PROJECT BACKGROUND
Collaborative thinking encourages creative problem solving and knowledge sharing, which can result in valuable insight into today’s world issues. Students are not typically exposed to the academia and experiences of other countries. By improving their ability to connect with each other, students can gain a global perspective on their chosen discipline and can collaborate with others around the world.
Students who chose to study abroad (whether coming to Canada or going overseas) often face the challenge of feeling at home in their new country. Social and cultural factors can impact their ability to relate and connect to others, which can cause isolation and loneliness. This may impact their desire to complete their studies, as well as their mental health.
YuGo Project
The purpose of the YuGo project is to connect international students as well as students interested in studying abroad with each other in order to better prepare them for academic and social life in other countries.
What students are saying
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There is a lot of information that students need to know, and it can be overwhelming
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The York International website can be difficult to navigate, and students are unsure where to find the information they need
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Students feel isolated and find it difficult to make connections
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It is difficult to know everything, and there is a sense of “not knowing what you don’t know”
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Adjusting to the Canadian academic system can be difficult, for example the difference between College and University, academic integrity regulations, the grading system, etc
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Difficult to adjust to Canadian culture/lifestyle. Different norms and social rules.
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Learning the language is the most difficult barrier, not only the basic but also slag/jargon and pop culture references.
Market Review
Different universities tend to have information regarding student life of their own campuses. York International also gives some information on what to expect when you go on exchange, as well as what to expect as an international student in Canada.
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After doing a bit of research into sites for “International Pen Pals”, it is apparent that these sites are very out of date and may serve more as social chatting sites. Min, as an international student herself, confirmed that many of the connection sites and language sharing apps meant for international students end up being used to socially connect. It is also difficult to know the privacy and security of these sites. One solution found was the Pen Pals Schools site, which offers a chance to elementary students to connect with others around the world and study different topics. What this site lacks is the opportunity of connections for postsecondary students.
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Another site that is similar to our concept is The Canada Visa Study Hub, a resource hub for international students coming to Canada. There, they can participate in forums, check their immigration status, and learn more about the programs and schools in Canada. We will be taking inspiration from this site, as it demonstrates a large portion of what we had in mind for our project. However, what it lacks is the other side - we also want to showcase information and connections from other countries, whereas this site focuses on the Canadian experience. Another thing we noticed about this site is that to access any information it appears that you need to have registered with an account. What we would like to do is have an open aspect on our site, where information can be accessed freely.
This is a great place to tell your story and give people more insight into who you are, what you do, and why it’s all about you.