A global home on campus

Step inside Mount Royal’s Global Student Lounge on any given afternoon and you’ll find students chatting over coffee, a few concentrating on a board game and others studying side by side in an easy, welcoming buzz.

Formerly called the International Student Support Centre, the space has become a home away from home for students from every corner of the world, and for anyone curious about connecting across cultures.

“The new name better reflects its role as a welcoming hub for all students,” says Kristen Chappell, international student support and immigration advising coordinator at MRU. “It’s not just for international students. It’s for everyone looking for a global community.”

The Lounge thrives on peer leadership, run by a rotating team of student volunteers and two student employees who plan events and actively cultivate a sense of belonging on campus. From karaoke nights to cultural showcases, the calendar is always full of opportunities to meet people, learn something new and have fun.

Chappell says the peer-led approach is what makes the space so engaging. “There’s a different kind of energy when peers are planning things. You can feel that it’s a space built by students, for students.”

On a typical day, 20 or 30 students might gather there, while events can draw 50 or more. For many, the Lounge becomes a key pillar of their MRU experience. “Students always say, ‘I wish I had found it sooner. It’s the most meaningful part of my time here,’” Chappell says.

Meet Duke Vo, student lead

Originally from Vietnam, Duke Vo’s journey to MRU started with his mom’s encouragement to study abroad, a path that led him first to Singapore and then to Canada. After finishing high school at Ernest Manning in Calgary, he enrolled in MRU’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, majoring in human resources.

Vo says he chose MRU for its smaller classes and close-knit atmosphere. “It’s easier to talk to professors and make friends." He remembers one of those early friendships clearly. “I was in accounting class and wanted to see if I could make friends with someone. I shook hands with the guy next to me, and it turns out he lived near me. Ever since then, we’ve been close and we hang out all the time.”

Vo began volunteering at the Global Student Lounge in his fourth year, though he wishes he had started sooner. “Since then, I’ve been here nearly every single day,” he laughs. “It’s my safe space, and a good study spot too.”

Now working as the Lounge’s student lead, Vo helps organize events, welcome new students and support volunteers. “I really committed so much time of my life in this place,” he says, which made it an easy decision to apply for the job. “Now I get to do events, I get to talk to students. It gives me a real purpose.”

He’s seen firsthand how the space draws people in. “Students will come in once, see what’s going on and keep coming back,” he says. “They’ll ask, ‘What else can I do here? Can I volunteer?’ ”

Outside campus life, Vo is just as enthusiastic about Calgary itself. “I fell in love with the parks, there are so many great places to walk and bike,” he says. “It’s also super close to beautiful national parks for hiking, like Banff and Waterton. I love that about Calgary.”

One of his standout MRU memories was watching his friends graduate. “I was sitting with my two other buddies watching our friends walk across the stage. It was beautiful, we took so many photos,” he says. “Those friends have been with me since first year.”

With his own graduation approaching, those same friends — and his family, visiting from Vietnam — will be there to cheer him on.

Meet Christine Jensen, student intern

For Christine Jensen, a Bachelor of Communication – Information Design student, the path to the Global Student Lounge began halfway around the world. She spent a semester abroad at Hirosaki University in northern Japan, where she was the only Canadian student.

“I had to get out of my comfort zone because there was no comfort zone to stay in,” she says.

Her memories of Japan remain vivid, especially the sakura (cherry blossom) season. “You see it in movies and anime and think you know what it’s going to look like, but when you’re there, it’s like poetry for your eyes. I didn’t know flowers could make me feel that way,” she says with a laugh.

She also joined classmates in the Neputa Festival, parading under enormous hand-painted floats through the streets of Hirosaki. “It was such a surreal experience. I grew a lot while I was there.”

Someone told her to make it her “yes semester,” advice that shaped her approach to every opportunity. “Even the hard times are learning experiences,” she says. “Be open to learning, be open to being wrong and be curious.”

Returning to MRU, Jensen wanted to recreate that same sense of belonging she’d found abroad. “In Japan, the people who helped me the most were other students at the university’s support space,” she says. “I didn’t want to lose that when I came home, so I started volunteering here and just got more involved.”

Now working as the Lounge’s student intern, Jensen helps coordinate the Language Partners program, organize cultural events and promote opportunities for students to study or work abroad.

She’s passionate about showing others that international experiences are more accessible than they might think. “If I knew you could go abroad earlier in my studies, I would have gone sooner,” she says. “You don’t have to commit to a full semester. There are field schools that last anywhere from two to six weeks, or work terms and internships abroad.” She adds that the first step is attending an info session to learn more, and that it’s never too early to start planning how international experiences could fit into your studies.

Her experience has also shaped her future goals. “This whole thing has opened me up to the potential of working with students,” she says. “I never saw myself working at a learning institution until I realized how rewarding it can be to help students succeed and enjoy their post-secondary experience.”

A space for everyone

Each semester, about 30 student volunteers help bring the Lounge to life. Some days are quiet, filled with study sessions and shared snacks. Others are lively, full of laughter and conversation.

Chappell says the easiest way to get involved is to simply drop in. “Students are welcome to pop in and see the space, ask questions or join one of our events or programs.”

That spirit of openness extends into International Education Week, running Nov. 17 to 19, which celebrates MRU’s global connections through an international photo contest, cultural booths, performances and games.

For Chappell, the week, and the Lounge itself, embody what makes MRU special. “If you’re curious about other cultures, want to share your own or just want to meet great people, you’re welcome here,” she says.

Every student who walks through the Lounge’s doors brings their own piece of the world with them. Together, they’ve built something that feels both global and deeply personal, a reminder that home isn’t always a place, but the people who make you feel like you belong.