UOIT receives $100,000 donation from the Italian Cultural Centre of Durham

University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) students will now have more opportunities to study abroad and gain valuable hands-on experiences thanks to a $100,000 donation from the Italian Cultural Centre of Durham (ICCD).

At a signing ceremony March 20 at the Oshawa Italian Recreation Club, the university unveiled the UOIT – Politecnico di Torino – ICCD Student Mobility Award. This award will be disbursed annually to eligible undergraduate and graduate students at UOIT and at Italy’s Politecnico di Torino. It will provide financial assistance toward the students’ participation in academic exchanges and/or long-term study and research at the partnering institution.

“This is a very exciting announcement for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and of course for our students who will benefit from the generous support of the Italian Cultural Centre of Durham,” said Susan McGovern, Vice-President, External Relations and Advancement. “This gift will support UOIT’s commitment to providing high-quality programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, and strengthen our academic exchanges with Politecnico di Torino in Italy.” 

UOIT’s expanding international portfolio now includes agreements with more than 30 universities in Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy and Japan.

Following the signing, Jessica Cervi, a graduate student from Politecnico di Torino now pursuing her master’s degree in Modelling and Computational Science at UOIT, shared her experiences of what it is like to study in Canada and how living in a different culture has led to gaining new perspectives and friends.

“We live in a global community and we will be enriched by sending Canadian students to pursue their studies in Italy and assisting students from Italy to study at our local university," said Bruno Scanga, Chair, ICCD Scholarship Committee.

The ICCD’s generosity has also included $92,000 in funding for a wide variety of entrance and renewable scholarships for UOIT undergraduate and graduate students.

The ICCD is also planning to host a Scholarship Gala on Saturday, May 24.

About the Italian Cultural Centre of Durham

The Oshawa Italian Recreation Club is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is the preservation, enhancement and propagation of the Italian heritage. Our objective is to provide the public with an opportunity to experience and appreciate the Italian Cultural Heritage through artistic endeavours such as literature, dance, music, theatre, movies, art exhibition, conferences, workshops and social and recreational events.

Website: oshawaitalianclub.ca