Global & Intercultural Engagement Honour – Graduate and Professional Stream
About the Global Honour
In today's interconnected world, possessing global and intercultural skills has become increasingly advantageous for university graduates entering the workforce. Western's Global Honour recognizes and rewards students' experience and engagement in such activities during their time at Western.
Once achieved, the Global Honour will appear on the student's official transcript upon graduation. The structure of this program allows students to incorporate both curricular and extracurricular activities. Students awarded this honour will be global-ready graduates: through their participation, they will develop the skills required to navigate and succeed in an increasingly globalized reality, both professionally and personally.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop intercultural skills that will enhance interaction and recognize multiple perspectives when engaging with people from diverse countries or cultures
- Understand the complexities of global issues, such as culture, history, geography, world market, economy, social and political trends affecting today’s globalized society
- Learn to adjust own attitudes and approach to global engagement as a reflexive practitioner
- Apply intercultural and global learning with increased self-confidence to their personal, academic and professional life
Who is eligible?
Graduate students who are eligible to register for this stream include:
- Masters and PhD candidates registered in any faculty at Western or affiliates (includes Ivey Business School, Faculty of Law, and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry)
- MD and DDS candidates
- Students enrolled in the Faculty of Education
Please note that JD candidates in the Faculty of Law should apply through the undergraduate stream.
If you are unsure of which stream to register for, please email goabroad@uwo.ca to inquire.
Students in any undergraduate Faculty at main campus, the affiliated University Colleges (Brescia, King’s, and Huron), Faculty of Law, and Ivey Business School, are eligible to enrol in the Global Honour under the undergraduate stream. Undergraduate students are not eligible to enrol under the Graduate and Professional Degree stream.
Why achieve the Global Honour?
There is no cost and it can be completed in conjunction with your degree program.
- Enhance your degree with recognition on your transcript for global and/or intercultural experience
- Develop intercultural communication skills, knowledge, and global awareness that employers seek
- Connect with other global-minded peers and grow your professional network
- Broaden your perspective on the world and increase your cultural awareness and knowledge
How to achieve the Global Honour?
The Global Honour is awarded upon successful completion of the following components, including earning 60 points from the categories below:
- Category 1: Academic Coursework
- a maximum of 50 points can be accumulated from this category - Category 2: Global Experience at Home or Abroad (required)
- minimum of 20 points to a maximum of 50 points must be accumulated from this category - Category 3: Global or Intercultural Engagement and Training (required)
- a minimum of 20 points to a maximum of 50 points can be accumulated from this category - Category 4: Language Proficiency and Learning
- a maximum of 40 points can be accumulated from this category
At this time, only students registered at Schulich in the MD or DDS programs are eligible to apply for this stream.
Please note that students pursuing the Graduate and Professional School Stream of the Global Honour (MD, DDS, Masters, and PhD students) are only required to earn 60 points towards the Global Honour. Additionally, only category 2 and category 3 are required for the Graduate and Professional School Stream. Category 1 and category 4 are optional.
Application Process
Step 1
MD and DDS students can register for the Global Honour by completing an application in Atlas, Western’s international experience portal.Click on the ' log in to apply' button at the bottom of the program page when you are ready to begin your Global Honour journey.
Deadlines for completing specific steps of the Global Honour are posted in Atlas. Please review the deadlines carefully to ensure you are completing all steps on time.
You can start your application and register in the Global Honour any time after you start your degree at Western. You must register for the Global Honour at least 4 months before your expected convocation month. It is strongly recommended that you begin your Global Honour application as soon as possible.
Step 2
Complete the " Foundations for Intercultural Competence & Global Engagement" online module. You can access the module on OWL - Western's online learning platform by joining the " Global Learning and Education" site.
A reminder that this module must be completed within the same term (fall, winter, spring/summer) of your application being submitted to become a Global Honour candidate.
Complete self-assessment of intercultural competencies.
Step 3
Submit evidence of completion for:
- Foundations for Intercultural Competence & Global Engagement Online module
- Self-assessment (core competencies)
Step 4
- Submit evidence of completion for all category requirements, attaching supporting documents in Atlas, where applicable.
- Please ensure that if a claim is not on the pre-approved lists, you must submit a claims form for each claim you wish to make. Note that claims are subject to approval before they can be added to your application in Atlas.
Step 5
- Upon completion and approval of all category requirements, write a critical reflection (using prompt questions) to articulate how the impact (personal, academic and professional) of your experiences and learning through the Global Honour has influenced your global awareness and intercultural fluency development.
