Canada Remains Safe and Welcoming, York University Assures Indian Students
In the wake of the diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, Dr. Rhonda L. Lenton, President and Vice-Chancellor of York University, assured Indian students that Canada is and will be a safe and welcoming place for them. In an interview with the Times of India, Lenton expressed her optimism that India and Canada will sort out the issue soon.
She also said that York University is reaching out to students, particularly from India, to assure them that Canada remains as safe and welcoming as before, despite the diplomatic tensions. The university authorities are extending all possible support and services to Indian students regarding their wellness and mental health, academic, visa and immigration matters, and financial aid.
Lenton acknowledged the fact that the authorities are providing special care to Indian students by helping them connect with each other.
“York University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community, and we stand by this unwaveringly. We welcome students from all over the world, including India, and provide a supportive environment for all international students, both current and prospective. We are excited to welcome them to our community,” she said.
The number of Indian students pursuing graduate studies in Canada has been increasing steadily, and India is now the country with the highest number of graduate students. However, it will take some time to develop and scale up graduate programs to meet the demand, even as the number of Indian students admitted to undergraduate programs in Canadian universities continues to rise.
To address this issue, joint initiatives such as the memorandum of understanding for academic collaboration between York University and O.P. Jindal Global University are being implemented, Lenton said.
York University is also exploring ways to build pathways for Indian students, such as a 2+1 program that can be studied in two universities across both countries. While the undergraduate program at York University is quite large, they receive more applications from Indian students for their graduate programs than they can accommodate. Therefore, they are looking at increasing their graduate seats for international students.
