Program Overview

Globally Networked Learning

Globally Networked Learning (GNL) is a collaborative approach to research, teaching, and learning that connects students, faculty, and researchers from across the world to explore cross-cultural perspectives and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex health issues. Activities may include interscholastic discussions, joint lectures, shared assignments, or collaborative research.

Community Health and Nursing with Hong Kong Baptist University

Professor Haghiri-Vijeh integrated GNL into the Community Health and Nursing course by having her students collaborate with students from Hong Kong Baptist University to engage in an open-access virtual simulation, where they learned how to provide responsive and affirming healthcare for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through social justice and equity.

Health of Families & Social Groups with Mansa Memorial Hospital

Professor Faith Root creatively incorporated GNL in the Health of Families and Social Groups course for interested nurses and midwives with Mansa Memorial Hospital in Ghana. This comprehensive course focused on maternal and perinatal health, and local co-instructors provided on-site teaching, ensuring relevance to the Ghanaian healthcare context.

Global Health Policy: Power and Politics with Kenyatta University and Fulda University of Applied Sciences

In partnership with Kenyatta University (Kenya) and Fulda University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Professor Mathieu Poirier integrated GNL into his course Global Health Policy: Power and Politics, where he and his international partners incorporated a virtual lecture series that allowed students to learn about the Canadian, German, and Kenyan public health systems directly from course directors based in each country.

Ethics and Health Equity with Olinda Medical School

Professor Iris Epstein collaborated with Professors Maria Gabriella Albertins and Marcelo Maia, who teach health policy at Olinda School of Medicine in Brazil, to deliver an innovative GNL experience as part of her course, Ethics and Health Equity in Inter-professional Practice. This exciting initiative connected third-year Nursing students from York University with first-year medical students at Olinda School of Medicine.

Program Details

• The GNL approach connects students, faculty, and researchers from across the world to explore cross-cultural perspectives and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex health issues.
• Activities may include:
  • Interscholastic discussions
  • Joint lectures
  • Shared assignments
  • Collaborative research
• Faculty can develop their own GNL activities using personal contacts and networks, or they can reach out to York International's program and GNL consultants for matching with one of 300+ global partners.
• GNL is a true benefit to a Global Health program, as it allows for a collaborative learning environment and transnational dialogues between students.
• GNL offers an equitable way to provide real international working experience, even if a student is not able to travel abroad physically.
• Co-design methodology is an approach where students and instructors with diverse cross-cultural understandings work together to create solutions to shared challenges.
• Co-design encourages active participation from all stakeholders—students, faculty, and community members—allowing them to co-create and refine ideas collaboratively.