Academics without Borders (AWB) Webinar: Join us to learn about AWB and Volunteering Opportunities

Thursday, Feb 19, 2026 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

McMaster faculty, retirees and staff, please join us for a virtual information session on Academics Without Borders (AWB), a Canadian not-for-profit organization that supports capacity building projects in the higher education sector in low- and middle-income countries. These projects are aimed at increasing the local capacity of universities to further advance their academic and research goals, as well as contribute to their overall human development.  Examples of AWB projects include developing research capacity, building academic programs, curriculum review and development, enhancing pedagogy, policy assessment and development, academic support services, and university governance.  

AWB offers volunteer opportunities to Canadian university faculty members, staff and retirees interested in joining existing projects or introducing new ones. Projects are built on established relationships with colleagues at collaborating tertiary institutions. McMaster University is a member of the Academics Without Borders (AWB) Network of Canadian universities and colleges.  

McMaster Faculty, retirees, and staff are invited to join a webinar on Thursday, Feb 19, 2026 10:00 AM. 

Session Topics: 

• Overview of Academics without Borders 

• Details and expectations of volunteering opportunities 

• Financial support 

• Experience as a volunteer shared by one of the speakers 

Registration:  

Register in advance for this meeting: 

https://mcmaster.zoom.us/meeting/register/CF-TXLsXQdmaJYlcA390Gw 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

For any questions or assistance, please contact Adelina Sylaj 

Presenters: 

Corrie Young, Associate Executive Director 

Corrie has been a project manager with AWB since 2010 and the associate executive director since 2014. Prior to joining AWB, Corrie was the executive assistant to the Rector and an assistant lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Media and Social Sciences at the National University of Rwanda. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Geography from the University of Alberta and a master’s degree in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University. 

Andrea Hemmerich, PhD (Biomedical Engineering) 

Dr. Andrea Hemmerich is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queen’s University and at the W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology at McMaster University, where she teaches Design Thinking. As Co-Founder of Up4 The Challenge, an award-winning non-profit promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for social impact, she co-designs and delivers inclusive, experiential learning programs for underserved youth across Canada. Over the last two decades she has participated in ventures spanning geographical and cultural boundaries across design, engineering, health, education, and international development fields and for this session, she will share her experience as a volunteer with AWB in Kenya.   

Resources:  

Academics Without Borders_Network Handbook  

Academics Without Borders_Volunteer Package  

Academics Without Borders Newsletter Registration