91�Թ� Scarborough

‘Time to take for yourself’: Principal Linda Johnston shares holiday greetings

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:17:21 +0000

‘Time to take for yourself’: Principal Linda Johnston shares holiday greetings rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 12/17/2024 - 09:17

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In her first holiday message as 91�Թ� vice-president and principal, 91�Թ� Scarborough, Linda Johnston encouraged students, faculty, staff and librarians to reflect on their achievements and enjoy a well-deserved break.

“The holiday season is probably the only time of the year at 91�Թ� where you will not get your inbox full of emails. It’s time to take for yourself,” said Johnston, who began her role on July 1.

“You may be going to experience your holidays in a different way. Maybe you’re going to be going home to your folks, maybe you’re going to stay here on campus – you are making a new tradition for yourself.”

Johnston, who is a professor in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, said 2024 “was a big year for UTSC,” noting the ongoing construction of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH), the opening of the Sam Ibrahim Building, and progress on Indigenous House.

Heading into the new year, Johnston said she envisions the campus continuing to emphasize a “culture of care” for its community members. “So take this time now. It’s really important for you. Just enjoy yourself,” she said. “Everybody belongs here and I want to help people to feel that way.”

From sustainability to decolonizing knowledge: 91�Թ� joins Global Humanities Alliance

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:11:10 +0000

From sustainability to decolonizing knowledge: 91�Թ� joins Global Humanities Alliance

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 12/12/2024 - 16:11

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Nicole Klenk, an associate professor of environmental studies at 91�Թ� Scarborough, uses textile arts to help bridge the gap between the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences in her courses (photo by Chai Chen)

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The Global Humanities Alliance brings together researchers from around the world with the aim of elevating the role of the humanities and social sciences in addressing critical global issues

The 91�Թ�’s Nicole Klenk sees her role in the recently formed Global Humanities Alliance – which aims to enhance the global impact of the humanities and social sciences – as a natural extension of her research and teaching.

An associate professor of environmental studies in the department of physical and environmental sciences at 91�Թ� Scarborough, Klenk bridges the gap between the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences by championing interdisciplinary projects in her courses.

For example, she uses textile arts as a way for students to explore sustainability issues that arise from sectors such as fast fashion.

“They spend an hour weaving textiles to imagine what it means to spend seven days a week, 12 hours a day as a child to make clothes that people use less than seven times before they throw out,” says Klenk.

Nicole Klenk uses textile arts as a way for students to explore sustainability issues arising from fast fashion (photo by Chai Chen)

The alliance, formed earlier this year, brings together researchers from around the world with the aim of elevating the role of the humanities and social sciences in addressing critical global issues. It currently comprises four working groups: public humanities, sustainability and climate change, decolonizing knowledge and digital transformations.

Its founding members – 91�Թ�, Ashoka University, Mahidol University, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universitas Gadjah Mada, University of Manchester, University of Melbourne and University of Nairobi – signed a letter of intent in October at a launch event in Manchester, England.

The universities agreed to explore activities such as global classrooms, visiting fellowships, collaborative research projects and exchange programs for students and staff.

Klenk, a textile artist who has explored teaching methods that blend experiential and arts-based learning throughout her career, says she hopes her involvement in the initiative allows her to expand her work on an international scale.

“What got me excited [about the alliance] is the ability to connect with others who value the role of the humanities and social sciences at an international level,” she says.

From left: 91�Թ�’s Alex Mihailidis, University of Manchester’s Fiona Devine and Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Wawan Mas'udi (photo by Sherry Lee)

Both Klenk and Sherry Lee, an associate professor of musicology in 91�Թ�’s Faculty of Music, serve on the sustainability and climate change working group.

“Something we found in the conversations at the Manchester launch is that there are a lot of crossovers between the thematic working groups, and we expect a lot of exchange,” says Lee, whose research sits at the intersection of music, sound studies and environmental humanities.

“You can’t have a responsible conversation about climate change in the global context without also thinking about decolonization.”

Lee says students will benefit from the initiative through international collaboration, increased understanding of cultural differences and the opportunity to frame problems using different perspectives.

“This is sometimes a challenge – who do I collaborate with? How do I find people who are going to be interested in the kinds of issues that I want to bring forward in a classroom and who will be willing to participate? That’s precisely one of the things that is going to happen through this initiative,” says Lee.

“I think that’s really exciting.”

She says she hopes the alliance inspires collaboration between future generations of scholars.

“I hope it facilitates the entry of the students we are training into spheres where they can engage meaningfully on important global issues outside the academy,” she says.

“I think the best way to do that is to involve them in an international conversation at the moment of their training, rather than to give them more conventional disciplinary training and hope that they're smart enough to stand out from among the crowd once they leave.”

91�Թ� ranked world’s most sustainable university for second year in a row

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:12:41 +0000

91�Թ� ranked world’s most sustainable university for second year in a row

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 12/10/2024 - 11:12

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(photo by Don Campbell)

Rahul Kalvapalle

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Global Lens

Climate Positive Campus

Climate Positive Energy

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Sustainable Development Goals

Global

Meric Gertler

QS World University Rankings

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The 2025 edition of the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability ranked 91�Թ� first out of more than 1,700 institutions across 95 countries

The 91�Թ� has been ranked the most sustainable university in the world for the second consecutive year.

The 2025 edition of the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, released this week by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds, placed 91�Թ� first overall out of more than 1,700 institutions across 95 countries.

The closely watched ranking evaluates post-secondary institutions for their environmental impact, social impact and governance.

“On behalf of the 91�Թ�, I am thrilled that our university is once again ranked first in the world in the QS Sustainability Rankings,” said 91�Թ� President Meric Gertler. “The 91�Թ� community is profoundly committed to the advancement of sustainability as one of the most urgent challenges of our time.

“This year’s ranking confirms our resolve to help lead the way to a sustainable future.”

First launched in 2022, the ranking assesses universities based on QS World University Rankings data, including reputation surveys and research output related to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. It also looks at institutional policies, operational data, alumni impact and national data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Bank.

To determine environmental impact, the ranking evaluates environmental education, research and sustainability. For social impact, it examines employability and outcomes, equality, health and well-being, impact of education and knowledge exchange. And for governance, the ranking looks at indicators such as student representation and transparent financial reporting.

91�Թ� performed particularly well in the social impact category this year, moving up three spots to first globally. It also ranked fifth in the world for environmental impact and tied for 23^rd in governance.

91�Թ�’s performance led a robust showing by Canadian universities. The University of British Columbia shared fifth spot with University College London, making Canada the only country to have two universities in the top five. Two other Canadian universities placed in the top 50: McGill University (15^th) and Western University (30^th).

The QS sustainability ranking comes as 91�Թ� forges ahead with a host of climate-focused initiatives on its own campuses including: Project Leap, a $138-million infrastructure project that will cut emissions on the St. George campus in half by 2027; Project SHIFT, a 91�Թ� Mississauga initiative to speed up the transition from natural gas to electricity; and a combination of new climate-responsible constructions and energy retrofits to older buildings at 91�Թ� Scarborough.

Spurred by these and other efforts, the university’s three campuses last year made a landmark commitment to reduce more greenhouse gases than they emit in the coming years. And 91�Թ� continues to make progress on its pledge to divest from fossil fuel investments in its endowment fund.

At the same time, 91�Թ� is working to enhance Canada’s green energy sector through projects like the Grid Modernization Centre, a state-of-the-art facility led by Climate Positive Energy, an institutional strategic initiative, that will serve as a hub for testing, development and commercialization.

91�Թ� is also playing a leadership role in sustainability by engaging with regional, national and international partners. For example, the university acted as a founding member of the City of Toronto’s Green Will Initiative, collaborated with the Urban Climate Action Project to help implement the city’s TransformTO climate action strategy and contributed to the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Banking on Green playbook, which helps Ontario organizations fund green retrofit projects.

Globally, 91�Թ� has convened networks aimed at mobilizing multi-sector partnerships, including the U7+ Alliance of World Universities, the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) and the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN). 91�Թ�’s sustainability leaders have also been asked to share knowledge and experiences with other universities in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Germany and other countries.

Most important, 91�Թ� is actively creating a new generation of sustainability leaders. Supported by the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS), which recently created a new student leadership subcommittee, more than 2,000 undergraduate courses in 2024-25 now have a sustainability orientation.

Students also have the option of exploring sustainability from various lenses through the Sustainability Pathways program, or to contribute to projects on- and off-campus via the Campus as a Living Lab and Community-Engaged Learning programs.

Overall, 91�Թ� continues to be the highest-ranked Canadian university and one of the top-ranked public universities in the five most closely watched international rankings: Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities and National Taiwan University World University Rankings.

President Meric Gertler highlights 91�Թ� community's achievements in holiday message

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 14:35:13 +0000

President Meric Gertler highlights 91�Թ� community's achievements in holiday message Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 12/10/2024 - 09:35

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“To all our students, faculty, librarians, staff, alumni, volunteers, supporters and partners: Thank you for your contributions to our success”

The 91�Թ� community had a lot to celebrate over the past year, 91�Թ� President Meric Gertler says.

In his annual holiday message, President Gertler highlighted 91�Թ�’s top spot in the QS sustainability rankings, University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton’s Nobel Prize in Physics and two students who were recognized with prestigious Rhodes Scholarships.

And that was just the beginning.

“We completed state-of-the-art landscapes and buildings on each of our three campuses,” he says in a video. “We broke new ground for several more. We made progress in the ongoing work of reconciliation. And we opened a new chapter in our history with the installation of our 35th chancellor.”

Most importantly, he adds, more than 20,000 students graduated with 91�Թ� degrees, joining a global community of more than 700,000 alumni.

“To all our students, faculty, librarians, staff, alumni, volunteers, supporters and partners: Thank you for your contributions to our success.”

91�Թ� shines a spotlight on exceptional educators at Excellence in Teaching reception

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:02:53 +0000

91�Թ� shines a spotlight on exceptional educators at Excellence in Teaching reception

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 11/27/2024 - 13:02

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91�Թ� Vice-President and Provost Trevor Young (centre) poses with Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Award recipients, from left to right: Jasty Singh, Spyridon Kotsovilis, S. Trimble and Roberta K. Timothy (photo by Polina Teif)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Trevor Young

Early Career Teaching Award

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Teaching

91�Թ� Mississauga

91�Թ� Scarborough

Women and Gender Studies

At the 91�Թ�, teaching is about much more than just imparting knowledge – it’s an engaging, dynamic and creative process that expands and enriches the way students think, preparing them for future success in academics and their careers.

The recent Excellence in Teaching reception hosted by 91�Թ�’s Office of the Provost recognized the fundamental importance of teaching to the university’s mission. In particular, it honoured five faculty members who received Cheryl Regehr Early Career Teaching Awards, which were recently renamed in honour of Cheryl Regehr – Young’s predecessor as vice-president and provost, a professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and a longtime champion of teaching excellence and innovation at 91�Թ�.

“These awards recognize burgeoning talent among our most junior faculty. We expect – and we know from experience – that these recipients will continue to lead and excel in teaching,” Trevor Young, 91�Թ�’s vice-president and provost said at the Nov. 4 event held at the Faculty Club.

The event also featured the presentation of the Global Educator Award, which recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies 91�Թ�’s global mission by incorporating intercultural and international perspectives.

“I’m extremely proud of 91�Թ� for many reasons,” Young said, “and one of them is what’s evident here today, which is the immense talent and experience of our faculty as well as their deep commitment to our university, to our students, to knowledge [and] to research. All that you’re doing is really incredible.”

91�Թ� News spoke with all six award winners about their approach to educating students: