Wisdom Tettey

U of T’s Wisdom Tettey named president and vice-chancellor of Carleton University

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:45:48 +0000

U of T’s Wisdom Tettey named president and vice-chancellor of Carleton University

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 04/16/2024 - 10:45

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(photo by Vuk Dragojevic)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Wisdom Tettey

Meric Gertler

U of T Scarborough

Wisdom Tettey, ��߲ݴ�ý vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, has been named the next president and vice-chancellor of Carleton University.

A scholar of African politics, media and diaspora, Tettey will assume the leadership position at Carleton on Jan. 1, 2025.

U of T President Meric Gertler congratulated Tettey on his new role.

“Professor Tettey has been a truly transformative leader for the ��߲ݴ�ý,” he said. “Under his stewardship, U of T Scarborough has flourished as a hub of inclusive excellence and a model for sustainable campus growth.

“We are grateful for his contributions and wish him well in this next chapter.”

Tettey joined U of T as vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough in 2018 after serving as dean of arts and sciences at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus. After leading U of T Scarborough through the COVID-19 pandemic, Tettey was re-appointed to the role for a second five year term that began in 2023.

A professor of political science and development studies, Tettey’s many achievements as vice-president and principal included the launch of a five-year strategic plan, Inspiring Inclusive Excellence, that consolidated U of T Scarborough’s reputation for drawing on diverse perspectives to enrich higher education and strengthen responses to pressing societal challenges, as well as an extensive curriculum review that prioritized centring Indigenous, Black and international perspectives.

Tettey also championed the creation and adoption of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Higher Education, a commitment by Canadian post-secondary institutions to recognize the impact of anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion, and played a key role in strengthening U of T’s ties with post-secondary institutions in Africa.

The U of T Scarborough campus undertook several marquee projects during Tettey’s tenure. They include: Harmony Commons student residence, Indigenous House, the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH), and EaRTH District. The campus also secured a landmark $25-million donation from Scarborough-based business leader Sam Ibrahim towards the creation of the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership.

“It is with mixed feelings that I announce my departure from the ��߲ݴ�ý,” Tettey said. “I would like to thank the entire university community for their support, particularly the students, staff, faculty and librarians at U of T Scarborough, who have never ceased to amaze me with their dedication to the cause of higher education.

“I will leave with an enormous sense of pride in everything we have achieved together.”

Tettey is currently on administrative leave from U of T, with Professor Linda Johnston serving as acting U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. U of T plans to share further information about interim leadership and succession plans in the coming weeks.

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Tettey to Carleton,” said Greg Farrell, chair of Carleton University’s Board of Governors. “Dr. Tettey is an inclusive and authentic leader who will build on the university’s reputation for teaching, learning and research excellence. He impressed the advisory committee with an ambitious vision of Carleton as a top-tier university on both a national and international scale.”

Born in Ghana, Tettey completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Ghana before coming to Canada to earn a master’s degree at UBC and a PhD at Queen’s University.

During his installation speech at U of T Scarborough in 2019, Tettey reflected on how his upbringing in Ghana influenced his strong belief in education and collaboration to achieving individual and collective growth.

“I grew up in a low-income, pluricultural neighbourhood of the national capital [Accra], where diversity, marginalization and community converged,” he said.

“I saw excellence in the midst of deprivation. I saw good emerge when communities are motivated by common purpose, mutual commitment to that purpose, and belief in one another to accomplish it.”

U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

bresgead — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:44:25 +0000

U of T partners with leading African universities and Mastercard Foundation to advance health care in Africa

bresgead Tue, 01/16/2024 - 13:44

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The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative Executive Steering Committee, including U of T’s Joseph Wong and Wisdom Tettey, fourth and third from right, met in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2023 (photo courtesy of Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative)

Topic

The ��߲ݴ�ý, the Mastercard Foundation and a network of leading African universities are embarking on a 10-year initiative to enhance primary health care workforce education, entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa.

The partnership, known as the Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative (AHEHC), was launched in 2022 and aims to bolster the continent’s health sectors as part of efforts to improve care for millions while supporting youth employment and economic growth. Participating institutions from Africa include Addis Ababa University, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, African Leadership University, Amref International University, Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Moi University and the University of Cape Town.

The AHEHC partners are committed to reshaping the health-care landscape in Africa by preparing young people for meaningful work in health and wellness through contextually appropriate and sustainable primary health care.

According to a 2022 survey of 47 countries in Africa, there’s an average of only 1.55 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 1,000 people, significantly below the WHO’s recommended ratio.

AHEHC was a key topic at a 2023 meeting in Cape Town, South Africa that focused on a collective goal of enhancing the health sector to benefit African societies. The gathering included several U of T leaders: Joseph Wong, vice-president, international; Trevor Young, dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine who is now vice-president and provost; and Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. Representatives from all partnering institutions also participated.

“The Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative is part of a larger movement – driven by Africans for Africans – aimed at enhancing the continent's economic vitality, improving access to health care and generating fulfilling employment in the health sector,” Wong said.

"The members of this collaborative are working hand-in-hand to advance local priorities and leverage our collective resources to create a healthier, more sustainable future, with each partner contributing to and learning from the others.”

Wong added that AHEHC’s work is guided by the idea of co-creation – an approach that was evident at the October 2023 convening as the partners cemented the mutual relationships, laying the foundation for the widespread adoption of African-led solutions across the network.

U of T’s participation in the AHEHC aligns with the university’s broader Africa strategy, which encompasses various initiatives from entrepreneurship exchanges to high-level summits involving representatives from universities, governments and various international development groups. It is guided by the President’s International Council on Engagement with Africa and is outlined in the university’s International Strategic Plan 2022-2027, focused on global reach, global learning and global impact.

"We aim to tap into the tremendous young talent and vast opportunities across the continent while addressing challenges facing Africa’s primary healthcare systems, including severe worker shortages,” said Penina Lam, U of T’s senior director of international relations, who is leading AHEHC’s implementation.

AHEHC’s initial focus will be in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, aiming to strengthen health sectors. Through hands-on training in various disciplines, AHEHC seeks to prepare the next generation of health-care practitioners. The approach aims to enhance the delivery of high-quality primary care, stimulate economic growth and develop robust societies. This aligns with the Mastercard Foundation’s Health Strategy, which seeks to create three million dignified and fulfilling jobs in primary care, with an emphasis on employment opportunities for women and young people.

The 2023 Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, & Adaptation (MELA) co-creation workshop was held in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2023 (photo courtesy of Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative)

As the secretariat for the initiative, U of T plays a supportive role in co-ordinating collaborations and programs tailored to each partner’s local health priorities, needs, assets and expertise. This involves facilitating learning, development and implementation across the network, managed by a team in Canada and through three regional hubs in Africa.

For example, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of family and community medicine partnered with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Together, they co-delivered continuing education courses for primary care workers in critical areas such as palliative care. About 100 Ghanaian primary care professionals participated in the courses this fall.

This program is among many guided by AHEHC’s three pillars: health employment, focusing on workforce development; health entrepreneurship, which supports the creation of businesses that will produce health innovations and self-employment opportunities; and health ecosystems, which engages partners in government, corporations, non-profits and other institutions in the collective effort to transform the health sector.

AHEHC will also build on the success of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, ushering in a new cohort of graduate students from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to pursue their studies at U of T over ten years.

AHEHC leverages U of T’s longstanding, mutually beneficial relationships with institutions in Africa, such as the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration, which brings together U of T faculty members with colleagues at Addis Ababa University to co-develop graduate programs and train professionals, many of whom remain in Ethiopia to contribute to various sectors.

Wong said the initiative is an important one for the university.

“This collaborative aligns with our institutional mission to foster an academic community in which the learning and scholarship of everyone flourishes,” he said. “We are committed to the principles of equal opportunity, equity and justice – not just here in Canada but globally.”

'I wish you all the very best': Holiday message from Principal Wisdom Tettey

lanthierj — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:24:13 +0000

'I wish you all the very best': Holiday message from Principal Wisdom Tettey lanthierj Mon, 12/11/2023 - 13:24

Topic

Subheadline

'I want to thank you most sincerely for everything that you've done to sustain our mission'

In his annual holiday message, Wisdom Tettey, ��߲ݴ�ý vice-president and principal, U of T Scarborough, thanks the entire university community for helping advance the university’s mission and urges everyone to enjoy a much needed break.

“I want to wish you the very best of the holiday season and entreat all of you to take advantage of the break to renew, to refresh and to enjoy the season with loved ones and friends.”

Tettey says he is looking forward to continuing U of T Scarborough’s commitment to sustainability and inclusive excellence in the new year.

“So until we meet again, I wish you all the very best. Happy holidays and a very happy new year filled with excitement, possibilities and positive energy.”

U of T’s plan to become climate positive expanded to all three campuses

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 15:54:25 +0000

U of T’s plan to become climate positive expanded to all three campuses

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 12/04/2023 - 10:54

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(photos by Nick Iwanyshyn, David Lee and Sean Liliani)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Alexandra Gillespie

Climate Positive Campus

Climate Positive Energy

Subheadline

The commitment builds on an earlier pledge to have the historic St. George campus reduce more greenhouse gases than it emits

All three of the ��߲ݴ�ý’s campuses are committing to reduce more greenhouse gases than they emit in the years ahead, an ambitious goal that goes beyond carbon neutrality and targets a climate-positive future.

The commitment expands on an earlier pledge to make the St. George campus climate positive by 2050 – a milestone the university now says it will reach well in advance – and is an extension of U of T’s Low-Carbon Action Plan, which looks to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 37 per cent relative to 1990 levels by 2030.

It comes as the United Nations COP28 climate conference gets underway in Dubai, where the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change & Sustainability (CECCS) and Climate Positive Energy, a U of T institutional strategic initiative, are scheduled to host a variety of events and panel discussions that highlight the role of universities in supporting a clean energy transition.

“U of T is determined to lead by example in addressing climate change – a strategic priority of the university and one of the most pressing issues of our time,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.

“The goal of becoming climate positive on all three campuses is bold and befitting of our mission as an educational institution that strives to make the world a better place.”

President Gertler noted the pledge aligns with U of T’s commitments to the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), which include climate resilience, and the U7+ Alliance of World Universities, whose priorities include championing sustainability and climate action.

“As a large and globally top-ranked public university, U of T has a responsibility to play a leadership role on this issue by taking actions that will be felt across our three campuses and beyond,” he said.

The tri-campus pledge is the latest step by the university to realize its longstanding goal of building a more sustainable future. That includes its 2021 commitment to divest its endowment fund of fossil fuel investments and make the St. George campus – the oldest, largest and most energy-intensive of the three campuses – climate positive before 2050, as outlined in the campus’s carbon and energy master plan and accompanying technical report.

Among the major initiatives on the St. George campus is Canada’s largest urban geoexchange field beneath Front Campus. Part of the Landmark Project, the geoexchange system is set to become fully operational in spring 2024 and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 metric tons annually.

The campus is also modernizing what are some of Canada’s oldest district energy systems via Project LEAP, an effort supported by the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The project comprises a number of retrofit projects – including the replacement of gas boilers with electric alternatives in the St. George campus’s central steam plant – that will help curb greenhouse gas emissions by over 50 per cent by decade’s end.

“The renewal of this infrastructure – much of which is out of sight for the 100,000 people served by the campus each day – offers a chance for us to embed sustainability into the very backbone of campus,” said Ron Saporta, U of T’s chief operating officer, property and sustainability.

Saporta said the expanded, tri-campus scope of the climate commitment “offers opportunities for us to collaborate and share best practices as we work to deliver on key milestones along this journey,” noting U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough will publish details of their roadmaps to becoming climate positive in the coming months.

He pointed out that many of U of T’s tri-campus sustainability efforts double as experiential learning opportunities for students through the Campus as a Living Lab initiative, which are part of CECCS.

At U of T Scarborough, sustainable infrastructure efforts include both existing and upcoming projects.

The campus’s oldest building, the Science and Humanities Wing, has been undergoing deep energy retrofits since 2018 – work that will be accelerated in the coming years. Elsewhere, the campus’s geothermal system, which comprises 350 boreholes, will be expanded to 450 by the end of 2024.

U of T Scarborough is also proceeding with new climate-responsible construction projects such as the recently announced Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) and the EaRTH (Phase 2) complex, part of the collaborative EaRTH District initiative with Centennial College.

This fall, U of T Scarborough opened a new student residence, Harmony Commons, that meets the rigorous Passive House standard for energy-efficient construction. The building is equipped with eco-friendly features, including mechanical systems that can capture and re-use heat generated by sunlight, cooking and even body heat. In addition to being energy-efficient, the complex is designed to inspire students to carry forth sustainable thinking into their careers and spheres of influence, and drive change in construction and related sectors.

Wisdom Tettey, U of T vice-president and principal at U of T Scarborough, said the climate-positive commitment is a testament to the university’s global leadership.

“We are delighted to be a part of this tri-campus commitment to a climate-positive future,” said Tettey. “Sustainability is a core consideration in every aspect of U of T Scarborough’s mission of facilitating world-class learning, scholarship and innovation that supports flourishing communities in the eastern GTA and beyond – while protecting the health of the world we all inhabit.”

Tettey added that he’s confident the commitment will be met even as the campus experiences significant growth in the years ahead.

“We are very confident that the tremendous talent of our faculty, students and staff will be harnessed, in collaboration with partners, to deliver on our goal through ground-breaking research, transformative learning and operational excellence.”

At U of T Mississauga, a key element of the clean energy transition is moving away from natural gas as the primary energy source for heating, hot water and research processes. To that end, the campus launched Project SHIFT, an initiative to carry out deep energy retrofits in the central utilities plant to hasten the shift from fossil fuels to electricity.

The campus is already home to a cutting-edge geothermal system, situated beside the Instructional Centre, and is working to expand solar energy projects across numerous buildings.

U of T Mississauga also recently completed campus-wide energy audits, following which some 240 energy conservation measures were devised for the short, medium and long term.

Alexandra Gillespie, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga, said the campus is on track to exceed the targets set by the Low Carbon Action Plan, and is ramping up work towards becoming climate positive.

“Our community is developing efficient LEED-certified buildings, accelerating our transition to renewable energy and realizing our sustainability goals,” said Gillespie, echoing comments she made in U of T Mississauga’s Climate Positive report. “We have strengthened this work through outstanding programs in research and teaching, which continue to extend the power of sustainability learning from our campus into the wider world.”

She added, in the report, that the university has a responsibility to future generations to help forge a more sustainable future.

“I look forward to achieving this goal together and to opening a path to go beyond net zero. It’s the right and good thing to do – for our lifetime and for lives to come.”

U of T marks Remembrance Day 2023 across its three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 17:09:13 +0000

U of T marks Remembrance Day 2023 across its three campuses

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 11/10/2023 - 12:09

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Members of the U of T community gathered at Soldiers’ Tower on the St. George campus for a Service of Remembrance ahead of Nov. 11 (photo by Polina Teif)

Topic

Remembrance Day services were held across the ��߲ݴ�ý’s three campuses on Friday – one day ahead of Nov. 11 – to honour those who served and fell in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts.

On the St. George campus, members of the U of T community gathered at Soldiers’ Tower for a service that began with the playing of the tower’s 51-bell carillon. It was followed by an Indigenous land acknowledgement by Rev. Richard Ruggle and words of welcome by Daniel Hendrickson, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower committee.

The event included a performance of the Naval Hymn, a historical reading, a memorial day prayer by Imam Abdul Hai Patel, a reading of In Flanders Fields – written by U of T alumnus Lt.-Col. John McCrae – and a reflection by Rabbi Jonathan Jaffit.

U of T President Meric Gertler, Chancellor Rose Patten and Chair of Governing Council Anna Kennedy joined Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, and other representatives from government, the Canadian Armed Forces, U of T alumni, students, staff and faculty in laying wreaths in honour of the fallen in the archway of Soldiers’ Tower.

A moment of silence was observed after the placing of the wreaths.

At U of T Mississauga, a ceremony was held in front of the Davis Building with Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, in attendance.

The service at U of T Scarborough was held in the Meeting Place. It was attended by Wisdom Tettey, U of T Scarborough principal and U of T vice-president, and featured performances by the concert band, concert choir and string orchestra.

Here is how the Remembrance Day services were captured through the lenses of photographers at U of T:

(photo by Polina Teif)

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces attended the Service of Remembrance on the St. George campus.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Chancellor Rose Patten, Vice-Chair of Governing Council Anna Kennedy and U of T President Meric Gertler attended the Remembrance Day ceremony on the St. George campus. The ceremony was also attended by Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and finance minister (second row).

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Members of the university community joined Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president (second from right), in placing wreaths during a Service of Remembrance in front of the Davis Building.

(photo by Polina Teif)

The Hart House choir performed near Soldiers’ Tower on the St. George campus.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Wreaths were laid near Soldiers’ Tower by representatives of U of T, government, the Canadian Armed Forces and other members of the university community.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Piper Rory Sinclair performed following the wreath laying near Soldiers’ Tower on the St. George campus.

(photo by Don Campbell)

Wisdom Tettey, U of T Scarborough principal and U of T vice-president, delivered remarks at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Meeting Place at U of T Scarborough.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Capt. Angela Lam of the 25 Field Ambulance medical unit of the Canadian Armed Forces delivered a historical reading about a U of T alumnus who perished in the Italian campaign during the Second World War.

(photo by Polina Teif)

Cpl. Steven Abra played the Reveille near the end of the ceremony on the St. George campus.

U of T to mark Remembrance Day 2023 across its three campuses

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:56:04 +0000

U of T to mark Remembrance Day 2023 across its three campuses

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 11/07/2023 - 14:56

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(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Each year, the ��߲ݴ�ý community gathers to mark Remembrance Day with services to pay tribute to those who served and perished in the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts.

With Remembrance Day falling on a Saturday this year, U of T’s in-person ceremonies will be held across the three campuses one day earlier – Friday, Nov. 10. Flags will be flown at half-mast in honour of soldiers and veterans, including U of T students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Here’s how U of T’s campuses will mark Remembrance Day 2023:

St. George

The Service of Remembrance will take place at Soldiers’ Tower at 10:20 a.m. and will include a carillon prelude and postlude.

The ceremony will include words of welcome, a recitation of the poem “In Flanders Fields” – written by John McCrae, a physician and ��߲ݴ�ý graduate who served in the First World War – and a historical reading about a U of T alumnus who perished in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. The reading will be delivered by Capt. Angela Lam of the 25 Field Ambulance medical unit of the Canadian Armed Forces.

U of T President Meric Gertler, Chancellor Rose Patten and Governing Council Chair Anna Kennedy will place wreaths at Soldiers’ Tower, as will U of T students, faculty and staff and representatives of the government and armed forces.

All members of the U of T community are welcome to attend.

U of T Scarborough

U of T Scarborough’s Remembrance Day ceremony will begin at 10:45 a.m. in the Meeting Place.

The service, which will be attended by Wisdom Tettey, U of T Scarborough principal and U of T vice-president, will feature performances by U of T Scarborough’s concert band, concert choir and string orchestra.

U of T Mississauga

Members of the U of T Mississauga community are invited to join the 2023 Service of Remembrance in front of the Davis Building, near the flagpole.

Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, will attend the ceremony, which will commence at 10:45 a.m.

U of T breaks ground on state-of-the-art building for training health professionals in Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 19:23:00 +0000

U of T breaks ground on state-of-the-art building for training health professionals in Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 11/06/2023 - 14:23

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A rendering of the SAMIH building's ground floor (image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects and MVRDV)

Advancement Staff

Topic

Our Community

David Palmer

Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health

Wisdom Tettey

Division of University Advancement

Health

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Meric Gertler

U of T Scarborough

Subheadline

A dynamic new facility will house the vital Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health – and help meet an urgent need for health professionals in the Eastern GTA

The ��߲ݴ�ý has made history, breaking ground on a building that will house a much-needed new medical academy.

The first of its kind in Scarborough, the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) will train physicians, nurse practitioners and other health-care professionals right in the region – to serve the region.

A recent $25-million gift from Orlando Corporation will support the construction of the building. SAMIH itself has received funding as part of the Government of Ontario’s plan to increase the number of health-care workers in the province.

“We are so grateful for the gift from the Orlando Corporation and the investment by the Ford Government, which have led us to this exciting day,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “This state-of-the-art building will enable U of T to cultivate a bold new generation of health leaders who reflect the communities they serve.”

“We expect that the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will attract many local students from Scarborough and the Eastern GTA,” said Wisdom Tettey, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. “These talented individuals will play an important role in meeting the health-care needs of under-served communities and helping to advance health equity.”

The purpose-built, five-storey building will occupy 144, 482 square feet and sit at the corner of Military Trail and Morningside Avenue – a prominent gateway to U of T Scarborough, directly across from the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

“This vibrant new hub for health education in Scarborough is critical to increasing access to health care,” said Patricia Houston, interim dean of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and interim vice-provost, relations with health-care institutions. “It will help provide equitable, integrated and compassionate care in the Eastern GTA – and, ultimately, it will help improve lives across the region.”

To support the vision for this new academy, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and U of T’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing will expand their training to U of T Scarborough. Building on the university’s history of educating tens of thousands of health professionals – a legacy that extends back over a century – SAMIH will graduate approximately 40 physicians, approximately 60 physician assistants, 30 nurse practitioners and 40 physical therapists per year. More than 300 new health sciences students will join U of T Scarborough’s campus, further strengthening SAMIH as a key hub for health education in the Eastern GTA. The newly revamped health sciences undergraduate program offers unique placement opportunities and paid co-ops, enabling students to learn in a close-knit campus setting.

This new generation of health-care professionals will help fill a serious gap, with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care having identified Scarborough as an area in high need of physicians. The shortage includes family doctors, as well as other specialists such as child and adult psychiatrists, geriatricians, nurse practitioners and emergency medical physicians.

“Our government is proud to support this historic medical school expansion,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will build on the investments we’re making to help ensure Scarborough and the Durham Region have the health care workers they need now and into the future.”

The impact on the region will be significant. Projected to open in September 2026, the building will include a clinical psychology clinic; a pharmacy clinic (Discovery Pharmacy) led by faculty and students from U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy; and clinical settings in which nurse practitioner students, under supervision, can provide direct care to the community. The building will also feature an anatomy lab for medical students, two large technology-enhanced active learning (TEAL) classrooms, a 21-bed clinical skills lab and 10 case-based learning instructional labs.

“A dynamic learning space can make all the difference in education – especially when attracting the best and brightest students,” said Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T’s Governing Council. “This building is an example of one such space. We anticipate that many of the students who will fill its hallways will go on to become some of the region’s top health-care professionals.”

Construction began on the site in early fall 2023, with a ground blessing conducted by U of T Scarborough’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives in October. Excavation is anticipated to start in January 2024. The project team includes the construction services company EllisDon and the architecture firms Diamond Schmitt and MVRDV.

The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health will strengthen connections across numerous hospitals and networks. Its partners will include the Scarborough Health Network, Michael Garron Hospital, Lakeridge Health and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. U of T will build upon existing relationships with local community partners to develop new research and teaching opportunities.

This dynamic hub will bring U of T’s nurse practitioner program to the region. The program is highly sought after for its approach to providing personalized, holistic and high-quality health care to clients and patients across their lifespans.

“This incredible building will help foster a vital pipeline for nurse practitioners,” said Linda Johnston, dean of the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. “Nurse practitioners play a critical role in the health of communities, and future graduates of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health have the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of people in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA.”

Similarly, the Discovery Pharmacy at SAMIH will provide pharmacy services and interprofessional experiential learning opportunities for students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. It will also help enhance connections with practising pharmacists in health networks in the surrounding area.

“As the scope of practice for pharmacists in Ontario continues to expand, finding new ways to collaborate across health professions is central to redefining health education and how we deliver health care” said Lisa Dolovich, dean of Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

The new building is poised to bring enormous benefits to the region. In addition to enabling the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health to meet the health-care professional shortage by creating a pool of talented graduates, the new facility will help drive innovation and economic growth.

“The Orlando Corporation’s benefaction stands as a model for visionary philanthropy,” said David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president of advancement. “It’s a beacon of extraordinary generosity with the potential to inspire other transformative investments in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA.”

U of T institutional strategic initiative focuses on UN sustainable development goals

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:24:30 +0000

U of T institutional strategic initiative focuses on UN sustainable development goals

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 07/27/2023 - 09:24

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A new strategic initiative launched by U of T will focus on an ambitious research agenda that addresses the UN's 17 sustainable development goals (photo by Johnny Guatto)

U of T Scarborough Staff

Topic

Global Lens

Institutional Strategic Initiatives

Sustainable Development Goals

The ��߲ݴ�ý has launched SDGs@UofT, a new institutional strategic initiative aimed at having a substantive global impact by supporting sustainable development.

SDGs@UofT pursues an ambitious research agenda that addresses the 17 UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) –targets that individuals, communities, institutions and countries can work toward achieving by 2030. They include taking urgent steps to combat climate change, consuming and producing sustainably, improving health and education, reducing inequality and protecting the natural world, among others.

“Universities have been called on to commit to research and knowledge mobilization that support the sustainable development goals,” says Leah Cowen, U of T’s vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. “SDGs@UofT is part of U of T’s commitment to these goals and to developing solutions that have an impact on a global scale.”

SDGs@UofT supports a co-ordinated and coherent convergence research agenda that will leverage existing research strengths and bring together diverse thought leaders to help shape understanding and implementation of SDG initiatives. Convergence research consists of deep integration across different disciplines and is driven by a specific and compelling problem, particularly one arising from important societal needs.

“Removing institutional barriers to interdepartmental, interdivisional and tri-campus collaborations will enable research to address complex global problems that cannot be addressed by a single discipline,” says Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international.

The initiative will also launch the SDGs Scholars Academy, a think tank bringing together researchers from various disciplines across U of T with the goal of advancing understanding and addressing issues critical to sustainable development. Through the academy, SDGs@UofT will conduct research that will identify pathways to achieving the SDGs, measure progress along these pathways and explore interdependencies among the SDGs. It will also design interventions that will assist in the development of the next iteration of global goals after 2030.

SDGs@UofT will be led by U of T Scarborough and will be supported by a number of divisions and engage researchers, faculty, students and staff from across U of T.

Wisdom Tettey, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, says SDGs@UofT reflects the campus’s commitment to incentivizing collaborative research to solve complex global issues.

“Our commitment is rooted in a collective vision of being the embodiment of inclusive excellence, a bold community of conscientious and adaptable global leaders in scholarship, innovation, teaching and learning who constructively disrupt the status quo, connect the world and advance transformative change for the good of all,” he says.

U of T has been incorporating facets of SDGs into its academic activities, campus operations and collaborations with local and global partners across its three campuses for several years. Many of these have been guided by the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability.

Some notable recent examples include the launch of the sustainability pathways program, which clusters courses and co-curricular activities with a common theme of sustainability. There is also a new database of Campus as a Living Lab projects and an inventory of courses that provide students, partners and staff with the opportunity to experiment and contribute to real-world pressing sustainability and climate solutions. Work has been done across the three campuses in fitting buildings with geothermal heating and cooling systems aimed at achieving low carbon emissions.

The ongoing work done by the Reach Alliance, a tri-campus initiative founded at U of T’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, has also been committed to advancing SDGs by focusing on interventions and innovations that reach those living in extreme poverty. These efforts and others contributed to U of T being ranked second in the world in the inaugural QS Sustainability Rankings.

Erica Di Ruggiero, associate professor of global health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and research director of the SDGs@UofT, says there is a sense of urgency behind this work.

“The target for the sustainable development goals is 2030, so there isn’t a lot of time. In fact, during the pandemic, many countries lost ground on the SDGs,” says Di Ruggiero, whose research focuses on the influences affecting equitable policy progress on the sustainable development goals.

“But, along with our collaborators, we will harness the strengths of U of T across disciplines and sectors to generate just and equitable solutions that will also inform future goals.”

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‘Areas of mutual interest’: U of T looks at ways to further deepen its ties with African universities and partners

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 30 May 2023 14:29:01 +0000

‘Areas of mutual interest’: U of T looks at ways to further deepen its ties with African universities and partners

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 05/30/2023 - 10:29

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A nine-member delegation from U of T recently visited higher education institutions in South Africa, Botswana and Ghana. The trip focused on ways U of T can partner with universities and organizations across the continent (submitted photo)

Topic

On a recent visit to Ghana, ��߲ݴ�ý Scarborough alumnus Efosa Obano met with a small group of young African entrepreneurs – a meeting he later described as a highlight of his trip.

The entrepreneurs – three Ashesi University students representing three separate startups – are all connected to Obano through the African Impact Challenge, a pitch and incubation program he helped launch with fellow African U of T students in 2020.

“These startups are all doing amazing work,” says Obano, who was joined at the meeting by Dave Fenton, assistant director of external relations in the department of management at U of T Scarborough.

“It’s been incredible seeing these companies grow from incubation right to the point where they are making a significant impact in their communities.”

Efosa Obano (left) and Dave Fenton (right) meet with Ashesi University alumna Maame Poku, who co-founded Emergency Response Africa with the help of the African Impact Initiative (submitted photo)

Obano and Fenton were part of a nine-member delegation from U of T that recently visited various higher education institutions in South Africa, Botswana and Ghana. The trip focused on ways U of T can partner with universities and organizations across the continent on three main areas of interest: student and faculty mobility; research collaborations; and entrepreneurship.

Professor Wisdom Tettey, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, says many of the topics were first discussed last summer when various diplomats, scholars and African academic leaders visited U of T. The trip offered a chance to follow up on many of those topics with concrete actions, while also exploring new areas for further collaboration.

“Our primary goal was to strengthen and expand our existing relationships, but also cultivate new ones in areas of mutual interest,” Tettey says.

“We’re approaching our relationship with African universities through a lens of true partnership – one driven by co-creation and co-learning. There are so many opportunities for U of T students and faculty to collaborate with peers in Africa through student exchanges, collaborative research projects as well as courses and conferences, just to name a few.”

Tettey points to work being done by African researchers on climate change, energy and trans-border issues surrounding water management – similar to what is playing out between Canada and the United States – as a prime example for potential research collaborations.

Alexie Tcheuyap, associate vice-president and vice-provost, international student experience, says another avenue for collaboration is through U of T’s Global Classrooms Initiative, which allows faculty to work closely with peers abroad and connect classrooms in different parts of the world for co-teaching using online tools.

“With their institutional and infrastructural resources, South Africa, Botswana and Ghana offer exceptional and unique opportunities for students and faculty mobility in a changing global world,” Tcheuyap says.

Bill Gough, U of T Scarborough’s vice-principal academic and dean, who was also part of the delegation, adds there is potential for greater opportunities for experiential learning in international development and co-op placements for U of T students, too.

The 19-day trip, which wrapped up in April, included meetings with delegates from the University of Cape Town, the University of Western Cape, the University of Botswana, Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the African Research Universities Alliance, among others.

U of T’s Office of the Vice-President, International has a team working in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa to facilitate diverse collaborative initiatives between the university and its African partners, notes Penina Lam, U of T’s director of international relations, Africa.

Professor Wisdom Tettey shakes hands with Professor David Norris, vice chancellor, University of Botswana after signing an MOU (photo by Setshwano Moaisi, University of Botswana)

Carlos Vargas, U of T Scarborough’s director of international and global engagement, says an important highlight of the trip was a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the University of Botswana and U of T Scarborough. Another was an MOU that U of T signed with the AAU, an organization that advocates for African higher education with more than 400 member institutions. 

Both of these agreements will help guide future collaborations in a range of areas including joint research collaborations, undergraduate and graduate student exchanges and internships, entrepreneurship-based training, joint conferences, seminars and graduate student training, adds Irena Creed, U of T Scarborough’s vice-principal, research and innovation.

Obano, a Nigerian-born U of T Scarborough business grad, says he learned a lot through the first-hand conversations he had with academic leaders about the strategies of African universities when it comes to the role of entrepreneurship in economic development. He says many of those conversations focused on the incubator model used by U of T’s top-ranked entrepreneurship ecosystem.

He says he’s also mindful of the importance of promoting “brain circulation” as a core philosophy in partnering with African universities.

“Our motivation isn’t a brain drain – we don’t want to pluck talented entrepreneurs away from Africa and bring them to U of T or Canada,” says Obano, who is also manager of U of T’s Black Founders Network.

“There are things that are working well here and there are things that are working well in Africa. Our goal is brain circulation – we want to leverage the best of both and learn from one another.”

Groundbreaking partnership will boost inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA

lanthierj — Mon, 15 May 2023 10:01:57 +0000

Groundbreaking partnership will boost inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA

lanthierj Mon, 05/15/2023 - 06:01

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Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership (Rendering by CEBRA and ZAS Architects + Interiors)

Topic

Our Community

Wisdom Tettey

Work-Integrated Learning

Entrepreneneurship

President Meric Gertler

Research & Innovation

Scarborough

U of T Scarborough

A transformative $25-million investment from Scarborough-based entrepreneur Sam Ibrahim will establish the Sam Ibrahim Centre for Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership at ��߲ݴ�ý Scarborough (UTSC) – taking the region’s innovation ecosystem to the next level and equipping student entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to flourish.

The Sam Ibrahim Centre will leverage the university’s vast pool of research and innovation expertise and global networks to provide entrepreneurs at U of T Scarborough with connections, resources and learning opportunities that can help accelerate their ideas and ventures. It will also encourage student entrepreneurs to develop their ideas directly in Scarborough, helping to spur economic growth for the Eastern GTA.

“The ��߲ݴ�ý is renowned for its entrepreneurship network,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “Sam Ibrahim’s visionary partnership with the University will help us enhance our impact on innovation in the Eastern GTA and show the world that U of T Scarborough is a vibrant hub for amazing, inclusive excellence in entrepreneurship.

“At the Sam Ibrahim Centre, our student entrepreneurs will have what they need to start and grow the next generation of Canadian ventures.”

Campus-led accelerators at U of T Scarborough will be aligned to offer the complete portfolio of coaching for successful entrepreneurs at the Sam Ibrahim Centre, which will extend their reach and impact and foster new collaborations. The Sam Ibrahim Centre will allow U of T Scarborough to expand on the programming these accelerators offer, support outreach activities such as work-integrated learning opportunities and lecture series and enhance the Eastern GTA’s broader innovation ecosystem by creating a network of new entrepreneurial leaders in the region.

“This partnership with Sam Ibrahim will allow UTSC to play a key role in helping to develop the next generation of Scarborough-based entrepreneurs,” said Wisdom Tettey, U of T vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough. “A core mission of the Centre is to ensure its innovators embody leadership values that promote Sam and U of T’s commitments to inclusive and equitable communities. We are all excited about the enduring legacy of creativity and impact that this will ignite.”

Equity and inclusion will be central to the Sam Ibrahim Centre’s activities. As part of this core commitment, student entrepreneurs who face financial barriers will be eligible for three new awards generously established by Ibrahim as part of this investment: the Sam Ibrahim Awards, the Gabriel Fanous Awards, and the Shaemin Ukani Awards.

“The Sam Ibrahim Centre will help inspire UTSC’s students to dream big, chase the impossible – and bring others along with them,” said Neel Joshi, dean of student experience and wellbeing at U of T Scarborough. “It will be a place that ignites hope and serves as a catalyst for real economic change fueled by inclusive excellence.”

Arrow Innovation Hall (Rendering by CEBRA and ZAS Architects + Interiors)

The centre will convene renowned leaders and experts, including through two new positions established by this investment: the Sam Ibrahim Chair in Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Innovation, who will lead the vision for the centre, and an entrepreneur-in-residence, who will provide valuable mentorship to up-and-coming innovators.

This new partnership will also support the construction of the Sam Ibrahim Building on Military Trail. Set to open in 2024, the building will act as a central hub for U of T Scarborough’s North Campus, housing the Sam Ibrahim Centre as well as Student Services offices and spaces for the department of computer and mathematical sciences.

“Scarborough is home to so many young people with great ideas,” Ibrahim said. “As a Scarborough entrepreneur myself, I want to make sure that the next generation can start and scale their ventures right here.”

Ibrahim is a noted business leader in Scarborough who strongly believes in the capabilities of the community and is deeply invested in it. He is the president and general manager of the Arrow Group of Companies, which provides strategic consulting and talent solutions to a wide range of industries. He is also a familiar face at U of T Scarborough as the co-founder of the Scarborough Shooting Stars, the first Greater Toronto Area-based franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Shooting Stars play at the campus’s Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

This is one of the largest contributions ever received by U of T Scarborough and Ibrahim’s first to the university, making it one of the largest ever to U of T from a first-time donor.

“I would like to thank Sam Ibrahim for his vision,” said David Palmer, vice-president, advancement. “His philanthropic investment is one of the largest ever for the Eastern GTA and is sure to inspire others to support Scarborough’s diverse and growing community at this exciting time for the region.”

Ibrahim’s philanthropic investment is contributing to Defy Gravity: The Campaign for the ��߲ݴ�ý. Under the banner of inclusive excellence, Defy Gravity seeks to harness the power of the university's worldwide community of alumni, faculty, students and supporters to create the talent, innovations and solutions for today’s most pressing challenges. As the largest advancement campaign in Canadian history, Defy Gravity is raising the bar for engagement and charitable giving in this country and fueling U of T’s mission as one of the world’s largest engines of social mobility and progress.

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Groundbreaking partnership will boost inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA

Watch a livestream of the announcement