Thailand in the spotlight for 23rd annual International Studies Symposium

Glendon Campus International Studies Thailand

A conference organized by upper-year students at Glendon Campus will run for its 23rd year on March 10, and this year will aim to deepen knowledge on Thailand.

The International Studies Symposium: Thailand will bring together academics and other experts to shine a light on the Kingdom of Thailand and various aspects of the country’s identity.

Glendon Campus International Studies ThailandThe full-day conference, running from 8am to 8pm, will host panels on economic, social and cultural themes, and provide a Thai cuisine luncheon and the opportunity to connect with distinguished experts.

Ticket sales are now open, and student early-bird tickets ($25) are available until Feb. 18; student regular tickets ($35) are available Feb. 19 to March 10. General admission early-bird tickets ($35) are available until Feb. 18; general admission regular tickets ($45) are available Feb. 19 to March 10. Tickets include entrance and access to breakfast, lunch buffet and evening reception (19-plus). Visit the Eventbrite listing to purchase online.

Glendon’s Student Annual International Studies Symposium is a project conceived and managed by students. It was initiated during the 1995-96 academic year by a group of highly motivated students eager to deepen their knowledge and experience of foreign countries or regions and the relations between Canada and those countries or regions.

To date, the project has covered the following countries or regions: Cuba, China, South Africa, the European Union, the Middle East, South East Asia, Brazil, Russia, India, the Great Lakes Regions of Central Africa, Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Venezuela, Iran, Hispaniola, Germany, the Korean Peninsula, the United States of America, Japan, Iceland, Argentina and now Thailand.

The symposium is designed with five main components in mind:

• a series of seminars on the selected country, region or institution (fall term);
• the organization of an international colloquium on the subject (winter term);
• a field research trip (after the final exams);
• the submission of a research essay on aspects of the county/institution concerned (usually on matters dealing with security, trade, investments and human rights); and
• publication of the proceedings of the symposium and student essays.

The success of this project has enhanced the visibility, not only of the Department of International Studies, but also of Glendon Campus and York University as a whole, in Canada and abroad.

In 2004, Glendon’s Student Annual International Studies Symposium on India received the Award for Excellence in Internationalization from Scotiabank and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

In 2010, Glendon’s Student Annual International Studies Symposium on Hispaniola received the York International Student Award.

For more information, visit the event Facebook page or Glendon Campus’ International Studies program website.