McMaster Strengthens Global Connections and Showcases Leadership at CBIE2025 Conference

McMaster University, represented by the Office of International Affairs and the Student Success Centre | Student Affairs, participated in the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) Annual Conference in Quebec City, held November 2–5, 2025. As Canada’s largest gathering of international education professionals, CBIE2025 drew more than 1,000 participants from 26 countries to engage in dialogue, forge partnerships, and share new ideas. The event centered on themes of inclusion, equity, and internationalization, providing fertile ground for collaboration and innovation. 

The McMaster delegation delivered four sessions that reflected the university’s leadership in inclusive, community-driven international education. The team contributed to meaningful discussions, deepened institutional connections, and strengthened McMaster’s presence within the national and international education community. 

Dr. Amira ElMasri, Director, Office of International Affairs; Gisela Oliveira, Associate Director, Student Success Centre; and Mahmoud Mouselli, Project Coordinator, Office of International Affairs, facilitated a session titled, Strengthening International Education Through a Community-Based Approach to International Internships, highlighting  McMaster’s partnership with Empowerment Squared in implementing the International Youth Internship Program, funded by Global Affairs Canada. The program empowers Canadian youth with hands-on experience in Ghana and Liberia through internships co-developed with local organizations. The presentation emphasized the transformative power of community-driven programming to address global challenges and foster authentic international engagement. 

The bilingual panel titled, Student Mobility: Life After GSO, was jointly facilitated by Michael Lafleur, Global Learning Coordinator, Student Success Centre, McMaster University and colleagues from University of Guelph, Simon Fraser University and EduNova.  The panel reflected on the legacy of the Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) and shared institutional strategies for maintaining access to global learning experiences through innovative funding and student support.  

In response to the fast-changing landscape and evolving need of providing timely and accurate advising to support international students, Yufei Zheng, Manager International and Exchange Student Experience, Student Success Centre, McMaster University, collaborated with a colleague from New Brunswick Community College to facilitate an interactive presentation for higher education student services professionals, Supporting Ourselves by Supporting Others: Building Proactive Interdepartmental Relationships. The session invited participants to reflect on their own work structure and explore how effective connections with colleagues can ultimately lead to better overall understanding and service for international students. During the presentation, the presenters shared successful initiatives from their own institutions and engaged in insightful discussions on how these initiatives may be implemented at other higher education institutions of various sizes and organizational structures.  

In a session titled, Navigating Faculty Mobility: Challenges and Successes in Latin America, Michael Lafleur, in collaboration with colleagues from Global Affairs Canada, Douglas College, and George Brown College examined lessons from the Faculty Mobility for Partnership Building (FMPB) program. Drawing on collaborative projects in Panama, Colombia, and Mexico, the discussion explored institutional processes, faculty preparation, and effective practices for fostering reciprocal partnerships that strengthen institutional capacity and advance international collaboration. 

Beyond the formal program, the McMaster team engaged with representatives from a wide range of Canadian and international institutions. These conversations focused on exchanging expertise and knowledge as well as exploring opportunities for student mobility, joint research collaboration, and community engagement programs aligned with the university’s Global Engagement Strategy and the mandate of the Student Success Centre, Student Affairs. 

This year’s CBIE conference also marked the launch of the ‘Learn Canadian,’ A global digital marketing to counter misinformation, recalibrate Canada’s value proposition and ensure Canada remains a destination of choice for top global talent. 

McMaster’s participation at CBIE2025 reflected its ongoing commitment to building an inclusive, innovative, and globally connected academic environment. By sharing expertise, forging new partnerships, and learning from and with peers, McMaster continues to advance its vision for impactful international education.  

The McMaster team at the CBIE included: 

• Dr. Amira El Masri, Director, Office of International Affairs 

• Gisela Oliveira, Associate Director, Career Development, Global Mobility and International Student Success, Student Success Centre 

• Yufei Zheng, Manager, International and Exchange Student Experience, Student Success Centre 

• Michael Lafleur, Global Learning Coordinator, Student Success Centre 

• Ana Pereira, Lead Coordinator (International Students), Student Success Centre 

• Mahmoud Mouselli, Project Coordinator, Office of International Affairs