In December, while most of the University was preparing for exams or
the holidays, representatives from McMaster were in China showcasing
the University to an eager crowd of potential graduate students.

The first annual PhD Workshop was organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) in coordination with the Canadian Embassy and targeted the best graduate students from China's top tier universities, including many who will receive scholarships from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to study abroad.

"In recent years, McMaster has been more directly involved in
international work, from teaching projects to language projects, from research to international recruiting," says Luke Chan, associate vice-president, International Affairs. "When the Canadian ambassador to
China invited us to participate in the workshop, we jumped at the
opportunity to connect directly with the Chinese students to show what
McMaster could offer them and to discover first-hand how they might
enhance our University."

Allison Sekuler, associate vice-president and dean of Graduate
Studies and Heather Sheardown, associate dean of Graduate Studies
(Engineering) spent two eight-hour days meeting with more than 100
potential applicants in 20-minute, back-to-back interviews.

"It was intense - kind of like speed-dating, but for
recruitment," says Sheardown. "Each day after we finished our sessions,
more students would come up and want to talk. They were impressed by
what they were hearing in our presentations and from other students.
McMaster created a real buzz."

The students also made an impression on the McMaster team. "All
of the students had phenomenal test scores and marks, but face-to-face
we also learned how wonderful their English communication skills were
and how keen they were to continue their education in Canada," says
Sekuler. "I'd be thrilled to have any of those students in my lab."

The application process is now under way for next year's graduate programs and the results look promising. "We handed out a lot
of e-mail addresses when we were in Beijing. Now I'm hearing from
students and professors, thanking us for making those connections,"
says Sheardown.

"The CSC program provides us with a way to attract and fund outstanding
international students," says Sekuler. "Each CSC student who comes to
study at McMaster brings substantial funding to cover their living
expenses."

Dollars aside, Chan says that international students are
an important part of the University. "McMaster is ranked among the top
100 universities worldwide, and students from around the globe want to
come here," Chan says.

Sekuler agrees. "The diversity of cultural experiences at our
University is increasing - by bringing international students here and
by sending our Canadian students abroad for educational and research
opportunities. The whole world is opening up, and McMaster and its
students need to be part of that."

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