While enjoying delicious hor d’oeuvres and a glass of wine, twelve experienced international education professionals were speed-networking with approximately 50 new professionals. Every ten minutes of the hour long event, the ring of a bell signalled the newbies to rise and seek out another station.
For new professionals in the field, Monday night’s event at the CBIE 2015 annual conferencewas the only place to be! Once again, the International Network of Tomorrow’s Leaders (INTL) organized the affair, which was sponsored through the generous support of guard.me insurance. This after-hours conference activity is complemented by the INTL Mentorship Program, which links new and seasoned professionals throughout the year.
The event provided a structured, yet relaxed opportunity to connect professionals working in a variety of areas together in one room. Hailing from both English and French institutions, the experienced professionals shared diverse backgrounds, holding positions ranging from international student support, mobility, global engagement, institutional and international relations, to faculty.
New professionals commented that the event gave them the opportunity to
- engage with experienced professionals of diverse backgrounds;
- connect with other new professionals, some of which hold positions that don’t yet exist at other institutions;
- share common goals for their careers and for the future of international education; and
- broaden their understanding of the field.
Experienced professionals mentioned they benefited from
- new ideas brought forward through their interactions with new professionals from across Canada;
- reflection on current programming in other institutions, sparked by their discussions;
- the opportunity to evaluate current programming offered in their home institution; and
- a spring-board for future institutional partnerships.
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