Message from the Dean & Staff Updates

Dean's Welcome

As we as a sector begin to emerge from the COVID-19 impacts and focus on recovery and growth, I’ve been reflecting on the changes within the higher education landscape in Canada, as they impact our international students. KPMG encapsulated these changes well in the introduction to their new report ‘The Future of Higher Education in a Disruptive World’:

"Higher education is entering a new reality. The education landscape includes emerging technologies, new online learning opportunities, funding challenges, rising costs, and shifting demographics. In this 'age of the customer', the increased availability of choices and options is also having a profound impact on how students view their education experience. Higher education institutions will need to consider not only these changes, but also the shifting priorities of their students" (KPMG, 2020).

Indeed international students have many choices in terms of country, educational institution, program of study, the academic delivery model, etc. Of the many drivers of their choices, the degree to which they feel welcome in their chosen country and options for jobs and settlement are both key. Canada’s pathway from international education to immigration motivates international students to select Canada as their country of choice for higher education. The real challenge for any Canadian institution starts here – how best to position and promote their programs, faculty, services and supports to students in the competitive Canadian landscape.  For Mohawk’s International & Partnerships Team, it does not stop here; we collaborate with college and community stakeholders to promote our stellar programs, services and supports to international students and to ensure students are positioned for a successful transition and arrival, to succeed in their potential new home of Canada.

For educational institutions including Mohawk, the challenge is also to diversify our international student population, to ensure  our campus internationalization includes students from diverse countries and cultures, and also to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on a few source regions for the College.

In the coming months and years, as part of the International & Partnership Team’s New Strategic Plan, we are working towards proactively managing the challenges which are expected in this new reality through:

• Consolidation of our existing source markets
• Exploring new regions to offer opportunities for a Mohawk education
• Increasing our reach and visibility through engagement activities with potential students, agents and partners
• Partnership development, which creates visibility and branding in key markets
• Collaboration with internal and external community stakeholders to enhance and improve supports for international students during their transition to Canada/Mohawk
• Development of opportunities for global learning and engagement through intercultural activities for all students offered through the LCC and study/work abroad opportunities for students, faculty and staff

Though the last 18 months were challenging, key opportunities emerged, including but not limited to global expansion of our reach virtually, risk management strategies to decrease reliance on some markets and the capability to offer online learning to international students abroad.

I would also like to update you about our journey to finalize our department’s next Strategic Plan. As indicated in the journey map below, we started the internal and external stakeholder engagement process in October 2020. After a number of surveys and meetings, we are at the home stretch, with our department’s leadership team working on finalizing the next Strategic Plan, which we look forward to sharing in our next newsletter.

Let me also take this opportunity to update you on a few other pieces that we implemented in the last 6 months:

• Ontario College Application Service – International Application Service (OCAS-IAS):  the application system is now up and running for all the markets for May 2022 intake. Read more about this exciting development in the newsletter!
• Integrated Service Model: As part of a new integrated service model, in January, 2022, all transactional and advisory services for international students will be provided at The Registrar's Office (C102) at Fennell campus. Previously, these services were provided from J137, the ‘International Square’ at Fennell campus. (Services will continue to be offered at The Registrar's Office locations at satellite campuses.) The goal is to enhance the experience for international students and ensure every student enjoys the same level of service, regardless of where they come from. As part of this change, International Admissions and Student Services will be provided from The Registrar's Office (C102) beginning in January. Services offered include: application processing and support, fee payment, immigration supports and health insurance and financial support. The Language and Culture Centre (LCC) in J137 will continue to be used as an engagement space for the college community, focused on activities including clubs and workshops for students and employees, celebrations and events that support and engage our international student community, and a destination for everyone in the college community to learn about the international experience and to develop a better understanding of internationalization at Mohawk College.

Learn more about our other recent activities in this newsletter!

Staffing Updates - New Staff and Roles

Ricardo Rivera 
Ricardo Rivera has been a member of the Market Specialist team supporting the Latin American region and has now taken the role of Business Development Manager for Latin America. He will leverage his extensive knowledge of the Latin American market as well as his trademark energy and enthusiasm to support recruitment and also develop strategic and quality partnerships in this key region.  Congratulations, Ricardo! 

Staffing Updates – Farewells