Durham College (DC) has expanded its capacity to support international students through a collaboration with BorderPass, an online platform that helps students navigate the immigration journey from admission to post-graduation.

Through the platform, applicants can get support with their study permit application preparation and use review services. Once enrolled, DC students will have additional benefits including continuous monitoring of visas and immigration documentation, personalized notifications and access to legal immigration experts.

This partnership aligns with DC’s commitment to provide a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for international students at both its Oshawa and Whitby campuses. By integrating these complete services, including access to BorderPass’ experienced immigration lawyers and experts, students have the resources they need to thrive.

“We are proud to welcome students from around the world to Durham College and this partnership with BorderPass enhances our ongoing commitment to supporting their academic success and well-being,” said Thom MacDonald, Dean, International Education, at Durham College. “By encompassing every aspect of the student journey, from admission to employment, we’re setting a new standard of support for our international students.”

Learn more about international education at DC.

Durham College (DC) joined global International Education Week celebrations with crowd-pleasing performances for students and a mouth-watering street food festival.

Held during the third week of November each year, International Education Week was celebrated in more than 100 countries this year.

At DC’s Oshawa Campus, events included the Community Cultural Mosaic in The Pit on November 14. It featured music and dance performances, booths from culturally-focused community groups and snacks for students including warm samosas.

Spike Universe, a second-year student in the Music Business Management program, was among the performers.

“I think this gives opportunity for people to meet different cultures and show what they have,” he said of the event, adding he believes when people learn about culture, they learn about themselves as well.

“It helps you find your own personality and as well it builds a beautiful community around you.”

Spike, who is known by his stage name, got the crowd excited, waving their hands and dancing as he performed his original music.

“I’ve been making music for almost 25 years, so I’m an independent artist, I have a boutique record label, so I work with a couple of different producers from Sri Lanka and even in Canada and I’m coming out with my own genre,” he explains, adding that he’s working to launch a new genre called Ceylonese Vibe as a uniquely Sri Lankan sound.

Students at DC’s Whitby Campus also looked for cultural inspiration at the International Street Food Festival held on November 17.

Nine teams of second-year Culinary Management students served up street food-style samples inspired by culinary traditions in Mexico, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, India, Italy and Pakistan.

After trying all the flavours, attendees voted for their favourite dish with students Paulo Delgado and Jonathan Castillo taking the top spot with their arancini—Italian rice balls—served with Romanesco sauce and aioli. The dish was topped with cheese developed through DC culinary programs.

Paulo said the pair were inspired by their upcoming trip to Italy in February which is a DC Faculty-led Classroom Abroad trip.

“I can’t even express how excited we are,” added Jonathan. “We both had the opportunity to go to Peru last year and it was a fantastic experience.”

Paulo and Jonathan gave kudos to their fellow students who produced a tasty sampling of street food. They included Taiwanese pork buns, Sri Lankan chicken kottu, Mexican chilaquiles and Indian chicken kondattam.

“It encourages and motivates us to better develop our food,” said Jonathan of the event. “We have to work as hard as we can to make these dishes and at the end of the day it’s very enjoyable for us to see people come out and tell us they loved our food and tell us we did so well.”

Thom MacDonald, dean of International Education, said the International Education Week events highlighted student talent at DC.

“As our region and our college become more and more diverse, I think it’s really important for us to share and celebrate some of our cultural traditions just because it gives us a framework of understanding each other and really understanding the benefits of working together and studying together,” he added. “And also, it’s really fun. Studying is hard and any time we can take a step back and enjoy our experience, I think it’s really important.”

Students at Durham College (DC) can become true citizens of the world with a unique Global Competency Recognition program that is now available on DC Connect.

‘Get Global’ invites all students to expand their knowledge in four key areas: cultural awareness, global connections, global learning and global sustainability. By developing global skills and awareness, students will prepare themselves to thrive in our rapidly changing and increasingly connected world.

“Durham College is committed to leveraging and growing our positive impact on our community to help it prosper and diversify. And our community is local as well as global,” said Janine Knight-Grofe, director of International Education. “We have a responsibility to prepare students to be globally competent, so that they can better engage in the world thoughtfully but also productively. It’s about making them better, more well-rounded individuals who are also more employable.”

Participants in the program can complete a variety of activities to earn points. There are many different options, from taking part in a Faculty-Led Classroom Abroad (FLCA) trip to attending a cultural event on or off campus or learning a new language. Once they’ve collected 100 points, students will earn a Global Learner digital badge and a certificate at graduation.

The program is relatively new, but a handful of students completed it before graduation this year.

“The students that go through it see a lot of value,” said Knight-Grofe.

One such student is Tasharna Thompson-Henny, a 2023 graduate of the Project Management program. An international student from Jamaica, she jumped at the chance to expand her knowledge of other cultures.

“It helped me to really function better in Canada and also to have a greater understanding of dealing with a different, diverse set of people on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

Canadian-born students can also benefit greatly from the program, according to Knight-Grofe.

“All students equally contribute to global thinking, have a role to play in addressing global challenges, and benefit personally, academically and professionally from global competency.”

All students who take part in the program must start with a module on Indigenous Histories and Reconciliation, which is crucial according to Rogier Ten Kate, program coordinator for the International Business Management graduate certificate.

“We recognize that globalization and internationalization can perpetuate global imbalances through neocolonial practices. So, it’s critical that anti-colonialism underpins global competency actions and activities at Durham College,” he said. “The best way to understand and reflect on this is through learning about Indigenous histories.”

Thompson-Henny found those studies particularly helpful in increasing her knowledge of her adopted home.

“It gave me a better understanding of what Indigenous people went through. My level of appreciation just increased significantly.”

For students who want to expand their knowledge and appreciation of other cultures, the Get Global program is available now.

Global Skills Opportunity grants over $38,000 to help eliminate work-study abroad barriers

Even more Durham College (DC) students will benefit from the invaluable opportunities to study abroad, thanks to $38,352 in funding from the Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund. The funds will be divided between two initiatives to support and enhance participation in international learning experiences.

The first half of the funding will help reduce financial barriers for low-income students, students with disabilities and Indigenous students, to help them access opportunities to gain international experience.

The second half of the funding will support DC’s Support and Sustain: International Work-Integrated Learning project by providing a multi-tier solution for work-study abroad offerings that increase peer participation and test innovative approaches to reduce barriers to study and work abroad opportunities. Student researchers will play a crucial role in developing research strategies, ensuring that the program development is grounded in the actual needs of students.

“The funding for this project will provide invaluable experience for our social service worker students,” said Lorraine Closs, social service worker program professor at DC. “International work-integrated learning experiences will create the link between classroom learning and practical application. Our students will gain exposure to diverse populations and this will foster both cultural sensitivity and competency that they can take with them as they enter the workforce.”

Over the past few years, travel disruption has impacted international study and also reinforced the importance of global connections inside and outside the classroom. Together, these initiatives position DC as a leading post-secondary institution that effectively reduces barriers to participation in international work-study programs.

“We are grateful to Global Skills Opportunity for their continued support of innovative international experiences for Canadian students,” says Janine Knight-Grofe, director, International Education at DC. “This funding allows us to both support students in gaining meaningful international work-integrated learning experience and conducting the needed research so that other students can also benefit from internationalization.”

The Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund is an Employment and Social Development Canada initiative from the Government of Canada’s International Education Strategy.

Learn more about DC’s education abroad opportunities.