Mandate

As a leading engaged university, York is committed to the social, economic, environmental, cultural and other well-being of the communities we serve, and to recognizing the interconnection of global and local issues.

The President’s Council on Internationalization and Global Engagement (PCI) has been established to work towards developing a fully integrated institutional level strategic plan (I3SP) to realize the goals set out for internationalization and global engagement in the University Academic Plan.

The I3SP will provide a framework for Faculties, shared services units and administration to develop and implement specific initiatives.

The plan is meant to be comprehensive in terms of students (recruitment, international student experience), academic initiatives including international learning experiences (at home and abroad), research and education partnerships, alumni engagement, and related activities and innovation magnifying our impact many times over.

About the PCI: 

PCI is an advisory body to the President with responsibility for formulating a plan with recommendations on how to build on York's global engagement, goals for further internationalization, and steps to ensure York’s place as a locally and globally engaged university.

In addition, the plan is intended to identify areas of priority for implementation to support the advancement of the international strategy.

The PCI operates in an atmosphere of collegial co-operation, where all participants respect each other’s participation through sharing of expertise, information and strategies.

PCI Objectives:

Specifically, the PCI is charged with the following goals/objectives:

  1. Develop a framework: Developing a framework for addressing the different dimensions of internationalization and global engagement relevant to the University’s mission including:
    • International student recruitment, experience of international students, and supports for student mobility.
    • Learning abroad, internships and work placements and the development of intercultural and global competencies for all students, joint academic programs such as cotutelles, joint courses and degrees, other curricular enhancements and broad learning outcomes.
    • Research Collaborations, Capacity building, community engagement and development initiatives.
    • Strategic Partnerships & country/regional engagement.
    • Alumni engagement, outreach to international and diaspora communities locally, and profile and positioning.
    • Coordination tools and mechanisms to develop a University-wide community of practice and approach to internationalization and global engagement.
  2. Provide a forum: Providing a forum to discuss challenges in current and future internationalization and global engagement efforts, identify opportunities to foster pan-university approaches and promote faculty and student engagement, and recommend initiatives and procedures that will enhance the internationalization of the campus.
  3. Review and find opportunities: Identifying and reviewing current practices and initiatives, ascertaining opportunities for synergies and engagement, and assessing institutional readiness and climate for internationalization and global engagement.
  4. Identify issues and develop recommendations: Through a planning/prioritization process, identify and examine specific high priority issues and develop recommendations for the President to consider implementing.
  5. Recommend communications: Recommending communication tools promoting and enhancing awareness of internationalization and global engagement activities and initiatives. This includes Council work throughout the York Community and building support across the university for internationalization and global engagement.
  6. Form recommendations for the President: Formulating recommendations for an integrated institutional international strategic plan (I3SP) and producing reports for submission to the President.