THUNDER BAY - It was only five years ago that Lakehead’s international student body was made up of just a small group.
Lakehead University Student Union vice-president Farhan Yousaf remembers his first international orientation day as a small gathering.
This past Tuesdayy, he watched as LUSU president Masoud Manzouri spoke in front of roughly 500 students gathered from across the world at LU’s hangar.
“It’s certainly changed, students here are enjoying themselves because of this connection,” Yousaf said.
Sixteen per cent of the student body is currently made up of international students, with LU’s strategic plan to make that figure go up to 20 per cent by 2022.
The movement to establish a larger presence of international students has made today a little less intimidating for first-year students.
“In terms of the student body connectivity, Manzouri is an international student, I was an international student, we have board members who are international students. I think there’s been a movement for us to connect with the school and with the student body, and new students are well aware of the programs we’re offering,” Yousaf said.
Seryna Sun, a first-year student from China, already has one semester under her belt, and said the transition from China to Canada was easier than she expected.
“It’s my first time in Canada, and I have met three Chinese people. They help me in all aspects of my life,” she said.
Sun thought so highly of her first semester, she decided to be a student ambassador for this year’s international orientation.
“There’s a lot of Chinese students here. It’s a strong Chinese community, but it’s also good for us to make friends with Canadian people to practice our English.
Afieqha Azemi, a second-year student from Malaysia, was anticipating a little more stress during her first year at Lakehead.
“It’s small, it’s very nature-like. I don’t feel stressed at all here because of the lake is comforting.
Benefit to the university
James Aldridge, vice-provost international at Lakehead University, said efforts have been made by the university to diversify their recruitment of international students.
“International students have typically gone into engineering and business programs, but more and more we’re starting to see them choose other programs and were starting to see that diversity.”
“We’re looking for country diversity. We want to make sure we’re not just looking to three markets,” Aldridge said.
The countries most represented in Lakehead’s student body are India, China, and Nigeria.
Aldridge says international students provide economic benefits to the university, while also increasing global and cultural competence for students and instructors in the future job market.
Emphasis on tenant relations for international students
After a fire at an overcrowded international student residence left one Lakehead student in critical condition in June, special attention is being focused on tenant rights at this year’s orientation.
While the majority of first-year students choose to live on Lakehead’s residence, many upper-year students who live off-campus are being encouraged to attend information sessions at orientation to understand their tenant rights in Canada.
“From the student union's perspective, we are working with the city. We’re also offering information sessions on tenant rights,” said Yousaf.
Following the Hartland Street incident, Yousaf called on the city to help with student-tenant relations in town. On an administrative level, the university is also looking for solutions,
“We are working toward having more meetings in the fall with the city and various groups to make sure the student’s needs are addressed,” Aldrige said.
