UdeM International: helping students and staff get around, here and abroad

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The new administrative unit is intended to increase mobility and raise the university’s profile in Canada and the rest of the world.

CONTENU

Université de Montréal has a new administrative unit: UdeM International.

It’s been set up to support the university’s internationalization efforts by streamlining the processes for sending members of the UdeM community to foreign countries and bringing others to Canada.

"The pandemic showed us that there were things we could improve to better serve everyone involved in international work," said Valérie Amiraux, UdeM’s vice-rector of international affairs and community partnerships.

"This also fits right in with the goal of our rector, Daniel Jutras, to make us a more international university; it’s something he spoke of right away upon taking office in June 2020," she added.

Jutras’ wake-up call prompted administrators to come up with new ways to better serve the community when it comes to all things international.

Immigration expertise brought together

The first step was to gather all immigration-related expertise into UdeM International: whether they worked in student services of human resources, everyone involved in handling such questions and procedures now has a common unit to report to.

"We often come up against legal and compliance issues," said Amiraux. "So it was critical for us to unite all of our experts on these matters into a single unit and make sure we give the community gets the best advice, in any number of situations."

These can include bringing in a visiting professor, for instance, of getting a foreign student into Canada "regardless of their status, whether they’re a full-time student, an exchange student, an intern or medical fellow," said Amiraux.

Immigration expertise brought together

The first step was to gather all immigration-related expertise into UdeM International: whether they worked in student services of human resources, everyone involved in handling such questions and procedures now has a common unit to report to.

"We often come up against legal and compliance issues," said Amiraux. "So it was critical for us to unite all of our experts on these matters into a single unit and make sure we give the community gets the best advice, in any number of situations."

These can include bringing in a visiting professor, for instance, of getting a foreign student into Canada "regardless of their status, whether they’re a full-time student, an exchange student, an intern or medical fellow," said Amiraux.

Swift reaction often required

The COVID-19 pandemic and other crises that have erupted in different countries in the last few years have shown that international developments often require a swift reaction.

"Consequently, we had to create a unit that would provide the UdeM community with exemplary service," said Amiraux. "To do so, the unit has to stay up-to-date on international news, remain in constant contact with our international partners, be responsive and agile, and ensure our actions are consistent and integrated."

That doesn’t mean that UdeM International can do everything. "But it will be the starting point for any questions related to international issues and, if necessary, it will direct people to the right department to handle their request," added Amiraux.

UdeM believes that better supporting the mobility of its students, instructors and administrative staff will help raise its profile in Canada and abroad," she said..

"And of course, we do everything with an eye to sustainability. Our focus is on sustainable mobility: it’s possible for us to be an institution that’s both responsible and international."

Swift reaction often required

The COVID-19 pandemic and other crises that have erupted in different countries in the last few years have shown that international developments often require a swift reaction.

"Consequently, we had to create a unit that would provide the UdeM community with exemplary service," said Amiraux. "To do so, the unit has to stay up-to-date on international news, remain in constant contact with our international partners, be responsive and agile, and ensure our actions are consistent and integrated."

That doesn’t mean that UdeM International can do everything. "But it will be the starting point for any questions related to international issues and, if necessary, it will direct people to the right department to handle their request," added Amiraux.

UdeM believes that better supporting the mobility of its students, instructors and administrative staff will help raise its profile in Canada and abroad," she said..

"And of course, we do everything with an eye to sustainability. Our focus is on sustainable mobility: it’s possible for us to be an institution that’s both responsible and international."

A group effort all around

Creating UdeM International was a group effort, she added.

"It took an enormous amount of work by a variety of teams over two years, first to analyze internal processes related to international concerns, and then to plan how to bring the different areas of expertise together."

She cited several administrators for their hard work: her assistant Catherine Villemer, Pascale Carrier in human resources, project manager Louise-Hélène Richard; and Martine Lavoie, assistant to the vice-rector of student and academic affairs.

The university’s various websites have yet to be updated to reflect the creation of UdeM International; members of the community are being asked in the meantime to continue to contact the appropriate staff members via the usual channels.

Community services, including all orientation, integration and inclusion activities, will continue to be offered by the Human Resources Division, Student Life Services, and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

A group effort all around

Creating UdeM International was a group effort, she added.

"It took an enormous amount of work by a variety of teams over two years, first to analyze internal processes related to international concerns, and then to plan how to bring the different areas of expertise together."

She cited several administrators for their hard work: her assistant Catherine Villemer, Pascale Carrier in human resources, project manager Louise-Hélène Richard; and Martine Lavoie, assistant to the vice-rector of student and academic affairs.

The university’s various websites have yet to be updated to reflect the creation of UdeM International; members of the community are being asked in the meantime to continue to contact the appropriate staff members via the usual channels.

Community services, including all orientation, integration and inclusion activities, will continue to be offered by the Human Resources Division, Student Life Services, and Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Virginie Allard-Cameus is named executive director of UdeM international

Virginie Allard-Cameus has been appointed executive director of UdeM International. She was previously director of UdeM’s Centre de santé et de consultation psychologique.

A new administrative unit, UdeM International brings together a variety of expertises, all required to meet the university community’s needs and fulfill its international mission.

It will roll out a number of activities to develop and strengthen relationships with foreign partner institutions, support international cooperation initiatives and facilitate all forms of student and professional mobility, especially with respect to immigration.

"In 20 years at UdeM, I’ve had the good fortune of working in several academic units and services where I could be involved in international projects and initiatives, of which there are an ever-increasing number at UdeM," said Allard-Cameus. "This new position is perfectly aligned with my career path."

The new executive director has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on international management from HEC Montréal and a master’s degree in public administration with a focus on organizational analysis and development from the École nationale d’administration publique.

She began her new role on Feb. 1, directing a team of some 40 experts in international matters.

"My first challenge will be to define the structure of the new service that brings together several units that used to work independently," said Allard-Cameus. "By integrating them, we’re creating synergies that will ensure that UdeM International serves the entire university community."

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