EXPERIENCE

GOAL: Experience diverse and rewarding learning opportunities that inspire us, nurture our talents, expand our knowledge and skills, and enable our success.

We are successful when our students have the interest, competencies and opportunities to engage internationally or with diverse communities in Canada. Graduating students interested in and competent to work in intercultural contexts; mindful and knowledgeable about their role as global citizens, and confident in their skills to advance themselves socially and professionally is foundational to our service and program delivery. Advancing these goals requires strong collaboration on campus and with partners around the world.

UAlberta International works to ensure that students have opportunity to examine and enhance their global competencies and leverage these competencies for their successful transition to the workplace and broader participation as engaged citizens. Our programs and services also focus on ensuring that international students are fully engaged in the academic and social life of the university and broader community.

• In 2017-18, 16% of UAlberta students participated in an education abroad experience.
• The number of students receiving credit for their abroad experience continued to increase, up nearly 10% from the previous year.
• Participation in programs managed by UAlberta International increased by 17% over the previous year, with 282 student participants.

• Established in 2013, the Certificate in International Learning (CIL) provides an opportunity for all undergraduates to gain recognition for their international learning and enhance their intercultural competencies. The CIL is an embedded certificate granted by the Faculty of Arts. UAIberta International, in collaboration with the CIL Academic Advisor, is responsible for all the promotion and administration of the program.
• 51 UAlberta students received the CIL at the Spring 2017 and Fall 2017 convocation ceremonies.

• In an expansion of the UAlberta-run Airport Welcome Booth of previous years, Edmonton post-secondaries collaborated to host one, Edmonton-wide Airport Welcome Booth to greet all new international post-secondary students upon their arrival at the Edmonton International Airport.
  
  
• UAlberta International's Campus Check-In Service for new international students served 53% all newly admitted international students in one to one peer conversation to cover settlement needs of newly arrived international students, including information on housing, health care, and other local resources.

The Peer Program, operated by UAlberta International, matched 565 new international students (an increase of 60 over last year) with 90 senior peers who offered friendly advice and a personal connection.

UAlberta International continued to provide in-person and online advising to undergraduate and graduate international students, with a staff of experts that includes two certified Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) and two Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIA).

Share the Cheer, which matches volunteer campus hosts with international students to share a holiday meal over the winter break, saw an increase of 30 host participants and 30 student participants over the previous year.