We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Betina Appel Kuzmarov to the position of Associate Vice-President (International). Betina has been a member of the Carleton community since 2006 and currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Law and Legal Studies. As a trained lawyer, Betina’s research interests lie in international law, among other areas, making her a valued addition to the Carleton International team.

Betina will succeed Dr. Karen Schwartz, who has successfully completed four and a half years in this position. Among her many accomplishments, Karen helped shepherd the development of the International Strategic Plan (2020-2025) alongside the Advisory Committee on Internationalization. Even though we are sad to say goodbye, we are fortunate to have such a wonderful replacement in Betina and are confident that the work and office culture will continue to thrive under her leadership.

Congratulations to both Betina and Karen on reaching such important milestones in their careers.

By the time people begin to show symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, the dopaminergic neurons have already been degenerating for years. Carleton has joined a team of international researchers from Canada, the United States, and Germany to tackle this issue by exploring ways to intervene earlier and stop the progression of the disease. Dr. Natalina Salmaso from the Department of Neuroscience has been awarded a $278,000 grant to study the role played by a specific brain cell known as the glial cell. This is part of a larger three-year USD $9 million grant from Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP), a co-ordinated initiative devoted to accelerating the discovery of a cure through research collaboration and knowledge sharing. As implementation partner, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research issued the grant.

Read the full story here.

On June 1, members of the Carleton community met with a small Senate delegation from the Czech Republic, including the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Human Rights, and Petitions. Gathered in Carleton’s beautiful ARISE building, a broad range of topics were discussed, as well as ideas for possible future collaborations between our two countries. In regard to next steps, committee members agreed to look into researchers interested in working alongside Canadian universities in hopes of facilitating faculty matchmaking.

The day also included a tour of the Carleton Mass Spectrometry Centre and an evening reception at the residence of the Czech Ambassador with international and Canadian senators, Carleton representatives, and other important academic partners of the Czech Republic.

In our January newsletter, we announced that Carleton was participating in CBIE’s International Student Survey for the first time, underscoring the importance we place in the international student experience and how it’s shaping our strategic direction moving forward. This information will help us identify where we’re excelling and where we can improve. A big thank you to the 1,235 Carleton international students who took the time to share their voice.

The data is still under review, but the following two tables highlight some of the areas in which Carleton is providing a positive university experience.

Carleton Participants:

Comparative Report:

Services Offered: “Satisfied” to “Very Satisfied”

Carleton students, faculty, and staff who are travelling or living abroad have free 24/7 access to International SOS, a health and security services firm that offers medical and safety advice, and personal assistance to registrants anywhere in the world almost instantly. Services include pre-trip information, appointments with doctors, financial assistance, legal counsel, support during emergencies, and more.

Since becoming partners in 2018, the Office of Risk Management has continued to expand our offerings, which now include mental health counselling for international students studying in their home countries as a result of the pandemic.

It is imperative that the university provides the necessary resources so that our valued community members have a safe pathway to pursue their international interests and become global citizens. As of December 2021, 619 Carleton individuals have downloaded the app.

Click here for more information on accessing International SOS, or watch the following training session.

Are you a Carleton undergraduate student looking for opportunities to go abroad and gain new skills? You can now apply for a 3-4 month research internship in Mexico or Colombia through the International Research Mobility Experience (IRME) project. Up to $6,000 will be awarded per person, but extra financial support will be given to Indigenous students, low-income students, and students with disabilities. Internships are available in a wide range of academic disciplines.

The IRME project is partially funded by one of two Global Skills Opportunity grants Carleton received last year. This project aims to break down barriers that prevent mobility to Latin America and the Caribbean by providing students with funding.

Only 4 internships are available, so act fast!

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award program supports research collaborations between Canada and select international partners. Through these opportunities, recipients can expand their knowledge, make new connections, learn intercultural skills, and travel to exciting places.

Full-time senior undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, can now apply for a 12-24 week internship with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, a Japanese research organization focused on the creation of innovative technologies that address socio-economic needs. Internships are open to students specializing in robotics, artificial intelligence, human informatics, cybersecurity, and a number of other areas. In addition to airfare and accommodations, $3,000 will be awarded to successful applicants.

The call for proposals is open all year.

Did you know that our website has an active newsfeed? Here you will discover the most recent mobility opportunities for students and faculty, calls for visiting professors, info sessions and workshops, and much more. This page is updated frequently to bring you the most relevant and time sensitive information.

Click here to browse current and past news posts. And be sure to check back often so you don’t miss out on all the exciting opportunities our office has to offer!

We’d love to hear from you! If you have any content recommendations or suggestions on how we can improve our newsletter, please contact Nathaniel Whelan.