Deep Saini, VP of U of T and principal of UTM, is traveling to India alongside Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne in a trade mission set to promote economic opportunities between the province and India, the world’s second most populated nation.
Saini will be representing U of T to promote the university’s programs, including UTM’s newest initiative, the I-Challenge.
“I-Challenge is a program designed to provide students with an opportunity to see what it is like to live on campus at U of T and experience an innovative program while experiencing many different facets of the campus and the undergraduate and graduate departments,” said Donna Heslin, the assistant director for IMI’s management team, in an email to The Medium.
According to Heslin, the program is intended for international high school students in grades 10, 11 and 12; however, local students will also be considered. The Institute for Management and Innovation and I-CUBE will head the program and camp counsellors will be hired this fall with the program expected to launch in Summer 2017.
“I-Challenge is a two-week program that exposes students to a timely entrepreneurial case,” said Hestin. “Students will work in teams to provide a creative and effective solution to this challenge.”
According to UTM communications officer Blake Eligh, Saini’s upcoming trip is a provincial initiative and has no correlation with Saini’s trip to India during his sabbatical. Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie will also join the trade mission alongside the premier and other postsecondary representatives.
In a press release issued by the mayor’s office earlier this month, Crombie’s presence in the delegation will focus on economic opportunity.
“We will further promote economic development opportunities, the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and celebrate a far greater appreciation and understanding of Canada and India’s enriching cultural traditions and shared values,” read the statement.
The premier, who arrived in India last Wednesday, is expected to lead the delegation from January 31 to February 5.
