York University is hosting the 2nd edition of the Sustainable on the Go (SOTG 2022), co-organized by York International, the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, and international partners on 17th November 2022 during the International Education Week.
After the inaugural conference in 2021, with international education scholars, mobility professionals, policymakers, sustainability experts, representatives from international development and UN organizations, as well as industry from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe participating, the SOTG 2022 will engage new voices, partners and stakeholders with a focus on Youth in creative dialogue formats to further enrich the discussion on sustainable and inclusive internationalization in higher education.
Following the Toronto Declaration York University and their partners aim to refine the concept of physical and virtual internationalization and mobility, supporting a post-pandemic recovery that will further global connections and simultaneously enhance a more sustainable future. We have benefitted from and resourcefully adapted to virtual learning, teaching, and research over the last 18 months. While we have gained new insights and perspectives in navigating the opportunities and challenges in educating global citizens, how can we systemically incorporate this new knowledge into higher education practice in suitable ways to enhance the student and scholar experience without compromising our commitment to sustainability?
The SOTG 2022 will feature inclusive, innovative, and interactive formats and facilitate participation of international education stakeholders from most time zones and world regions following our joint commitment to the Toronto Declaration.
Objectives:
- Discussing COVID-19's impact on sustainable and inclusive internationalization: What have we learned? What would we like to continue and move forward post COVID-19? What would we like to leave behind?
- Contributing to the future vision of sustainable and inclusive internationalization and mobility, informed by the cross-cutting issues of gender, education for sustainable development, and inclusivity.
- Providing a platform for dialogue on the role of ethical internationalization in higher education for the entirety of the SDGs including the sharing of innovative programs and practices in global learning.
- Including different speakers and audiences with a focus on Youth (Youth Engagement Program), especially historically underrepresented stakeholders by facilitating their participation and highlighting their contributions towards the future of internationalization in higher education.
- Sharing experiences from implementing the commitments of the Toronto Declaration.
Main Themes
Conference Themes:
The Sustainable on the Go Conference (SOTG 2022) will focus on three themes, while gender, education for sustainable development, and inclusivity, are considered cross-cutting pillars in all conversations.
- Connecting the local and global classrooms: While the pandemic virtually connected many of us, local teaching and learning is often not yet put into a global context and vice versa. How can we include the broad range of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) pedagogical strategies in meaningful ways to create ongoing reflection of what our local experience means in a broader understanding? How can we embed an even stronger sustainability focus into specific concepts, such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Globally Network Learning (GNL), when in-person opportunities return to campuses? What are new or innovative forms of pedagogy in different regions to specifically address diversity, equity and other sustainability themes? How have assessment models and practices evolved during the pandemic?
- Sustainable and inclusive global learning: How can universities ensure that all students, regardless of their socio-economic or cultural background, are empowered and supported to participate in international education and global learning opportunities? Acknowledging that racism and other forms of discrimination are present in higher education and represent crucial sustainability challenges, what are universities doing to create better systems and to provide equitable opportunity?
- Local and global community engagement: What are the roles and responsibilities of students or alumni of higher education in their local communities? How do we empower and prepare students for continued community and global engagement post-graduation? What skills do students need to navigate a post-pandemic job market? How effective has virtual community involvement proven to be during COVID-19? What lessons have we learned and what needs to change?
Conference Recordings
Opening Ceremony & Land Acknowledgement
Introduction from York University Conference Chairs: Vinitha Gengatharan, Assistant Vice-President Global Engagement & Partnerships and Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability
Opening Remarks by Dr. Amir Asif, Vice-President Research and Innovation, York University
Greetings From International Conference Partners
- Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary-General, International Association of Universities (IAU), France
- Roda Muse, Secretary-General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO, Canada
- Hirofumi Makino, President, Okayama University, Japan
Group Photo
Host/Emcee: Pablo L. E. Idahosa, Associate Professor International Development Studies, Department of Social Science, York University
Plenary 1
Keynote Speaker: Leonardo Garnier, Special Advisor for the 2022 United Nations Transforming Education Summit, Costa Rica
Moderated By: Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary-General, International Association of University (IAU), France
Plenary Dialogue 1 Between A 2021 SOTG Speaker And Young Voices
Noah Sobe, Professor, Loyola University Chicago, USA
Lin-Shirley Jhih-Syuan, Youth Engagement Program Representative, Taiwan
Mustafa, Shirzai, Youth Engagement Program Representative, Afghanistan
Moderated by: Lily Asch, Youth Engagement Program Representative, Hungary
Parallel Session 1
- James C. Simeon, Associate Professor, York University, Canada; David Huerta Harris, International Experiences & Models, Director, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico; Hugo Cahueñas Muñoz, Professor, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador; & Vania Ramírez-Camacho, International Relations Undergraduate Program Director, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico: “Internationalizing the Curriculum Through Collaborative Courses that Connect Students Across Multiple Universities and Countries”
- Robert J. Didham, UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Lifestyles, Centre for Collaborative Learning for Sustainable Development, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
- Lucie Weissova, International Relations Manager, Jönköping University, Sweden & Chantal Coté, International Strategist, Jönköping Municipality: “Strengthening the local community with global empowerment”
Chair: Meera Pathmarajah, TabSchool Education Director, Visions Global Empowerment, USA
Parallel Session 2
- Ian Garrett, Professor, York University, Canada: “Case Study in Global Networked Learning - Climate Change Theatre Action EcoDesign Charrette”
- Rachel Warnick, Director of Programmes, Professors without Borders, Mauritius
- Divinia Jithoo, International Education & Partnerships Specialist, Durban University of Technology, South Africa & Savo Heleta¸ International Education and Partnerships, Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Chair: Dominique Scheffel-Dunand, Associate Professor, York University, Canada
Cultural Presentations - Artistic Intermission
Adam Sherkin, Composer and Pianist, New York & Toronto, USA/Canada
Networking Session Hosted By The International Association of Universities (IAU)
Hosted in the SOTG networking room: An introduction to the IAU. Interested? Learn more, ask your questions and discuss with Giorgio Marinoni, Manager of Higher Education and Internationalization at the IAU.
Plenary 1
Keynote Speaker: Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair in Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, India
Moderated By: Shaheen Nanji, Executive Director SFU International, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Plenary Dialogue 2 Between A 2021 SOTG Speaker And Young Voices
- Larissa Bezo, President, Canadian Bureau for International Education, Canada
- Anjali Kumar, Youth Engagement Program Representative, Canada
- Bruno Dos Santos, Youth Engagement Program Representative, Brazil
Moderated by: Zainab Bokhari, Youth Engagement Program Representative, Pakistan
Parallel Session 3
- David Huerta Harris, International Experiences & Models, Director, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico; Xavier Cortada, Professor, University of Miami, USA; Gabriela Geron, Director of Partnerships, Innovation, and Communications at Hemispheric & Global Affairs, University of Miami, USA; & Vania Ramirez, Associate Director of the Regional Department of Political Science and International Relations, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico: “Reflecting on empathy through socially engaged art: internationalizing experiences for students in more engaging, meaningful and inclusive ways”
- Andrew Champagne, Manager, Mobility Programs, Colleges and Institutes Canada, Canada
- Kris Acheson-Clair, Director, Center for Intercultural Learning, Mentorship, Assessment and Research (CILMAR), Purdue University, USA; Arnd Wachter, CEO, Crossing Borders Education, Scotland; Becky Schutt, CBE Trustee and former director of British Council’s Developing Inclusive & Creative Economies (DICE) program, Scotland
Chair: Della Burke, Coordinator of Campus Internationalization, ITESO, Mexico
Parallel Session 4
- Addise Amado, Head of Development and Communications Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, Ethiopia
- Sebastian Berger, Executive Director, Global Student Forum, Belgium
- Deepika Joon, Coordinator of the UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development, PhD Student, Leuphana University, Germany
Chair: Meghan Fay Zahniser, Executive Director Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, USA
Cultural Presentations - Artistic intermission
Prof. Patrick Alcedo, Chair, Department of Dance, York University
Plenary 3
Keynote speaker: Kenisha Arora, Youth Representative to the SDG 4 High-Level Steering Committee for UNESCO, Canada
Moderated by: Pornchai Monghonvanit, President, Siam University, Thailand, and Vice-President, board member and chair of the HESD Working Group, International Association of Universities
Plenary Dialogue 3 Between 2021 SOTG Speaker And Young Voices
- Dzulkifli bin Abdul Razak, Rector, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia
- Rebecca John, Lassonde School of Engineering Student, York University, Canada
- Claudio Antonio Klaus Junior, Visiting Researcher, Osgoode Hall Law School, YorkU and School Graduate Studies in Development and Society, Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe University, Brazil
Moderated by: Haleema Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Youth Council, Student, York University, Canada
Parallel Session 5
- Zainal Abidin Sanusi, Director of the Sejahtera Center for Humanity and Sustainability and the Regional Centre of Expertise on ESD Greater Gombak, International Islamic University of Malaysia, Malaysia
- Qjiel Mariano, Student University of Santo Tomas, Philippines: “Ladders to literacy”
- Christiane Canillo, Research Assistant, York University, Canada; Renchillina Joy Supan, Research Assistant, National Institute of Health, University of the Philippines, Philippines; Ravichandiranesan Ponnudurai, Senior Consultant Reverse Engineering, Canada; & Monica Maralit, Project Coordinator, Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC), Canada, iGo Citizen Team, Canada and Philippines
Chair: Meghna Tare, Chief Sustainability Officer, Regional Center of Expertise for Education on Sustainable Development, USA
Parallel Session 6
- Omar Hernandez, Program Manager, UN Academic Impact, USA
- María José Castelazo André, Global Curriculum and Special Project Manager, Institution ITESO, Jesuit University of Guadalajara, Mexico
- Carol Ma, Head (Gerontology Programme) & Senior Fellow ( Experiential Learning), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Singapore
Chair: Beth Eden, Chief Executive Officer, QS World Merit, Canada
Cultural Presentations - Artistic Intermission
Adam Sherkin, Composer and Pianist, New York & Toronto, USA/Canada
Closing Ceremony
Land acknowledgement
Closing Remarks
Prof. Alice Hovorka, Dean, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University
Reflections from the Youth Engagement Program
York University's Conference Chairs Vinitha Gengatharan and Charles Hopkins
Host/Emcee: Helen Chua Balderama, Director, Global Engagement and Partnerships, York International, York University, Canada
