackles pressing issues of sustainable development in India such as sanitation, nutrition, and water supply; a partnership between U of T, IIT-Bombay and the Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd. to find technology-based “smart solutions” for the city of approximately six million; and many more opportunities for collaboration between U of T’s students, faculty and entrepreneurs and those from India.

“As a leader in global engagement, U of T seeks to build bridges to help ensure that life-changing research, knowledge and innovation will have the widest possible impact,” President Gertler said. “The �ؿ�ζSM Centre in India will enable the kind of collaboration that can make real change for the better in India and around the world.” 

Joseph Wong

U of T grad ‘moves mountains’ to earn engineering degree

SDGs@UofT brings scholars together in pursuit of UN Sustainable Development Goals

Read more about U of T’s work on SDGs at SDGs@UofT

U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

Joe’s Basketball Diaries: Season 2 launches with episode on community

Prehistoric: U of T alum Alex Wong explores the Toronto Raptors' origin story

U of T launches new tri-campus Minor in Global Leadership

'The need is urgent': Earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye turn crisis into catastrophe

In a bid to promote global ‘brain circulation,’ U of T expands partnerships with African universities

Joe’s Basketball Diaries Episode 6: Women in Sports

Watch Joe's BasketBall Diaries Ep. 6

U of T Centre in India launches in Mumbai in partnership with Tata Trusts