Glocal Learning Symposium (McMaster)
Every year, approximately 90 students from McMaster University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham gather at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, for a two-week course. Students work together to explore how Global Health regulations such as the UN SDGs and conventions of the WHO transfer to a localized context. They focus on topics such as mental health, refugee health, sexual and reproductive health, and planetary/environmental health. In addition, students participate in a conference with keynote speakers and concurrent thematic sessions with student thesis and scholarly presentations.
Course Format
- Field visits to sites such as local clinics; the Hub; hospitals; climate exhibitions; and community-based organizations
- Group work in small multidisciplinary teams.
- Interviews with experts and practitioners.
- Engaging discussions with peers on thesis and scholarly research topics.
Related experience
“The Glocal Symposium served as a nexus for interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-cultural dialogue, highlighting the transformative potential of collective action in addressing global health challenges. As participants embark on their respective academic and professional journeys, they carry with them the lessons and insights gleaned from this enriching experience, poised to effect positive change in the global health landscape.”
Yusra Naqvi, 2025 Global Health Alumni, McMaster University
Staff involved
Dr. Sujane Kandasamy