Home » Year in Review » Principle 6: Connect students and faculty scholars to global opportunities

Principle 6: Connect students and faculty scholars to global opportunities

LA&PS will be a key hub for international activity, both as a destination for scholars from around the world and as a source of expertise, as students pursue careers and civic engagement opportunities drawing on their global fluencies and mindsets.

By the Numbers

0

LA&PS Summer Abroad Courses

0

2025 Summer Abroad Participants

$0K

in Funding to Subsidize Greece Study Abroad Course Fees

2024-25 Highlights

  Study Abroad: England
  
  
As part of their Study Abroad program in England, students visited notable landmarks and navigated local transit to gain deeper insights into everyday life and regional customs.

  Study Abroad: Spain
  
  
This year, students participated in a Study Abroad program in Spain, where they explored Spanish heritage, culture and politics.

  Study Abroad: South Korea
  
  
Through their Study Abroad course in South Korea, students immersed themselves in the nation’s rich culture and history while also exploring and building connections with Yonsei University and Chung-Ang University.

  Study Abroad: Italy
  
  
Study Abroad students in Italy embraced local culture and cuisine by exploring historical sites and gaining hands-on experience through an authentic Italian cooking class.

  Study Abroad: Portugal
  
  
While studying abroad in Lisbon, Portugal, students immersed themselves in the city’s visual culture — exploring historic sites, coastal parks and art spaces, and connecting with local artists, activists and journalists.

2024-25 Achievements

  
In Summer 2025, the LA&PS Study Abroad program offered 7 study abroad & away courses in Portugal, South Korea, Greece, British Columbia and new courses in Germany and Poland, Quebec and Costa Rica.
        
    
 
  
98% of participants in the LA&PS Study Abroad program either stay at LA&PS or successfully graduate. 97% would recommend the program to a friend.
       
    
 
    
LA&PS created a new sustainable financial model that supports every participant in the LA&PS Study Abroad course with $500 in funding.
        
    
We secured a $3,000 grant from the Hellenic Heritage Foundation that will help subsidize the Study Abroad course fee for 2025 course participants.

  
We increased international research engagement this year with faculty submitting three New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) grant applications. The NFRF supports world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk and/or high-reward, transformative and rapid response Canadian-led research.
        
    
 
  
To help LA&PS and York University diversify its sources of external research funding, we worked closely with York’s Vice President of Research & Innovation to build our knowledge and capacity in new areas. In 2024-25, LA&PS faculty submitted 1 Destination Horizons grant application, while two additional applications are ongoing and expected in August 2025.
Destination Horizon grants support researchers affiliated with eligible Canadian post-secondary institutions to build capacity, foster existing partnerships, and further develop networks and/or consortia with European Union and other “associated countries” researchers.
       
    
 
    
We are also working with faculty colleagues who have partnerships with global post-secondary institutions to explore new mobility opportunities for LA&PS students.

Success Stories

  This summer abroad opportunity was so worth it! I was able to create so many fun memories with new people who I now call my dear friends. I will admit, it was quite nerve-racking at first. It was going to be my first time travelling alone in a new country with new people. Once I was on the trip, I ended up having a great time, eventually connecting with my fellow peers (now friends) and lived life to its fullest. If I could experience this all over again I 100% would! This was definitely a highlight of my university experience here at York.
    
 — Anonymous
Study Abroad Participant – GLBL 3581: The Politics of Youth and Old Age – Seoul, South Korea
   I have discovered a side of myself I would have never been able to access otherwise. Studying abroad has allowed me to find a home halfway across the world, make new friends, discover a new culture and in my case, have a chance to practice a foreign language in its environment. That is truly something that stays with you for the rest of your life.
    
 — Anonymous
Study Abroad Participant – SP 2020: Intermediate Spanish Abroad – Avila, Spain

  I loved participating in this study abroad course. Not only did I make many close friends, I learned so much about a country I knew nothing about. I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture by learning the language and navigating the city, as well as visiting several historical sites and museums.
    
 — Alexandra Schella
Study Abroad Participant – HIST 3357: A Modern History – Greece
   My study abroad experience in Korea was truly unforgettable. I had the chance to make new friends from different backgrounds, explore the natural beauty of Korea and immerse myself in a vibrant culture that left a lasting impression. I also enjoyed learning about various academic topics that challenged and inspired me. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and will always cherish the memories I made during this journey.
    
 — Abubakr Zeeshan
Study Abroad Participant – GLBL 3581: The Politics of Youth and Old Age – Seoul, South Korea