First 48 Hours
In 2023-24, in partnership with the Office of the Associate Vice-Provost, International Student Experience, the Centre for International Experience and the Innovation Hub explored the experiences of international students coming to study in Canada for the first time, with an emphasis on their first 48 hours after arrival.
The goal of the project was to follow several students on their journey through video logs and Zoom interviews before and after their arrival. This project resulted in a 23-minute documentary short which premiered in September 2024, in addition to a detailed report [PDF] on the key findings that arose from student vlogs, interviews and reflections.
The report focused on three key themes, which are intrinsic to the student experience of all international students at U of T and could greatly inform the work of all SL units, as well as emphasizing how important international students are to the community at the University of Toronto.
- Arriving in Canada to Study
- Expanding Identity as a Global Citizen
- What is home?
News link: https://www.utoronto.ca/news/first-48-hours-documentary-spotlights-journey-international-students
Objective: 4.4
Actively engage students to co-create programs, services, and resources, and collaborate with student leaders who represent different communities on campus and student colleagues to foster a vibrant student-centric community.
Learn more about this goal and objective in the Student Life Strategic Plan.