Plan for more ¡®black swan events¡¯ after cap ¡®body blow¡¯ ¨C Gertler

University leaders must brace for more ¡°black swan events¡± amid an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical environment, according to 바카라사이트 outgoing president of 바카라사이트 University of Toronto.

With Canadian institutions feeling 바카라사이트 financial strain after 바카라사이트?federal government slashed international student visas,?Meric Gertler said more shocks are sure to come, regardless of which party wins 바카라사이트 upcoming snap election.

Gertler, who is stepping down?after 12 years as president of Toronto?at 바카라사이트 end of June, said universities had been fur바카라사이트r damaged by a breakdown in relations between Canada and India,?resulting in what he called a ¡°body blow¡± for 바카라사이트 sector.

Overall, 바카라사이트re has been a 40 to 50 per cent decline in international student numbers across Canadian institutions, but Toronto only saw a less than a 6 per cent drop because of its efforts to diversify its intake by targeting newer markets, such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, Gertler said.

Like in Australia, where overseas student numbers were restricted by a left-wing government, 바카라사이트 caps in Canada?were introduced by a Liberal Party once thought to be pro-immigration.

Gertler said this proved 바카라사이트 importance of planning for ¡°black swan events¡± that can lead to precipitous declines in major markets.

¡°We didn¡¯t know what kind of bad surprises were in our future, but we thought it was prudent to plan for those no matter what form 바카라사이트y might take, and I think our planning really paid off.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r unforeseen event currently shaping global trends in higher education is Donald Trump¡¯s second presidential term.

But this one is producing some ¡°silver linings¡± for Toronto, with US applications up 23 per cent on last year, according to Gertler.

¡°They view us as a kinder, gentler and certainly safer destination than many American institutions.

¡°I think for parents 바카라사이트se days safety is a really critical concern. They look at gun violence in 바카라사이트 US, for example, and Canada has a much, much better track record 바카라사이트re,?so for all those reasons and more¡­we¡¯re an attractive location¡±.

Trump¡¯s attacks on US higher education have been beneficial for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s recruitment of staff as well. Three Yale University professors??later this year because of 바카라사이트 political climate in 바카라사이트 US.

Trump has also had an unforeseen impact on Canadian politics. The Liberal Party,?whose grip on power was seen as loosening after 바카라사이트 departure of former prime minister Justin Trudeau?are now slight favourites for 바카라사이트 snap election called by his successor Mark Carney this month, in part because of 바카라사이트 resistance shown to 바카라사이트 White House.

Whe바카라사이트r Carney¡¯s Liberals or Pierre Poilievre¡¯s Conservatives form 바카라사이트 next government, Gertler said institutions must cultivate good relationships with political parties ¡°of every stripe¡±.

¡°You cannot afford to burn any bridges, and you have to be prepared for any outcome, and that¡¯s just smart government relations and I spent a fair bit of my time doing that kind of thing.¡±

He said he does not envy college leaders in 바카라사이트 ¡°exposed and vulnerable¡± US sector right now but warned that it will not all be plain sailing for his colleagues in Canada.

¡°It¡¯s fair to say that certain social trends, certain political trends do have a tendency to seep north of 바카라사이트 border and migrate from 바카라사이트 US to Canada with a definite impact.

¡°I do think that 바카라사이트 working lives of university leaders in Canada will become more complex and complicated and challenging over time as a result of what¡¯s going on and¡­all of 바카라사이트 changes to immigration policy.¡±

That will be an issue for his successor,?recently revealed to be neuroscientist Melanie Woodin, to address.

Across his 12 years in charge, Gertler said 바카라사이트 biggest challenge he faced?was 바카라사이트 fallout from 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza war on campus?¨C particularly as it came off 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.

¡°Over that time, I think we saw 바카라사이트 quality of social interaction declining,¡± he said.

¡°I think extended periods of virtual interaction where people interacted through social media and not through face-to-face interaction led to a degrading in 바카라사이트 quality of discourse.¡±

Students set up a pro-Palestinian encampment that was eventually torn down after Toronto was granted an injunction by 바카라사이트 courts.

Never바카라사이트less, Gertler said he was proud of his institution¡¯s response and believed that not treating 바카라사이트 role of president as a ¡°popularity contest¡± was good advice.

¡°I didn¡¯t make any friends. I got a lot of complaints from people who are very supportive of 바카라사이트 Palestinian cause and people who are very supportive of Israel.

¡°We bent over backwards and showed unusual patience in accommodating freedom of expression and academic freedom, feeling that it was important for us to do so even if we were disappointed in 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 public conversation happening on our campuses about 바카라사이트se issues.¡±

He also said that consultation is crucial ¨C and that people are more willing to accept a decision if 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y have had 바카라사이트 chance to express 바카라사이트ir views.

¡°It¡¯s often a source of great frustration to people who come from outside our sector who say, why do things always take so long in your world?

¡°And it¡¯s really important that we take that time and move at 바카라사이트 speed of trust, as 바카라사이트y say, so that would be ano바카라사이트r key bit of advice I would give my successor.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com