The newly appointed chair of Tamil studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough says he is looking forward to making the campus aglobal hub for Tamil research and scholarship.“I‘m honoured to be appointed as the inaugural chair of Tamil studies,”says Sidharthan Maunaguru,who will start the role in May 2024.“Scholars at Uof Thave already set asolid foundation for Tamil studies.As chair Iwill be building on these foundations while looking forward to expanding scholarship and research by bringing an interdisciplinary approach.”The chair in Tamil studies will not only support academic programming and research in Tamil language and history,it will also help preserve its rich culture for future generations.Maunaguru is currently an associate professor in the department of sociology and anthropology,and South Asian studies program,at National University of Singapore.He is arenowned expert on global Tamil communities whose research intersects with anthropology,history and philosophy.His 2019 book Marrying for aFuture:Transnational Sri Lankan Tamil Marriages in the Shadow of War explored how marriage emerged as an important means of building alliances between dispersed segments of Tamil communities across the globe.He hopes to foster Tamil scholarship,teaching and research by taking acollective approach.“My vision is to ground,create and promote thriving Tamil scholarships and research on the ethos of inclusiveness and diversity that will connect and bring together Tamil scholarships from communities across the world into Canada,”he says.“I believe Uof TScarborough will emerge as aglobal hub for collaborating,experimenting and creating discussions on new directions for Tamil studies.” 查看详细>>

Anjum Sultana credits her University of Toronto education for giving her the global perspective to make an impact as the inaugural director of youth leadership and policy advocacy at Plan International Canada.An alumna of Uof TScarborough and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health,Sultana advocates for the health of young women and children at development and humanitarian organization.“We help young people to activate their global leadership by providing them with the skills,tools and networks to make meaningful change on children‘s rights.My team and Ialso do work influencing Canadian and global decision-makers on children‘s rights and equality for girls,”Sultana says.“As aG7 nation,Canada can make adifference.Our world’s experiencing climate change,COVID-19 and conflict–what many are calling the‘Triple C’.I want to figure out what positive role our country can play because we want to be that platform for global citizenship.”During her undergraduate degree at Uof TScarborough,Sultana took advantage of the university’s wide range of academic offerings after realizing that studying across disciplines could better position her to effect change by bringing new perspectives.She graduated with adouble major in health studies and neuroscience,and aminor in psychology."Studying at Uof Tgave me the tools to be aglobal citizen,”Sultana says.“We must understand how what happens in one part of the world impacts all of us.”Sultana also completed amaster’s of public health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health with afocus in health promotion,global health and public health policy.“I wanted to know how elements outside our bodies impact health and well-being,”says Sultana.“It was great to learn about the biology behind good health such as neurotransmitters,but it was also important to understand public policy and economics and how these variables influence health.”While at Uof T,Sultana volunteered with the University of Toronto International Health Program and War Child Canada,and was afirst-year director with the Scarborough Campus Students’Union,among many other activities.She received the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award in and the D.R.Campbell Merit Award.“U of Tinstilled the importance of learning in the classroom,”says Sultana.“But it also inspired me to soak up everything Icould through extracurriculars,which compounded my understanding of public service.”Suzanne Sicchia,an associate professor,teaching stream,in Uof TScarborough’s department of health and society,says she enjoyed sharing her classroom with Sultana.“Her critical and creative contributions to our collective learning still stand out,”Sicchia says.“It has been wonderful to watch her career unfold.She’s doing important policy and advocacy work to the benefit of us all.”Sultana makes time to give back to her alma mater.She has volunteered as amember of several mentorship programs at Uof Tand offered her expertise as aguest speaker.“I also work with the Public Good Initiative located on the St.George campus,”Sultana says.“It’s apro bono consulting service for students who want to learn more about how they can support charities and non-profits.It‘s been such ajoy to be part of that because I’m helping students think about how they want to contribute and play arole in those sectors,but also give back while they‘re at Uof T.”Growing up in Scarborough,Sultana remembers wanting to attend Uof Tfrom ayoung age.Both her and her brother attended the university for their undergraduate and graduate degrees.“I’m grateful my family achieved these milestones in higher education,”says Sultana,who was the first in her family to graduate from auniversity program in Canada.“And we were able to do it in our hometown.” 查看详细>>

Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards Celebration recently honoured 10 extraordinary Canadians for their contributions to music,television,journalism,athletics,innovation and entrepreneurship–including three with close ties to the University of Toronto.The most recent inductees and honourees–feted at aDec.3,2022 ceremony–included one of Canada’s most generous philanthropists,James C.(Jim)Temerty,who was introduced as the 2022 National Hero Honouree by Uof TPresident Meric Gertler;Indigo founder and trailblazing benefactor Heather Reisman,who,along with her husband Gerry Schwartz,helped establish Uof T’s Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society and Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus;and the late Barbara Frum,the iconic CBC broadcaster and Uof Talumna.“The University of Toronto is deeply proud to be associated with tonight’s inductees and honourees,who represent the best of what Canada has to offer the world,”said President Gertler.“We are grateful for their legacy and their friendship,and we hope to live up to the ideals they each represent,including the late Barbara Frum,one of our most illustrious graduates;Heather Reisman,a visionary donor at Uof Tand Canada’s leading champion for child literacy;and Jim Temerty,whose philanthropy across our university and beyond empowers ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.”Jim Temerty was introduced by Uof Talumna and founder of War Child Canada,Samantha Nutt,who completed post-graduated medical training at the university.She said,“his contributions have made atremendous difference to thousands of lives.”Toronto Mayor John Tory,who earned abachelor’s degree at Trinity College in 1975,also spoke via video of Temerty’s remarkable legacy:“Your generosity,your loyalty,your business sense,and your immense compassion all constitute an example,a role model for everyone in this country.”President Gertler then joined Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada,Yuliya Kovaliv,onstage to thank Jim Temerty and the Temerty Foundation for years of transformative giving.Their legacy includes a$250-million gift in 2020 to the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and other donations across Uof T,Canada and the world–from supporting arts and culture,mental health research and many causes in Ukraine.In her remarks,Ambassador Kovaliv read aletter from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,who heralded Jim Temerty for his“commitment to freedom,independence and democracy”and“tireless effort to strengthen Ukraine’s statehood,to drive positive changes in my country,and to support the people of Ukraine.”“We all are fighting now and we are writing the new book about the fight for values,fight for democracy,”added Ambassador Kovaliv.“And we are really grateful,James,that you are with us writing this book.”On receiving the National Hero Honour,Jim Temerty thanked Mayor Tory,President Gertler,Ambassador Kovaliv and President Zelenksyy,using the opportunity to reflect on how Canada has stood–and must continue to stand–“with Ukraine until ajust peace”can be achieved.“Let us not tire in our support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom.Slava to Canada and Slava Ukraine,”said Temerty. 查看详细>>

Recruiters at top companies surveyed by Times Higher Education say University of Toronto graduates are among the best equipped in the world to join the workforce.U of Twas ranked the number one university in Canada and the top public institution in North America for producing work-ready graduates,according to the recently released Global University Employability Ranking 2019.The same ranking placed Uof T15th overall among 250 universities in 41 countries,and eighth among the world’s public universities.“Employers in Canada and beyond recognize the value of aUniversity of Toronto education,”said Uof TPresident Meric Gertler.“The university’s faculty and staff work tirelessly to equip students with the skills and experience they need to succeed in an ever-changing and competitive global job market.”The Times Higher Education Global University Employability Ranking 2019 was based on the combined results of two surveys of thousands of recruiters and managing directors at large international companies.In total,91,000 votes were cast for more than 5,000 institutions.The surveys,designed by Paris-based human resources consultancy Emerging,were conducted between May and September of this year. 查看详细>>

Inside acrowded Hart House Gallery Grill,the University of Toronto recognized some of its best and brightest teachers–and asked them to help further improve the Uof Tstudent experience.The reception,held every year,recognizes faculty members who have won teaching-related awards from Uof Tand external institutions.Cheryl Regehr,U of T’s vice-president and provost,praised the dozens of teachers in attendence and congratulated them on their honours,noting that their work in the classroom plays akey role in helping Uof Tachieve atop global ranking and high marks in graduate employability.“The work that you do is incredible,”said Regehr,“and you have aprofound impact on our students and the way in which they experience learning and are prepared for the world.”Regehr asked those in attendance to go further in their work.In addition to taking on more leadership and mentorship opportunities,she encouraged faculty to help Uof Tbetter connect with its students and suggested the award-winners lend their insights to departments and faculties to help enhance student and classroom spaces.“By changing policies,changing space and creating opportunities for connection,we can improve the lives of our students,”Regehr said.The reception formally presented plaques to winners of this year’s Early Career Teaching Award,which are given to faculty in the early stages of their career who go above and beyond to help students learn.Three of the four winners–Anne McGuire,Matthew Sergi and Toula Kourgiantakis–were in attendance to accepted their plaques. 查看详细>>

It’s aunique,immersive research experience that allows undergraduate students to spend four weeks working on projects with faculty members from across the humanities.This summer’s Scholars-in-Residence(SiR)program,run by the Jackman Humanities Institute and Victoria College,marked the fourth year that successful applicants took part in the residency in humanities and humanistic social science research.Students from across the Faculty of Arts&Science,as well as Uof TMississauga and Uof TScarborough,participated in this year’s program.Participants are granted free accommodation in on-campus housing and ameal plan for the duration of the program,as well as a$1,000 Jackman Scholar Award.Participants say the opportunities to contribute to original faculty research projects and build new relationships with peers and professors are the biggest rewards.“SiR is not only an intensive research program,it also allowed me to network and meet an incredible diversity of students outside of my faculty and college,”says Trinity College student Kat Yampolsky,a second-year specialist in peace,conflict and justice studies with adouble minor in Italian and Arabic.“I would 100 per cent recommend the program to other students.” 查看详细>>

Students are at the forefront of the University of Toronto’s efforts–now entering the implementation phase–to make itself aglobal leader in sustainability education,research and operations.In its third annual report,the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment,Climate Change,and Sustainability(CECCS)outlines the concrete steps it’s taking to advance sustainability-related projects and initiatives across the university.They include setting up internships for students to learn about sustainability initiatives underway at universities abroad,earmarking new building and retrofit projects on campus as“living labs”for students and researchers,and designating professors to work with deans to integrate sustainability content into degree programs.“We’re trying to make this as student-led and student-focused as possible,”said John Robinson,chair of the committee and the president’s adviser on environment,climate change and sustainability.“In the end,this is about our students.”Robinson added that the latest CECCS report shows how Uof Tis now implementing,in concrete ways,the initiatives it laid out in its previous two reports. 查看详细>>

One of Diane Hill’s biggest goals in life is to build acareer that lets her support her community through education.A member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nations community,Hill is graduating from the University of Toronto Scarborough with adouble major in health policy and socio-cultural anthropology.She is also the recipient of the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award,which recognizes students’co-curricular contributions on campus.“A lifelong goal would be to help create abetter education system in my community,”Hill says.“Whether it’s aschool or acultural practice,it’s always been my passion to raise awareness about inequity and be apositive influence for other people.”Hill’s passion dates back to aconversation she had with her grandfather–a story she shared during her 2016 TEDxUTSC talk.She recalled her grandfather recounting memories of not being allowed to speak Oneida in school. 查看详细>>

One initiative uses an app that encourages active learning.Another wants to help students reframe how they think about failure.Yet another enhances knowledge of science by developing materials for high school students.As University of Toronto faculty gather for tomorrow’s Teaching and Learning Symposium at the Rotman School of Management‘s Desautels Hall,the Uof TTeaching Academy and colleagues from across the university will highlight how these and other projects are contributing to enhancing the student experience.The academy,composed of past President’s Teaching Award winners,is an advisory group that offers expertise and advice to Uof T’s Office of the Vice-President&Provost and the Centre for Teaching Support&Innovation,or CTSI. 查看详细>>

When we log on to any social media account,we are immediately immersed in our chosen groups,forums,events and conversations.But how does the nature of our engagement with online communities determine how we’ll behave on those platforms in the future,what kinds of interactions we’ll be part of and what types of information we’ll end up taking away?These are the questions that Ashton Anderson,an assistant professor in the department of computer and mathematical sciences at Uof TScarborough and the tri-campus graduate department of computer science,and undergraduate student Isaac Waller are trying to answer.Waller is afourth-year Woodsworth College student in computer science and sociology,two disciplines he didn’t initially think were compatible.But then he came across Anderson’s work in computational social science,an area of research in which computers are used to simulate,model and analyze social phenomena such as human behaviour and communication.“I sent him an email completely out of the blue,”says Waller,“and we began to meet on campus.Eventually he recommended that we work together on aresearch project.”Waller and Anderson decided to work together on afaculty-student computer science project–an opportunity for undergraduates to work one-on-one with afaculty member on aproject of mutual interest for acourse credit. 查看详细>>