IEW Keynote Speaker

Champlain College and Trent International would like to welcome students, staff, faculty and Alumni, along with the greater Peterborough community to join us in conversation with this years speaker Paul Davidson '83.  Paul Davidson is President and CEO of Universities Canada, past executive director of World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and Champlain Alumni. 

Paul Davidson - When the world turns inward, Canada’s Universities reach out. - Nov 17th 7-8pm  - Register here

Paul will offer reflections on the impact of the pandemic on international education and research. This talk will put a global perspective on the value of education and the importance of our fight for access to a university education in the face of a pandemic.

International Education Week (IEW) is a celebration of international engagement efforts and the vital impact that international experience has on preparing students for the future in a globalized world. From November 16-20, Trent University joins over 100 countries globally in celebrating international education, international students, and internationalization. Trent Study abroad website contains a full list of events that are going on at Trent for International education week.

Each year, Trent International and Champlain College collaborate in offering a keynote speaker which brings in experts from across Canada to share their experiences enhancing education globally and working on globalizing our Canadian schools. See the list of past speakers below.

2019 IEW - Keynote Speaker - Stephen Lewis "Education: The Worlds Greatest Force for Good"

News Story: https://www.trentu.ca/news/story/25655

Education: The World’s Greatest Force for Good

November 22, 2019

Stephen Lewis delivers inspiring and candid lecture on the value of education in a globalized world

Stephen Lewis is a widely respected former politician and an advocate in the fight for equality, climate change action, and universal education. In his lecture titled “Education: The World’s Greatest Force for Good”, he highlighted the many ways in which education is the most underestimated instrument for social transformation.

“How does one build an international community that has respect and regard for each other and understands the priorities of the human condition and deals with issues in a way which is informed and knowledgeable and effective - how do you do that without education?” he noted on November 18 at the Trent University Athletics Centre.

He emphasized that education is the solution to many of the world’s crises– education breaks the cycle of violence and conflict; it is a pathway to the prevention of HIV; it is the guide to a superior understanding of the human condition by eradicating ignorance and discrimination and working towards reconciliation; it is the force that has enlightened the world to the ramifications of climate change and our responsibility to act.

“Education is so often the answer to the restoration of human civility,’ Stephen expressed.

Among those that attended the lecture, was Environmental Studies student Ankit Tripathi who expressed, "As someone in their higher education, not only did Stephen Lewis showcase how valuable education is for the human civilization, but also reminded everyone that educated folks, have a responsibility to empower others through education! I, just as everyone else, have a vested responsibility to make the changes I want to see in the world and continue empowering everyone.”

Trent alumni Jessica Evans noted “As an international development studies graduate, it was moving to see the prominent human rights advocate in his eighties critical of the current global climate but hopeful that we have the agency to move toward a more optimistic future if we just work together at a human level, starting with education. Stephen is not daunted by the challenging conversations necessary to stimulate change.”

Before the lecture, Mr. Lewis took time to sit down with several student leaders at Trent University. They discussed WUSC, the Student Refugee Program at Trent, and what it means to be a student during the global climate crisis.

Stephen Lewis kicked off International Education Week at Trent University, which is a celebration of international educational efforts, global engagement, international knowledge, and diversity.

Event Details

Monday, November 18, 2019
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Each year, the Canadian Bureau for International Education hosts International Education Week (IEW). IEW is a celebration of international educational efforts and the vital impact that global engagement, international knowledge, and diversity has on preparing students for the future in a globalized world. From November 18th-22nd, Trent University joins over 100 countries globally in celebrating international education, international students, and internationalization.

This year, Trent International and Champlain College are celebrating IEW by hosting Mr. Stephen Lewis, a globally recognized ambassador for international development and human rights, as our keynote speaker. Mr. Lewis will highlight the importance of education as a pillar of social change in a globalized world.

Trent students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend this keynote event.

Stephen Lewis is the co-founder and co-director of AIDS-Free World, an international advocacy organization. He is also the board chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Mr. Lewis is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Clinton Health Access Initiative and Emeritus Board Member of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. He served as a Commissioner on the Global Commission on HIV & the Law and on the Lancet Commission on Public Health and International Drug Policy. Stephen Lewis’ work with the United Nations spanned more than two decades. He was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from June 2001 until the end of 2006. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Lewis was Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF at the organization’s global headquarters in New York. From 1984 through 1988, he was Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations. From 1970-1978, Mr. Lewis was leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, during which time he became leader of the Official Opposition. Mr. Lewis is the author of the best-selling book, Race Against Time. He holds 42 honorary doctorates from Canadian and American universities. In 2003, Stephen Lewis was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honour for lifetime achievement. In 2007, King Letsie III, monarch of the Kingdom of Lesotho (a small mountainous country in Southern Africa) invested Mr. Lewis as Knight Commander of the Most Dignified Order of Moshoeshoe. The order is named for the founder of Lesotho; the knighthood is the country’s highest honour.