UW Gazette, January 22, 1997
     
     As director of international programs for the UW
faculty of science, Dr. Gerry Toogood approaches his job
with an evangelical fervor.
     "I'm appalled by parochial attitudes. There are a lot
of prejudices and silly ideas that will only be overcome by
example," he said. "If I had my way, I would insist that all
students spend at least one term in another country."
     Born and educated in Britain, he has spent the past 32
years in Canada. Although officially retired from the
chemistry department, Toogood is continuing to assist
international programs "for at least a year".
     That means hosting incoming exchange students, ensuring
current exchanges function smoothly, and selecting outgoing
exchange students. That's the official version.
     In reality, not only Toogood, but his wife, Pat, and
even their neighbours have become international ambassadors.
     "The first day (in Canada) makes more of an impact than
all the rest," he believes, and to ensure a good first
impression and a warm welcome, he has incoming exchange
students brought from the airport to his home.
     After a few glitches in the timing of travel
connections, even his neighbors keep an eye out for "forlorn
people in my garden, take them in and feed them pizza," he
laughed.
     Adjusting to life at a foreign university has its
challenges, ranging from strange food to the severe
concussion suffered by one exchange student who decided to
experience Canadian culture first hand at a hockey game and
was struck by a puck. Having worked with the program for
some six years, Toogood is prepared for anything.
     On the other end, he looks for UW science students
interested in studying abroad. Requirements include at least
a B average, a sense of humour, the ability to convey both a
written and oral message, and the ability to adapt to
change.
     Debriefing those same students when they return to UW,
Toogood sees the results of the exchange experience.
     "Returning students are excited about the great numbers
of people they've met from other countries, other religions.
They have the opportunity to see things done differently."
     His job also involves arranging new exchange programs
with "appropriate universities - ones with similar
reputations and outlooks" - and looking for exchange
linkages for graduate students and professors. Science
department exchange programs are currently in place with
universities in Australia, England, France, Germany and
Ireland, with new agreements under discussion with other
countries.
     Toogood believes benefits from international exchange
extend beyond the people directly involved in travel to
another university. The students who can't go abroad meet
foreign students at UW, he said, and faculty gain from
having people bring different perspectives to their
classrooms.
     "It's part of the internationalization of the
university," he added, "and an opportunity to extend the
reputation of the University of Waterloo."
     The report of a "working group on international
connections", presented to the commission on institutional
planning last year, urged expansion of the university's
international initiatives.
     "The University of Waterloo is already well known and
respected in Canada and abroad for the exceptional quality
of many of its programs. Our vision is that UW should become
equally well recognized for the international dimensions of
its teaching, research and service," the report states.
     "Decentralization has worked well for UW in the past,
but it has led to a piecemeal approach to international
affairs which is seen by many people as a major weakness in
our current position," according to the working group.
     Among the recommendations made in the report for
enhancing the international stature of UW:
     ù establish a body responsible for reviewing
international activities, identifying opportunities and
recommending strategies for the entire university;
     ù develop a database of accessible, current information
on international connections, activities and opportunities;
     ù facilitate closer working relationships among those
involved in international activities across campus;
     ù improve services to faculty, visiting students and UW
students seeking international opportunities.
     A comment by PhD student Atsushi Ymada quoted in the
report illustrates the importance of internationalization
for UW:
     "People come from all over the world and meet here. And
when we graduate, we go back all over the world to deliver
what we learned here: knowledge, wisdom and friendship. And
thus we hope to create the future of the world."