Educating global citizens

The pandemic and current global events have heightened awareness of existing global challenges, and highlighted the important role universities play in uncovering solutions and developing talent. By Vivek Goel President and Vice-Chancellor - Yesterday, many of us across Ontario exercised our democratic right to vote in the provincial election. It can be easy to take this simple, recurring action for granted, but in recent years we have been reminded just how precious this fundamental right is and the importance of our civic duties. The pandemic and current global events have heightened awareness of existing global challenges such as the rise of populism and nationalism, the decline of global multi-literalism, the polarization of politics, armed conflicts, and structural inequities in the world, particularly the legacy of centuries of colonization. We also face an urgent existential threat to our world with the climate crisis. We continue to witness extreme weather events locally and globally. During such challenging times, universities play an important role in finding solutions based on fundamental and applied research and developing talent through high quality education.