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Local and Global Engagement > Strategy 19: Global Networks > Designing strong cities, smashing silos and staying optimistic
Local and Global Engagement
  • Strategy 16: Public Relevance
  • Strategy 17: Indigenous Engagement
  • Strategy 18: Alumni Engagement
  • Strategy 19: Global Networks
  • Strategy 20: Co-ordinated Engagement
Story

Designing strong cities, smashing silos and staying optimistic

April 21, 2021
Local and Global Engagement | Strategy 19: Global Networks
Theme: Collaboration
Parsa Shani is tapping multiple disciplines to build urban resilience. Photo credit: Parsa Shani

Growing up in Vancouver, Parsa Shani always had a “lingering notion” that there was a lot more world out there. When he and his family, originally from Iran, moved back for a while during his middle and high school years, Mr. Shani experienced a country very different from Canada. The “massive, hectic, megacity of Tehran” made an impression and piqued his curious mind. That also lingered.

Three years later, Mr. Shani was wrapping up Year 2 of a UBC Civil Engineering degree. But the standard co-op offerings – construction and geotech work – weren’t speaking to him. Cities were. He ended up foregoing the co-ops altogether and signed up for a UBC global seminar in Chongqing, China – and that altered his course for good. 

Please visit the Vice-Provost International website to read the full story.

Through Strategy 19: Global Networks, UBC is helping students, faculty and staff broaden their perspectives, learn from peers and colleagues around the globe, and contribute to a shared positive impact

Explore More: Strategy 19: Global Networks

March 25, 2021

Celebrate UBC global engagement at the strategy launch

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May 3, 2021

UBC launches future-looking global engagement strategy, In Service

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