This year’s Global Summer School (GSS) was bigger than it has ever been before with more than 200 students and educators from nearly 40 countries attending the three-week experience.
The GSS brings in students and educators from around the world through the College’s global academic partner network and they take courses alongside participating Humber students. This year, students travelled to Toronto from countries across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania to join participating Humber students at the GSS.
“It takes courage to leave home and travel to another country to study and we are so pleased you chose to come to Humber for the Global Summer School,” Gina Antonacci, senior vice-president, Academic at Humber, told the students during GSS closing ceremonies. “I hope you have grown from the experience and made life-long connections during your time with us. You are always welcome at Humber.”
The students, who can be from any academic program at Humber or abroad, earn an elective credit in three weeks. The courses offer in-person instruction at the Lakeshore and North campuses plus guest speakers, industry visits, experiential projects and more. Uniquely, several courses were co-facilitated by Humber faculty alongside visiting faculty from academic partners: Business Academy Aarhus (Denmark), Dania Academy (Denmark), Nottingham Trent University (England), South West College (Northern Ireland), and Otago Polytechnic/Te Pukenga (New Zealand).
The students took trips to tourist hot spots and cultural attractions including Niagara Falls, rafting on the Grand River, and a Toronto Blue Jays game, among others.
Through the exchange of knowledge and expertise, participants foster relationships with one another and deepen their appreciation for diverse cultures and differing perspectives while fostering global cooperation to address pressing global challenges.
Fionn McKenna, a Civil Engineering student from South West College in Northern Ireland, described the GSS as life-changing.
“It’s one of the best experiences you can have for a summer,” said McKenna.
Nottingham Trent University Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion student Amelia Cartwright took the Children, Play and Creativity course. She loved her time in Canada as part of the GSS.
“This experience has been more than I could have ever expected,” said Cartwright. “You have given us such unique experiences and I’ve connected with such amazing people. Thank you to everyone at Humber – I loved my time here.”
Wayne Funston is a sustainable construction professor at South West College while Niall Mimmagh is an electrical engineering professor there. The two came to co-teach the Optimizing High Performance Building Design course offered at the GSS. Funston had participated in similar exchanges with American institutions in the past and understands the many benefits they have for learners.
They, along with the students, had several site visits and toured the Humber Cultural Hub, which is being built to the highest standards of sustainability including LEED Platinum and the Toronto Green Standard.
As well, they had a chance to contrast and compare some of Canada’s energy-efficient buildings with how they’re being done back home.
Robyn Licata, an Audio and Music Technology student at Nottingham Trent University, enjoyed the GSS tremendously and signed up for the optional Research Bootcamp add-on week. The bootcamp is designed to introduce students and emerging researchers to the ongoing journey of life-long exploration called research.
She had some advice for those considering the GSS – go for it as you will be introduced to new experiences and new ways of thinking.
The GSS brings all six academic faculties together and enhances Humber’s strategic pillars to foster career-ready citizens and provide accessible education while allowing students greater choice and flexibility in their learning.
For more information, visit the Humber Global Summer School website.