{"id":5678,"date":"2020-10-28T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/innovationhub\/?p=5678"},"modified":"2024-06-20T15:34:11","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T19:34:11","slug":"in-conversation-with-sebastian-smith-understanding-the-impact-of-covid-19-for-international-students-in-higher-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/innovationhub\/in-conversation-with-sebastian-smith-understanding-the-impact-of-covid-19-for-international-students-in-higher-education\/","title":{"rendered":"In Conversation with Sebastian Smith: Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 for International Students in Higher Education"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Betelehem Gulilat, Lead Writer and Editor <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What makes the international student experience <\/span>different from those of domestic students?<\/span> <\/span> <\/span>Since the pandemic<\/span>, <\/span>a new set of challenges ha<\/span>s<\/span> <\/span>emerged<\/span> <\/span>on top of the <\/span>pre-pandemic <\/span>realm of campus life <\/span>that international students are valiantly navigating. <\/span>In<\/span> turning to our vibrant<\/span> and <\/span>diverse community at UofT<\/span>,<\/span> w<\/span>e<\/span> <\/span>hope to<\/span> spark <\/span>discussions <\/span>by <\/span>bringing <\/span>student stories <\/span>to light.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Sebastian<\/a>
Sebastian Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meet Sebastian<\/h2>\n

I <\/span><\/span>had the h<\/span><\/span>onour <\/span><\/span>to <\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>peak <\/span><\/span>with <\/span><\/span>Sebastian<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> a second-year student from the Netherlands studying English and Geology at UofT. <\/span><\/span>During our Zoom Meeting, he mentioned how he\u2019d <\/span><\/span>recently<\/span><\/span> arrived in Canada after being in the Netherlands since the lockdown in March.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>I asked him wh<\/span><\/span>at that was like as a first-year international student.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>After taking a deep breath, he shared how it was <\/span><\/span>a stressful experience.<\/span><\/span> On-campus residences <\/span><\/span>accommodated<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>international <\/span><\/span>students during the lockdown<\/span><\/span>, which was<\/span><\/span> indeed<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>reassuring<\/span><\/span>, but S<\/span><\/span>ebastian didn\u2019t know how long <\/span><\/span>he could stay in residence. <\/span><\/span>Plus, the possibility of getting sick in Canada without any family nearby was a real concern \u2013 <\/span><\/span>and was<\/span><\/span> ultimately why he decided to return to the Netherlands. Over this period, Sebastian expressed how lucky he felt to return home<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Reality of Virtual Learning  <\/strong><\/h3>\n

T<\/span><\/span>ime zone<\/span><\/span> differences <\/span><\/span>can be<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>a <\/span><\/span>widespread <\/span><\/span>barrier <\/span><\/span>for in<\/span><\/span>ternational students<\/span><\/span>, especially <\/span><\/span>when<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>attending <\/span><\/span>synchronous lectures<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>remotely. <\/span><\/span>I asked Sebastian whether he missed having in-person classes, and to my surprise, he said, \u201cNo<\/span><\/span>t really,<\/span><\/span> all my classes are online<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>.. m<\/span><\/span>y in-person classes <\/span><\/span>have a live-stream going, <\/span><\/span>but it seems to be<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>taught <\/span><\/span>for <\/span><\/span>students who are able to <\/span><\/span>attend <\/span><\/span>in<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>person.\u201d <\/span><\/span>Sebastian felt that asynchronous lectures were ultimately more supportive <\/span><\/span>of his online<\/span><\/span> learning because it offered more flexibility for him to engage in his studies. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Between<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>Netherlands and Canada, <\/span><\/span>there <\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>also <\/span><\/span>a <\/span><\/span>six-hour<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>time difference<\/span><\/span> which mean<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span> Sebastian <\/span><\/span>was unable to <\/span><\/span>work since <\/span><\/span>most of his classes<\/span><\/span> started at night. <\/span><\/span>He <\/span><\/span>wonder<\/span><\/span>ed<\/span><\/span> what it must<\/span><\/span> be like<\/span><\/span> for international students with <\/span><\/span>other <\/span><\/span>obligations<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>stay<\/span><\/span>ing<\/span><\/span> up all night for<\/span><\/span> their<\/span><\/span> class<\/span><\/span>es or research<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> wake up the next morning t<\/span><\/span>o return <\/span><\/span>for <\/span><\/span>work. As a Transitions Mentor at Victoria College,<\/span><\/span> Sebastian<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>mentioned<\/span><\/span> how<\/span><\/span> many of his first-year mentees living outside of Canada shared the same sentiment. <\/span><\/span>Sebastian thinks courses can be offered in a standardized format that is accessible to all students, to help teach a broader audience. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Sebastian <\/span><\/span>was thinking<\/span><\/span> of taking a gap yea<\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span> this school year <\/span><\/span>which was m<\/span><\/span>ostly <\/span><\/span>financially driven.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>When searching for scholarships<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> he <\/span><\/span>found that<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>international students <\/span><\/span>often <\/span><\/span>don\u2019t <\/span><\/span>meet the criteria<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>his c<\/span><\/span>an <\/span><\/span>be an <\/span><\/span>added burden<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>if <\/span><\/span>student\u2019s <\/span><\/span>families have lost their job<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>are working fewer hours<\/span><\/span>, or caring for <\/span><\/span>f<\/span><\/span>amily <\/span><\/span>members <\/span><\/span>who are <\/span><\/span>ill<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>For many international students,<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>hope<\/span><\/span> is<\/span><\/span> to receive a permanent residence to fulfill their plans <\/span><\/span>and<\/span><\/span> dr<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>ams \u2013 <\/span><\/span>which is<\/span><\/span> only<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>possible <\/span><\/span>once you\u2019ve<\/span><\/span> work<\/span><\/span>ed<\/span><\/span> a year in Canada. With many <\/span><\/span>studying remotely in their home countries, <\/span><\/span>students’<\/span><\/span> dreams <\/span><\/span>are<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>put on hold <\/span><\/span>due to this reality.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Acknowledging Types of Support<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I asked <\/span>Sebastian whether he felt a sense of support <\/span>through his<\/span> <\/span>virtual<\/span> learning<\/span> <\/span>experience<\/span>. <\/span>With regard to his academ<\/span>ic life<\/span>, he<\/span> expressed how he was <\/span>aware of r<\/span>esources<\/span> <\/span>offered by <\/span>his<\/span> faculty<\/span>; however, it fe<\/span>lt like the<\/span> larger issue wasn\u2019t being acknowledged. <\/span>Virtual events, like yoga or wellness workshops, are one way of supporting students. However, h<\/span>e also believes students\u2019 well-being is <\/span>often <\/span>tied to their academic success. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sebastian felt a sense of support from his professors. For instance, some professors have been pro<\/span>-active in making their<\/span> <\/span>course material accessible for all students<\/span> <\/span>online (e.g. readings or course materials)<\/span>. T<\/span>his <\/span>has been incredibly helpful for him<\/span>.<\/span> Other students have noted how important it has been for required courses to be offered at different times<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>By <\/span>focusing <\/span>on <\/span>ways to enhance accessibility for international students<\/span>, <\/span>Sebastian feels that <\/span>students’<\/span> academic journey and <\/span>overall wellbeing<\/span> <\/span>will be better supported. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

As Sebastian and I discussed many of the<\/span><\/span>se<\/span><\/span> nuances, I appreciated how much he had thought about <\/span><\/span>the needs and lived experiences of <\/span><\/span>all <\/span><\/span>students. <\/span><\/span>Understandably<\/span><\/span>, international <\/span><\/span>students<\/span><\/span> are navigating a <\/span><\/span>foreign<\/span><\/span> country at a <\/span><\/span>foreign<\/span><\/span> time, and as such, are more dependent than ever on the university. <\/span><\/span>Through all of this, <\/span><\/span>Sebastian was able to receive support from the <\/span><\/span>Centre for International Experience (CIE<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/span>to work out details for his visa<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>plan his<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>finances with the help of the Registrar\u2019s Office<\/a> <\/span><\/span>in order to<\/span><\/span> return to campus this year. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

By highlighting some of these tensions, we hope to think of how we can continually sup<\/span>port students in these times. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Resources for UofT International Students<\/strong><\/h2>\n