Humber College launches a new app for students interested in global opportunities

Humber College International Centre launched a new app called iCent last week for students interested in global opportunities.

Over 350 students have downloaded the app since its launch and Humber College hopes the number will increase dramatically within the next few months. It is free to download and available for iPhone and Android.

The app provides information and resources to help guide Humber students through every step of a global learning opportunity including a guide for exploring semester exchanging, summer programs abroad, placements abroad and faculty led study abroad tours, says Rebecca Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald is the Manager of the International Mobility and Partnership at Humber College. She and her partner Ashley Tinoco are responsible for designing and maintaining the app.

Humber College has over 600 students who pursue global opportunities every year. These students have to follow a certain process before, during, and after their travel. They have access to a travel bursary, support for travel and risk management, and other international opportunities. All of this information can be found through the International Centre or on different pages of Humber’s website. iCent combines these necessary steps and information for students who consider going abroad. Students can find their program information as well as share their travel photos and stories through this app.

“iCent stands for International Centre,” says Fitzgerald.

The application was developed by Ganesh Neelanjanmath who came to Canada in 2011 as an international student.

Ganesh Neelanjanmath, the developer of iCent

Neelanjanmath says initially iCent was “just a passion project” and it was not meant to be monetized. His experience as an international student with an IT background influenced the structure of the application. He recognized the need of a platform for the International Center at his school.

“There is a problem and I have a solution to it, so let me build it”, he says as he describes his initiative for developing the app.

iCent was first launched in 2015 at Sheridan College and it is currently being used by 40 institutions in Canada. Neelanjanmath says the app is like an email account. Everyone has their own email accounts with their personal content in it.

All of the 40 institutions use the same app but it has been catered to their own programs and services.

Fitzgerald says, she and Tinoco had the liberty to design their own icons for Humber’s account. This app is important for Humber because it is interactive.

“The idea of having an app is that we want to be able to connect and have interaction with students,” she says.

For example, there is a check-in feature in the app. This feature comes in handy in case of a natural disaster or a security threat as the student can contact the school through this feature.

There is also a packing checklist students can go through to get details about what they should bring with them.

“Its essentially all in there at their fingertips, a travel resource with all aspects of travel,” Fitzgerald says.

Fashion Management Humber College student Zuna Suhail, 21, says she is excited for the app.

She and her friends considered going abroad before the app was launched, however, they did not take an initiative to go to the International Centre.

“I would rather use the app than go to the International Centre, It’s just easier,” she says.