Image of Deep Saini

U of T Mississauga partners with Peel, Sheridan in international student program

Stuart Watson

U of T Mississauga, the Peel District School Board and Sheridan College will sign an agreement to help international high school students studying in the PDSB integrate more fully into the post secondary educational system in the region.

The agreement, which will be signed Nov. 8 by U of T Mississauga vice-president and principal Deep Saini, Peel’s director of education Tony Pontes, and Sheridan College president Jeff Zabudsky, is the result of two years of consultation and planning.

Under the partnership, the board has agreed to establish the Peel Academy for International Students to be housed at Clarkson Secondary School in Mississauga. The goal is to bring international students studying in local high schools under one roof to provide an optimal learning experience.  In addition to participating fully in the academic and extra-curricular life of Clarkson Secondary School, the students will take part in an intensive English language program designed to help them acquire academic-level English at an accelerated pace.

The academy opened its doors to international students two months ago.

In addition to working in an advisory capacity during the development of the academy, U of T Mississauga and Sheridan College will play ongoing roles in helping students identify pathways to post-secondary education, even before they reach Grade 12. Representatives from the two institutions will provide campus tours, meet individually with students to discuss their goals, and provide academic counselling and orientation support to transition from high school.

“This partnership in many ways reflects the future of education in this country,” says Saini. “It reminds us that we are members of a global community, and embodies the spirit of international good will. In very practical terms, it encourages international students to embark on clear pathways to success.”

Saini says the enriched experience that this academy provides will allow these students to succeed in high school and the community, as well as in their post-secondary years.

“We will, of course, be looking for highly qualified and motivated students from the academy who wish to attend U of T Mississauga when they graduate from high school.”

Also speaking at the signing ceremony will be U of T Mississauga student Tarak George. The fourth-year commerce student, who attended schools in India and the Netherlands, will speak about his experience as an international student.