From the President: Ryerson University to refresh international strategy

Over the last five years, Ryerson University has expanded our international activities with a focus on student recruitment, research and global partnerships. To support this focus, I appointed Anver Saloojee as our inaugural assistant vice-president, international in the fall of 2016. The AVP role was established as the primary advisor to my office on international activities, to oversee the Ryerson International Office, and to work collaboratively with units across the university in support of activities such as international student recruitment and international research.

Since then, the university has continued to build strong momentum within the international portfolio including initiatives such as:

• Releasing our first ever international strategy in 2019. The strategy outlines our commitments to increase learning opportunities for Ryerson students who wish to study abroad as well as for international students on our campus, to further diversify perspectives in our classrooms and build on Ryerson's global footprint and reputation.
• Creating the inaugural executive director, International Student Enrolment, Education & Inclusion (ISEEI) role under the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students, in 2020 in order to further support the distinct needs of international students, as well as modernize our recruitment strategy.  Under the direction of executive director Isaac Garcia-Sitton, and despite the considerable and multiple challenges of recruitment during a global pandemic, Ryerson has seen a four per cent growth in overall international student enrolment and an increased diversity of applicants in a year that saw the global movement of students decrease sharply. This includes growth in key markets, for example: India (20.1 per cent), the United States (24.4 per cent), Pakistan (19.4 per cent), and Bangladesh (24.8 per cent).
• Receiving approval for our first ever transnational campus in Egypt in 2021 with plans to launch the inaugural class in September 2022. The new campus will offer academic programming from The Creative School and the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science to students in the MENA region, enhancing the international scope of our aspirations and increasing our reputation on a global scale.
• Launching a new partnership with global higher education partner Navitas to establish the Ryerson University International College. This has broadened international education on our campus while also expanding learning opportunities by creating additional pathways for international students to study in Toronto.  

Review completed

All of this has contributed to impressive growth and momentum, however the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of international student recruitment and post secondary education.

In July 2021, a thorough review of the university’s international strategy was undertaken. As a result of this analysis and discussion with key leaders, I am pleased to announce that the international portfolio will be moved under the provost and vice-president, academic.

New leadership to guide creation of refreshed international strategy

Ryerson International will now be overseen by Glenn Craney, deputy provost, International and University Planning. This is a one-year appointment that will focus on developing a strategy to guide the university’s international activities over the next 10 years including the creation of a multi-year operations plan and a firm set of success indicators to track our progress.

Todd Carmichael, who has been serving as interim executive director of Ryerson International since February 2021, will continue in the role and will also serve as the university’s senior international officer (SIO). Todd will continue to oversee Ryerson International as part of this interim role; a formal search for the SIO position will begin shortly.

A key priority of this team will be re-visiting the international strategy in light of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on post secondary education and the mobility of international students worldwide. This is an opportunity to continue the great momentum created while reviewing where we want to go next, in line with all of the university’s foundational plans.

Community consultations to begin spring 2022

In order to inform this new strategy, the International team will be launching a broad consultation with leaders and partners from across the university shortly. The goal of a revised International Strategy will be prepared for the executive group, with a public release by the end of 2022.

Please join me in thanking Anver for his leadership and commitment as AVP and in thanking Glenn and Todd for stepping into these new roles to continue this important work.

Mohamed Lachemi
President and Vice-Chancellor