Alumni Digest / U of T / People /
Migration shapes a teacher's doctoral questions
Emilda Thavaratnam drew on family experience and years in college classrooms to study the pressures facing international students in Ontario.
A composite image of Emilda Thavaratnam, whose doctoral research examines international students' experiences.Photo: Provided by Emilda Thavaratnam
The context
Where the work begins
Emilda Thavaratnam arrived in Canada from Sri Lanka with her mother in 1990, aged five. Both parents had taught in Sri Lanka and struggled to rebuild their careers. Watching them tutor and support Toronto's Tamil community helped shape her own understanding of teaching as service.
The takeaway
What follows
After years teaching in Ontario colleges, Thavaratnam began a doctorate at OISE while working full time and raising a family. Her research used interviews with international students and college staff to examine financial pressures, housing and education policy. She received her PhD in June and hopes to continue that research. She is also writing short stories about Tamil migration experiences.
Source reporting
Migration shapes a teacher's doctoral questions
Original summary by Alumni Digest, based on public source reporting. This independent publication is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Toronto. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.
