Munk School of Global Affairs

Munk School of Global Affairs

Devonshire House, home to the Munk School
Established 2000
Type Faculty
Academic affiliation University of Toronto
Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Director Janice Stein
Website munkschool.utoronto.ca

The Munk School of Global Affairs (also referred to as the Munk School or Munk) at the University of Toronto is an interdisciplinary academic centre with various research and educational programs committed to the field of globalization. It occupies the historical Devonshire House, a former residential hall of the university's Trinity College, and in 2012 opened a second location at 315 Bloor Street West (Observatory Site).

The school was founded as the Munk Centre for International Studies in 2000, named after Canadian businessman and philanthropist Peter Munk who made a $6.4 million donation to finance the construction.[1] It was renamed the Munk School of Global Affairs on April 13, 2010 when Peter and Melanie Munk made a further $35 million donation. This contribution by the Munk Foundation amounts to 44% of the total funding for the Centre, with the federal and provincial governments contributing $25 million each.[2] According to the University of Toronto, the donation made by the Munk family to create the school allows the University to "expand U of T's research capacity, enable the hiring of new faculty and drive the expansion of new facilities".[3]

The School is located in the north and south wings of Devonshire House[4] building on Devonshire Place, and the Observatory site at 315 Bloor Street West (formerly Admissions and Awards). The refurbished Devonshire House is shared with Trinity College's John W. Graham Library. In 2012 the Munk School of Global Affairs opened its second location on 315 Bloor Street West (Observatory Site), which houses the offices for the directors of research and education programs.

The current director is Professor Janice Stein, a widely cited expert on conflict resolution and international relations, with an emphasis on the Middle East.

Education Programs

Undergraduate

Graduate

Alumni

Research Centres

Research and Public Education

Master of Global Affairs Program

The Munk School's Master of Global Affairs[5] (MGA) program is two-year interdisciplinary professional degree aimed at equipping students with an awareness of global and financial systems, global civil society, and global strategic and security issues. Students are also encouraged to think critically and responsibly on global issues, and are provided with leadership training and management skill-building. The program requires students to complete a relevant internship with an NGO, an international organization such as the UN or WTO, or at an embassy or consulate abroad.

After a general first year of study, students specialize in one of three streams:

As well, MGA students can also complete their degrees concurrently with an MBA at the Rotman School of Management or with a JD at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.

Trudeau Centre

The Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies is a division of the Munk School. It administers the 'PCS' major and specialist programmes and three courses on the topic. It grew out of the Peace and Conflict Studies programme established by Anatol Rapaport in the early 1980s. In 1990, Thomas Homer-Dixon assumed the Directorship and continued in that role through 2001 when the programme was institutionalized as the Trudeau Centre. Homer-Dixon's Directorship ended in 2007. Wendy H. Wong is the current Director.

Notable Faculty

Criticism

The contract signed to establish the Munk School has been criticized by campus activists for the unprecedented level of involvement from the Munk Foundation. "The Barrick Gold magnate’s $35 million donation to the university and the Munk School of Global Affairs has attracted considerable attention," which has raised concerns about "the often-troubled behaviour of Canadian mining companies abroad."[7] Alternatively, the National Editorial Board of the National Post argues that no undue influence or involvement has ever been substantiated, and that the School's donor agreement stipulates its commitment to university rules and academic freedom.[8]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "A Global Affair | Launch of Munk School of Global Affairs, Janice Stein International Relations | By Cynthia Macdonald | University of Toronto Magazine". Magazine.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "The University of Toronto: A History / Martin L. Friedland p.199". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  5. ↑ "Home | Master of Global Affairs". Munkschool.utoronto.ca. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ Chernos, Saul. "Chomsky vs. Munk". Nowtoronto.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  8. ↑ "National Post editorial board: Generous gifts are nothing to fear | National Post". Fullcomment.nationalpost.com. 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2014-03-25.

External links

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