Welcoming emerging leaders and international scholars to NorQuest

During the Winter 2025 term, NorQuest welcomed three international visiting students—two through the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP), and one as part of the college’s growing portfolio of international research collaborations. These visits reflect NorQuest’s commitment to fostering global partnerships and providing meaningful academic and cultural exchange opportunities. 

Funded by Global Affairs Canada, ELAP supports short-term study or research opportunities in Canada for students from Latin America and the Caribbean. The program strengthens academic and cultural linkages while supporting the development of future leaders in the region. This year, NorQuest was proud to host ELAP scholars Victoria Vaz from Uruguay and Valeria Zúñiga Mora from Mexico. 

Victoria, a master's student from Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) in Uruguay, joined the Faculty of Research and Academic Innovation to support a project exploring the settlement and integration experiences of international students. Victoria led participant recruitment, conducted interviews, and synthesized findings to help inform how NorQuest supports its diverse student community.  

“This program offers Latin American and Caribbean academics an opportunity to improve their skills in several areas, such as research, networking, and participation in relevant events,” Victoria shared. “It has been a great experience professionally, but also personally—with great colleagues that made this journey an unforgettable life experience.” 

Her supervisor, Benjamin Denga, Acting Applied Research Manager with the Faculty of Research and Academic Innovation, praised Victoria’s dedication and the impact of her work: 

“Victoria maximized the fantastic lifetime opportunity provided by the ELAP program and NorQuest to participate in highly relevant research activities that intersect with her interests, helped improve her research skills, and contributed to understanding and improving the experiences of international students at NorQuest. She learned a lot about NorQuest and Canadian culture, developing very strong relationships with staff, leaders, and students across different areas of the college.” 

Inspired by the mentorship and opportunities at NorQuest, Victoria now plans to pursue a PhD. 

Valeria Zúñiga Mora, from Politécnica Santa Rosa in Querétaro, Mexico, enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Therapy Assistant program during her time at NorQuest. Through ELAP, she experienced Canadian classroom learning firsthand while expanding her academic and cultural horizons. 

NorQuest has also welcomed Nina Solberg, a PhD student from VID Specialized University in Norway, whose visit is funded by the Norwegian Research Council. Working with the Faculty of Research and Academic Innovation and the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, Nina’s research examines the lived experience of caseworkers helping clients connected to services and supports. As part of her visit, she is also learning about social work in Canada. Nina shared her motivation for choosing NorQuest for her international stay: 

“As a PhD candidate, I chose NorQuest College for my international stay because I wanted to learn phenomenology from Erika Goble, whom I greatly respect. It was also important to be at a college with a diverse international community, especially one offering social work programs. The warmth here at NorQuest is truly unique, and this experience will always remain memorable. I also admire how the college shows deep respect for Indigenous peoples and treats everyone with dignity and knowledge.” 

Nina’s supervisor, Erika Goble, Acting Dean of Research & Academic Innovation, notes: 

“International research collaborations are increasingly important in any research field, but for specialized approaches like phenomenology, they are essential. I was honored to be asked by Nina to mentor her during her visit, and she has proven herself to be a NorQuester at heart. She is a thoughtful, caring scholar and deeply engaged in the question of how to provide respectful ethical care to clients. Her work, while situated in the Norwegian context, is relevant to social workers and caseworkers everywhere.” 

Nina’s work further demonstrates NorQuest’s capacity to host and support visiting scholars from around the world, strengthening its reputation as a hub for inclusive, international research engagement. 

These visits highlight the diverse ways NorQuest fosters global connections — whether through structured scholarship programs or customized research partnerships. Faculty members are encouraged to reach out to the International Projects and Mobility team to explore how they can participate in future scholar hosting opportunities. 

NorQuest’s support for international visiting scholars is part of a broader vision: to build globally connected learning environments where students, staff, and faculty collaborate across borders and contribute to a more inclusive, informed world.