Collège Boréal unveils its new podcast on inclusivity

29 August 2024

Ontario

This initiative enhances awareness among Boréal faculty and staff about the diverse student population at Francophone post-secondary institutions.

Collège Boréal’s Centre for Leadership and Academic Innovation (CLIP) has developed “Mon choix, c’est l’inclusion” (My choice is inclusion), a forum designed to help faculty and staff navigate the complexities of a diverse international student population.

This French-language podcast features insights from experts in teaching and intercultural relations, along with students, who share valuable knowledge, concerns, and advice to enrich the educational experience for the next generation of skilled workers from across the French-speaking world.

Hosted by Didier Eglo, Acting manager of Designing eLearning Products at the Canada School of Public Service, and developed in collaboration with the University of Moncton, this series explores the unique challenges, opportunities, and experiences that arise when students from around the globe converge on Canada’s Francophone campuses.

Available Episodes (in French only):

The Impact of Unconscious Bias on International Students in a Francophone Minority Setting

Roxanne Santos, Manager of the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Indigenous Relations (EDIA-RPA) at Collège Boréal, discusses the challenges faced by international students in minority Francophone communities. She examines the impact of unconscious bias and offers institutional solutions, including inclusion policies and language resources while emphasizing the importance of community interaction for successful integration.

Critical Pedagogy in an Intercultural Context

Annik Chalifour, with over 20 years of international experience in education and humanitarian work, addresses the impacts of demographic shifts in Ontario on Francophone post-secondary education. In this episode, she discusses how critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, and intercultural skills contribute to an inclusive educational environment.

Student Experience: From International Student to Permanent Position

Pierrette Ilunga Nday and Gédéon Mupwala, currently employed in the Finance and Registrar’s sectors at Collège Boréal, share their personal journeys as former international students. They discuss the challenges they faced during their studies, their achievements, their transition to permanent employment, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

With this new podcast, Collège Boréal is expanding the services available to our faculty while enhancing the cultural competencies of all our staff. As post-secondary education becomes increasingly globalized, we hope our experience as a Francophone institution with a province-wide presence will serve as a valuable resource for other minority-language institutions and French-language colleges and universities.

Paulette Bonin

Vice-President Academic, Collège Boréal

Quick Facts

This podcast was made possible with financial support from Canadian Heritage and the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Collège Boréal’s CLIP consists of approximately fifteen specialists in pedagogy, technopedagogy, online course content development and curricular development.
Each year, the CLIP trains an average of 160 faculty members through two training programs for permanent staff and seven for part-time staff.