Changes announced for Western International and Western English Language Centre

Two dynamic teams - the undergraduate recruitment team of Western International and the student recruitment team from the Western English Language Centre at the Faculty of Education - will be integrating to create one student recruitment powerhouse. The goal? To create the strongest international university recruitment team in Canada.

“Since I arrived at Western in July, I have heard loudly and clearly from academic leaders, that international recruitment should be a priority,” says Britta Baron, Vice-Provost (International). “Despite the effects of COVID-19, we believe there are some exciting opportunities to enhance Western’s international reputation and broaden our ability to recruit students from diverse academic backgrounds and regions of the globe.”

This experienced group of individuals will come together to develop and implement a new and comprehensive approach to international recruitment that will include support for international graduate student recruitment.

While the recruitment functions of the Western English Language Centre will be integrated within the new unit, academic operations and teaching will remain within the Faculty of Education, focusing on providing exceptional English language training for international students who have conditional admission to programs offered at Western University as well as Brescia, Huron and King’s University Colleges.

Matt Bazely will lead the new unit as Senior Director. Matt is currently Senior Director, Integrated Services and Office for Global Initiatives at the Faculty of Education. Carolyn Ford will remain in her role as Director of International Undergraduate Recruitment and report to Matt. All other existing Western International units will continue to report to Lise Laporte.

This is exciting news that allows Western International to expand its activities and support to Faculties, and will benefit the whole university in terms of strength of resources and connections. A physical space for the new unit is being identified and the actual integration will take place as of December 1, 2020.