A collaboration between the Internationalization Office and the School of Graduate Studies has netted Memorial University close to half a million dollars to recruit up to 11 graduate students from India and South Africa.

The funding was secured through the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program, which will help develop the next generation of innovative leaders and community builders, both locally and globally.

Scholarships will be made available to students from Commonwealth countries to attend a Canadian university for master’s or doctoral studies; Canadian students at the undergraduate and graduate level will participate in internships or academic study for periods of three months to one year in another Commonwealth country. 

“It is a thrill to receive the Queen Elizabeth II funding award, as it represents the successful culmination of many months of cross-disciplinary teamwork between the Internationalization Office and the School of Graduate studies along with academic units and new international partners,” said Sonja Knutson, director, Internationalization Office. “We are pleased to see Memorial move forward on this initiative and to have played a role in laying the groundwork for it to happen.” 

The scholarships form part of university-designed projects that address pressing local, national and global issues. Memorial’s project, MUN Globalization 101, supports the university’s recently launched Strategic Internationalization Plan 2020. With more than 100 institutional partners, including many in Commonwealth countries, Memorial is an ideal partner for international collaboration.

The overarching objective of this project will be enhanced skills development and training of graduate students from participating countries. The students will gain critical disciplinary knowledge as well as develop numerous other complementary skills in communications, financial management, adaptability and other areas, as well as gain an increased understanding of their fields in a global context and the international opportunities available to them.

“The incoming students will receive support to pursue full master's degrees at Memorial and be exposed to professional and cultural experiences that round out comprehensive training during their two years in Canada,” said Dr. Faye Murrin, dean, School of Graduate Studies, pro tempore. “An additional benefit to Memorial will be an increased diversity in enrolment and high-quality research-intensive graduate students, which will impact the socio-cultural and economic conditions of St. John's and Newfoundland and Labrador as a whole.”

Some expected results for the participating scholars will be to return to their home countries with an advanced degree from Memorial and either pursue a double doctoral degree or enter the workforce with enhanced cross-cultural knowledge and understanding of international issues – particularly in relation to gender equality and governmental policies and procedures. The project will also improve the profile of education and industry opportunities in Canada and major development issues. Partner institutions will also gain a better understanding of current education practices in Canada.

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program is a joint initiative of the Rideau Hall Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. This program is made possible with financial support from the Government of Canada, provincial governments and the private sector.