August 12, 2010
By Joyann Callender and April Kemick

Two new U of T master's degree programs are certain to attract attention from prospective students.

The professional master's degree in computer science is aimed at educating the next generation of technical leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs in turning research into practical applications, while the Munk School of Global Affairs' new master of global affairs program is the first of its kind in Canada, providing students with a solid grounding in global economic and financial systems, global institutions, global security, and global civil society.

 “After extensive outreach, this program was created to address a number of concerns,” said Professor Allan Borodin, co-chair of the program's steering committee. “First, many Canadians were not applying for graduate programs because they wanted careers in industry and were not interested in doing research. We were looking for ways to broaden the appeal of a computer science graduate degree to these students. Second, we were equally eager to deepen our relations with industry, and in particular, create a new vehicle for applying our research. The M.Sc.A.C. will have a tremendous impact in each of these areas.”

The new program will be Canada’s first to emphasize technology transfer between academia and industry, says Borodin. There will be a clear focus on applying the latest, cutting-edge computer science research in real-world situations. Of 120 applicants to the program, six elite students were selected to enroll this year, but the program will gradually build to admitting two dozen students per year.

After studying with some of the country’s foremost computer science researchers for eight months, each student will spend eight months working in an industrial internship, where they will apply their academic experience to real-world problems.

The master of global affairs curriculum is designed to equip graduates with key strategic and leadership skills so that they can succeed in international business, government and non-governmental organizations. Students are taught by renowned scholars and practitioners here and abroad and will take part in international internships as part of their programs.

“We are in the early stages of a profound transformation of the global system,” said University Professor Janice Stein, director of the Munk School of Global Affairs. “Students at the Munk School will have broad and deep access to scholars and practitioners from around the world. They will be able to navigate easily across the sectors that will shape every important global challenge in a world of rapidly diffusing power.”

In the first year of the program, student will be given a strong grounding in three streams of study: the global economy, global civil society, or global institutions. Second-year students will then be able to specialize in one of those streams and will be provided with internship opportunities at top international organizations, enterprises, and non-governmental organizations, as well as opportunities for study abroad.

“Students at the Munk School will work and study in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, as well as in Europe,” said Stein. “This unique combination of theory of practice provides a superb platform for the next generation of global leaders.”