Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori di Pavia in Italy Through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2011, our Faculty is pleased to collaborate with the Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori di Pavia (IUSS) in Italy on a doctoral cotutelle. In the next two years, this unique program will allow exceptional PhD candidates to study and research at both world-class institutions at an early stage of their career. The industrial and collaborative research ties our Faculty and IUSS have established across the world will provide a remarkable training ground for these students.
Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia The most efficient CQD (colloidal quantum dot) solar cell ever produced is a result of a fruitful four-year partnership with King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), one of Saudi Arabia’s newest universities. Despite its miniature size, the cell produced energy conversion efficiency as high as 6 per cent, the highest rate ever seen. The collaborative effort, which included researchers from Penn State, has resulted in a first-of-its-kind licensing agreement by U of T and KAUST for rights to quantum-dot solar technology. The two universities celebrated their partnership by hosting a 2011 nanomaterials international conference in Toronto, organized by Professor Ted Sargent (ECE), the Faculty’s Vice-Dean, Research. A similar licensing agreement for quantum-dot solar technology rights has been developed with Addis Ababa University. It represents an expanding partnership between Addis Ababa and U of T. Faculty members from ECE and MIE taught at the Ethiopian university in 2011, with ChemE scheduled to visit in fall 2012.
Universidad de Santiago de Chile The Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2011 with the engineering school at Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) opens up the potential for joint research initiatives, co-hosted conferences, internships and exchanges. In particular, the collaboration creates opportunities as we seek to recruit top international students for our PhD programs and USACH works towards addressing a shortage of PhD-trained engineering faculty.
Graduate International Foundation Program The International Foundation Program for undergraduates, launched successfully in 2011, is migrating to graduate studies. Nearly 70 applicants expressed interest in the Graduate International Foundation Program (G-IFP) that began in September 2012. The G-IFP represents a transitional opportunity for eligible international graduate students who do not meet U of T’s English language standard. It grants them conditional acceptance to the MEng program while they participate in a four-month course of intensive English instruction in an engineering context. Upon successful completion of the program, students begin their MEng the following January with a half-course credit towards their degree. The Faculty received applications for the first offering of G-IFP by students from 15 countries.
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering | Annual Report 2012 | Chapter 9: International Initiatives | 83