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The new Global Engagement Plan (GEP) is an update to the 2013 International Strategy, reflecting our continued institutional commitment to meaningful connection and interaction with the world around us. The plan stays true to our original vision, while taking into account emerging global developments.

Over the next five years, the GEP will guide our priorities and resources as we work toward our international goals in support of Growth Through Focus. The GEP will continue to transform our institution and how we engage globally by focusing on strategic partnership development, faculty-driven initiators of international activities, incentivized activities, building capacity and sustainability.

“Collaboration here in our city and around the world is one of the many strengths that will drive the success of our Unstoppable: Growth Through Focus strategy,” says President Ed McCauley. “By cultivating a global perspective, UCalgary can meet our ambitions for innovative scholarship, deeper community integration and personalized learning that create an exceptional student experience.”

The three big ideas of the Growth Through Focus plan that will differentiate our university and drive growth are transdisciplinary scholarship, integration with our community, and future-focused program delivery. The GEP aligns with these big ideas by connecting us with global partners to innovate for the benefit of our global and local community, and to educate global leaders for tomorrow.

The GEP focuses on three overarching goals:

1. Increase the diversity of the campus community
2. Improve intercultural capacity
3. Enhance global partnerships

A key target of the GEP is creating opportunities for 50 per cent of our students to have an international learning experience or intercultural capacity-building experience that takes place either abroad or at home by 2025. Another key target is increasing the number of international students on campus to 15 per cent of the undergraduate population and 30 per cent of the graduate population by 2022.

The GEP aligns with the Government of Alberta’s International Education Strategy, launched earlier this year, and commits to pursuing global advocacy, advancing Alberta’s international relations, and strengthening Alberta’s reputation abroad to create opportunities for Albertans.

"Universities increasingly navigate rapidly changing landscapes that demand innovative and creative approaches to excel, especially in theses uncertain times as we face economic challenges in Alberta that are exacerbated by a global pandemic,” says Dr. Dru Marshall, provost and vice-president (academic).

"The ����ɫ�� is a young, vibrant and entrepreneurial university and we strive to ensure our students, faculty and staff are empowered to make a difference in the world around them. The Global Engagement Plan helps us meet this objective and fulfills one of the goals outlined in our Academic Plan, 2018-2023.” 

“Since the launch of the International Strategy in 2013, the ����ɫ�� has become an award-winning leader in internationalization,” says Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura, vice-provost and associate vice-president research (international). “I look forward to working with the university community to align our international activity with our Growth Through Focus strategy, and continue to build ����ɫ�� reputation as a Global Intellectual Hub.”

President and Vice-Chancellor Ed McCauley, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dru Marshall, and Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (International) Janaka Ruwanpura launched the 2020-25 Global Engagement Plan at an event on Dec. 10, 2020.