From: Joseph Wong, Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President, International Student Experience
Date: July 18, 2019
Re: Call for Proposals – International Student Experience Fund (PDAD&C #6)

The objective of the International Student Experience Fund (ISEF) is to foster a learning environment on U of T’s campuses that aligns with the University’s global mission and profile. Now in its second year, the fund is intended to support curricular and co-curricular initiatives that: enhance the experience of international students; foster intercultural and international-to-domestic student, staff, and faculty engagement; and internationalize the University of Toronto student experience. It is recommended that curricular proposals include a co-curricular collaborator.

Funding Streams

The ISEF supports two streams of activities; Seed ($5,000-$15,000 per year) and Impact ($15,000-$100,000 per year). This tiered system is intended to provide opportunities for projects that explore, implement and scale up promising practices at different stages of their development and implementation, and create a pathway for projects from their initial inception to their full potential. Both tiers of grants are intended to be completed within 1 to 3 years.  New for this year, we have implemented a two-stage application process for Impact Grants. Impact Grant candidates will be required to submit a Letter of Intent as part of this process.

Thematic Areas

Proposals that integrate one or more of the following key thematic areas will be given preference. This list is not exhaustive; proposals that address the goals through alternative means are encouraged.

Programs and Services: Improve the structure and delivery of U of T’s programs and services to better serve students from all backgrounds.

Inclusive Classrooms: Create conditions within the classroom through curricular and pedagogical innovations to facilitate the fuller participation of all students with the course content and with each other.

Addressing Barriers Inside and Outside of the Classroom: Improve international students’ access to key services by addressing existing impediments for international students to receive timely and accurate information at each stage of the recruitment-to-convocation experience. Find ways to effectively provide information in order to foster integration.

Interactional Diversity: Enhance intergroup interaction (across domestic/international students and between international students) inside and outside the classroom for the purposes of developing global fluency, a critical 21st-century skill. Empower and equip students with the skills and experiences to communicate confidently across cultures in both academic and informal settings.

Reaching Students Early: Enhance and complement existing University efforts to facilitate student integration through proactive, coordinated, and timely engagement of international students before they arrive at the U of T and at subsequent key moments during their first year of study.

Timeline 

The 2019-20 Call for Proposals is now available online. Applications for the two fund streams will be accepted as follows:

• Seed Grants ($5,000-$15,000 per year) will be accepted on a rolling basis.
• Impact Grants ($15,000-$100,000 per year) require the submission of an initial Letter of Intent by Friday, October 18, 2019.  Select candidates will be invited to submit full proposals by Friday, January 17, 2020.

Those interested in applying are invited to join the Strategies for Writing Teaching and Learning Grants workshop on Wednesday, August 21 at 10:00am.

Questions about ISEF can be directed to international@utoronto.ca.