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What is the GJC program?
The GJC Program invites you to explore topics on a global scale - from the tapestry of African traditions to a literary voyage through Haudenosaunee culture and wisdom- using an equity and justice-oriented lens. Applicants can choose one of two Spring 2024 intensive travel courses with a travel component to either Aotearoa (New Zealand) or Senegal.
The GJC program is fully funded. This means that all selected participants will receive funding to cover the cost of tuition, travel, accommodation, and other key expenses relevant to the course.
Applications to the GJC program are open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, or racialized, students with disabilities, and low-income students.
The program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program. It is led by TMU Global in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts.
Applications for the 2023/24 GJC cohort are now closed.
To learn more about other opportunities, visit the Global Learning website.
Are you eligible?
You are eligible for the GJC program if you are:
- 18 years of age or older
- Registered as a part-time or full-time undergraduate student at Toronto Metropolitan University and have clear academic standing
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- A student who self-identifies as Indigenous, Black, or racialized, students with disabilities, or low-income students
- Able to count the course credit towards your undergraduate degree completion (note that applications from students in their 2nd and 3rd years of study will be prioritized)
- Can attend all pre-departure workshops and classes in person at TMU in the Winter 2024 and Spring 2024.
Applications for the 2023/24 GJC cohort are now closed.
To learn more about other opportunities, visit the Global Learning website.
Two eye-opening courses.
Two exciting opportunities.
Choose one of the following course options:
Spring 2024 | LIR 204: African Studies and Beyond
Instructor: Dr. Ndeye Ba, Assistant Professor of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Faculty of Arts
During the four weeks of on-campus learning, this course will explore African epistemologies, highlighting the rich history, culture, and contributions of the continent and its diaspora to knowledge production. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will learn about the diverse cultures and traditions of the continent, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing African societies today. The course will include readings, lectures, and discussions on topics such as colonialism, globalization, literature (oral and written), and contemporary political, economic, and social issues. Students will engage with primary sources, including oral traditions and art, to better understand the complexities of African knowledge production and its relevance to global issues.
This Spring, 2024, as part of the collaboration with the Global Justice and Change program, after engaging in on-campus course activities for several weeks, students will then participate in an experiential learning trip to Senegal to engage with local communities and learn about their cultures and traditions. This course on African epistemologies will contribute to decentering Western-centric canons and decolonizing knowledge production by recognizing and valuing diverse knowledge systems and perspectives.
Course format: This 6-week intensive Spring 2024 course will include in-person learning components at the TMU campus and an opportunity to travel to Senegal. The travel dates and time frame are to be determined (expect 1 to 2 weeks of travel).
Kindly be advised that completion of this course will be credited as part of your Open Elective requirement.
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Spring 2024 | HAU 400 - Haudenosaunee Leaders & Writers (with Māori component)
Instructor: Dr. Brandon Tehanyatarí:ya’ks Martin, Assistant Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Haudenosaunee authors and leaders have produced many works grounded in Haudenosaunee culture and perspective. During the four weeks of on-campus learning, this course will examine the works of authors with Haudenosaunee (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora, also collectively known as Iroquois) descent across the many genres of writing where their work is present. Through the examination of Haudenosaunee authors' works, a deeper understanding of Haudenosaunee culture and leadership qualities will be revealed.
This Spring, 2024, this course will focus on two Indigenous cultures: domestic and international. In this instance, those specific Indigenous cultures will be the Haudenosaunee domestically and the Māori internationally. After engaging in on-campus course activities for several weeks, as a part of the Global Justice and Change program, students will participate in an experiential learning trip to the homeland of the international Indigenous culture, which in this instance is the Māori in Aotearoa (New Zealand). The trip will allow students to learn directly from Māori community members in their traditional homeland. Studying domestic and international Indigenous cultures will enable students to make connections between those cultures, discover the particulars of each, and develop a broader understanding of Indigenous perspectives.
Course format: This 6-week intensive Spring 2024 course will include in-person learning components at the TMU campus with an opportunity to travel to Aotearoa (New Zealand). The travel dates and time frame exact dates and time frame of travel are to be determined (expect 1 to 2 weeks of travel).
Kindly be advised that completion of this course will be credited as part of your Upper Liberal Elective requirement.
Note: Priority enrollment for this course will be extended to Indigenous students.
*First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples in Canada, sometimes referred to as Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples and Native/Indigenous Peoples in the United States, are from communities that were the original inhabitants of the lands now called Canada and the United States.
Questions about GJC
The GJC program is fully funded. This means that the main participation costs will be covered by the program. For all courses, this includes the cost of tuition, airfare, accommodation, and other essential program expenses abroad.
Overall, students should expect to incur minimal expenses. The program is designed as a fully funded experience and will work with each successful applicant to ensure their full and effective participation.
Applications for the 2023/24 GJC cohort are now closed.
Students selected to participate in the Spring 2024 intensive travel courses will be enrolled in their course during May 2024. Exact dates are to be confirmed, while students should expect a 6-week intensive course that includes 4 weeks of on-campus (TMU) course activities (workshops, lectures, discussions, assignments, etc.) and a 1 to 2-week travel component.
All students will be invited to participate in various workshops and events designed to support student learning and success. These will be scheduled beginning in January and culminate in a final session after course completion. All workshops are required and count towards 6 hours of course credit.
Yes, each successful applicant will be enrolled in one of two courses this program offers.
In the application form, you will have the opportunity to rank the courses based on your interest. The selection committee will strive to offer placement in the program based on each student’s top-ranked course of interest.
In the application form, it is important that students indicate if they can count the course credit towards their degree requirements (e.g., as an open elective requirement within your degree program). Students in their 4th year of study may have already completed all their open elective requirements, thus making them ineligible to participate. If you are unsure whether you can use the credit towards your degree requirements, you may still consider applying, ensuring that you provide a detailed explanation of your particular situation to be assessed by the selection committee.
To apply, students must complete a Google form and upload a written statement of interest and video.
The Google form includes information about you personally, for example, your academic program, status at the university, and previous international experiences. It also includes a Diversity Self-ID and information on accessibility accommodations. We are required to request this information as the GJC program is designed specifically for students who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racialized, students with disabilities, and low-income students. In addition, we must ensure that the program can effectively meet your accommodation needs based on the location of the activity. Lastly, the form asks you to rank the course options based on your preference and to submit a statement of interest and video.
The Statement of Interest is your opportunity to tell us why you should be selected to participate in the GJC program. You are welcome to write a more traditional or conventional statement of interest and to take a creative and/or unconventional approach with the video.
You will be asked to consider and respond to the following prompts. Choose what is most relevant for you:
- Why are you interested in participating in this program (and specific course, if relevant), and what would it mean to you?
- How will participation support your personal, academic, and/or professional goals?
- What does global justice and change mean to you?
You will be asked to submit your response in the following formats below. The following file types can be uploaded to the Google form: PDF or video.
Write your response to the prompts above in up to 750 words and Record a video (maximum 5 minutes) telling us more about yourself that you have not included in your statement of interest. Note both are required.
Various factors will be taken into consideration by the selection committee when determining successful applicants.
- Diversity Self-ID: based on criteria identified by the funder, alongside institutional priorities to improve access and inclusion in global learning at TMU, this program is designed for and prioritizes students from specific equity-deserving communities, including students who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racialized, students with disabilities, and low-income students. The selection committee will aim to meet specific targets and ensure a diversity of participants based on these criteria.
- Academic program and faculty: This program is open to all disciplines and faculties. When selecting participants, the selection committee will aim to ensure a diversity of disciplines is represented. This program intends to provide an interdisciplinary experience. Note that a minimum number of participants from the Faculty of Arts will be prioritized. Interest in each individual course will also play a role in the selection process, as 15 students must be selected for each course.
- Statement of Interest and overall fit for the program and/or course: the selection committee will consider your overall suitability for this program based in part on what you share in your statement of interest submission. We want to ensure program impact and a rewarding experience for all participants, so your submission should communicate; Why you are interested, what you believe you will get out of it (personally, professionally, and/or academically), as well as how you relate to the overall theme of the program (global justice and change)
TMU Global will provide pre-departure and planning workshops and leadership development. During travel, TMU Global staff will be available to support students in the day-to-day support needed in the country. After completing the course, students will participate in debriefing workshops supporting their continued academic and professional development.
Note that program staff will work with students individually to ensure that program supports are adapted to the needs of participants. The GJC program is based on the values of equity, access, inclusion, and justice, providing students from equity-deserving communities with increased opportunities to access and experience the benefits of global learning.
The GJC program is open to all students who meet the eligibility criteria. If you graduate before the course starts in the Spring 2024 term, you will not be eligible to participate, as the funder requires the course to be counted as a credit. The program best suits students in their 2nd or 3rd year of study. However, students from all years may apply. It is important to note that applications from students in their 2nd and 3rd years of study will be prioritized.
No, French is not a requirement to enroll in this course, nor will your language abilities affect the selection process. However, some French language skills will be an asset to those who travel to Senegal.
Thirty students will be selected to participate in the 2024 iteration of the program. Each course will be capped at 15 students.
If you would like to learn more about the Global Justice and Change program, please watch the recording here (external link) from our October 2023 session, and read through the slides here (external link) .
You can reach out to us for more information at global.learning@torontomu.ca
Check out the TMT article: New TMU program gives students a chance to engage with topics on a global scale
Check out the TMU Today article: Register now for a once-in-a-lifetime global travel and learning opportunity
Check out the Panama video here (external link) .
Are you ready to apply?
Thirty students will be selected to participate in the GJC program for the 2024 cohort (each course is capped at 15 students).
Here’s how to apply: Complete the application by answering questions on the Google form and submitting a statement of interest & video.
The Statement of Interest is your opportunity to tell us why you’re interested in participating in the GJC program and share a video that tells us more about you. Note you are required to submit both formats below:
- Write your statement of interest up to 750 words.
- Record a 5-minute (max) video to tell us about yourself and why you want to participate in this program.
Key Dates:
Applications for the 2023/24 GJC cohort are now closed.
To learn more about other opportunities, visit the Global Learning website.
If you would like to learn more about the Global Justice and Change program, please watch the recording here (external link) from our October 2023 session, and read through the slides here (external link) .
This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Outbound Student Mobility Pilot Program
