Preparing and inspiring Canada’s future leaders to address the world’s most complex global problems.
The GII invites grade 11 and 12 students from across the GTA to learn about and engage with a complex global problem. Once a month throughout the year, students attend lectures at the University of Toronto, featuring experts from the UofT community and working in the field. Following each lecture, students work alongside graduate-level mentors to develop a solution to the global problem. At the end of the year, every school team presents their idea to a panel of experts at a full-day Final Symposium.
GII offers students the opportunity to:
- Develop multiple perspectives on global issues
- Learn about social innovation and global citizenship
- Enhance problem-solving skills
- Acquire greater knowledge of a real-world problem
- Strengthen teamwork skills
- Engage with University of Toronto student mentors
- Enhance communication skills
- Experience presenting to and receiving feedback from field experts
Interested in taking part in the Global Ideas Institute Program? Here’s how to get involved:
STEPS TO ENGAGE WITH THE GII
- Schools enter up to three teams of four to six Grade 11 and 12 students, guided by a teacher champion
[Note: While the GII will provide background materials and a registration process for the program, teachers are responsible for leading the student recruitment/application process within their respective schools.] - Teams are matched with two U of T graduate student mentors, who guide them through the complex problem-solving process
- Mentors and students attend monthly U of T presentations by renowned experts delivering “TED style” lectures
- Students prepare for sessions by reading a curated selection of content, including podcasts, academic articles, videos, and news sources
- Teams pitch solutions to an expert panel at a day-long Final Symposium in April
Please email globalideas.munk@utoronto.ca for more information on how to register for the program.