Global South and Internationalization
print this article
Editorial
Carol Irving

University engagement with the Global South is long-standing. At many Canadian universities, international linkages began with development projects in the South. Today, with the internationalization of higher education, this engagement has extended beyond development cooperation and the enrolment of international students to a much wider range of activities. These include research collaboration, student mobility, and the integration of international and intercultural perspectives into the teaching, learning and service functions of the university.

This past spring, York University held a two-day symposium on the Global South and Internationalization. It was intended to provide an opportunity to discuss and analyze contemporary challenges and practices in the internationalization of Canadian universities with respect to the Global South.

The five articles contained in this edition of e-MAGINED originally were given as presentations at the spring symposium. They reflect some of the themes that emerged during the two days: questions of equity in partnerships, of cultural perspective, and of breadth of connection. One of the great challenges that was raised over and over again, not surprisingly, in establishing useful, equitable, productive partnerships today is the question of funding. Today in Canada, the public funding scene for international activity is changing rapidly, as some organizations such as CIDA re-think their strategies and others like SSHRC and NSERC implement new programs. At the same time, the competition for private funding increases - making it ever more difficult to secure funds from that quarter for working with the Global South.

We hope that these articles will either reinforce our readers’ views or stimulate new ideas on linking with the Global South. The articles were originally issued as speeches and presentations. They have been edited slightly so they may be read more easily as articles and stories. As always, we welcome your comments.

As well, we would like you to write for us. The deadline for the next issue is November 30, 2008. Submissions or questions (noting e-MAGINED in the subject line) should be sent to:

Carol Irving
Executive Editor
cirving (at) yorku (dot) ca

Submit your comment below.

Write a comment

* = required field

:

:

:


2 + 1 =