Month: July 2025

Date: July 21, 2025

We are pleased to announce that NOIC Academy has signed an updated cooperation agreement with York University, one of Canada’s leading institutions, further formalizing a special admission pathway for our Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) graduates.

What This Means for Our Students

Under this enhanced partnership:

• Graduates from NOIC’s OSSD program who meet the GPA thresholds and course prerequisites set out in Schedule A of the agreement will be considered for guaranteed admission to designated York University undergraduate programs.
• These requirements differ from York University’s standard published admission criteria and are tailored specifically for NOIC students under this agreement. For example, some Social Science and Liberal Arts programs may require a minimum average of 72%.
• Admission to certain competitive programs—such as Business Administration or Design—may also require supplementary applications in addition to meeting academic requirements.

We encourage students to consult with their guidance counselors for detailed information about GPA thresholds and program-specific requirements.

Important Notes and Disclaimer

• Final admission decisions are at the sole discretion of York University.
• This pathway opportunity is based on the current agreement and admissions policies in effect as of July 21, 2025.

Should there be any future changes, please refer to the official York University website and NOIC Academy’s latest announcements for updates.

Moving Forward with Confidence

This partnership reflects our shared commitment to empowering students with global academic opportunities and streamlined access to top Canadian universities. We’re proud to support our students in their pursuit of higher education through strong institutional collaboration.

We are proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Malcolm McKenzie to our Advisory Committee, bringing with him a remarkable legacy of global school leadership and a deep commitment to educational excellence. A South African by origin, Mr. McKenzie pursued his studies at the Universities of Cape Town, Oxford, and Lancaster, earning degrees in Literature, Philosophy, and Applied Linguistics. He is a former Rhodes Scholar, having held the scholarship at both Oxford and Lancaster.

Mr. McKenzie began his career in academia as a university lecturer, but quickly found his calling in school leadership. Over the past three decades, he has served as Principal of four distinguished institutions: Maru-a-Pula School in Botswana, the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut (USA), and Keystone Academy in Beijing, where he pioneered an East-West approach to education. He was also honored as the first Bicentennial Fellow at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. Recently, he has been the Interim Head at the United World College in Japan, and the American International School of Lagos.

An influential figure in international education, Mr. McKenzie has served on the board of the Round Square Association, a network of around 250 schools worldwide committed to experiential education and global citizenship. In 1997, he co-founded the Global Connections Foundation, a confederation of innovative schools, and served as its Director until recently.

Mr. McKenzie is not only a strategic leader but also a thoughtful writer and reflective educator.
Despite his administrative roles, he remains a hands-on school leader who deeply values time spent with students and classroom learning. His commitment to nurturing character, curiosity, and critical thinking has shaped generations of learners across the world.

We are honored to welcome Mr. McKenzie to our Advisory Committee. His wisdom, experience, and global perspective will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our mission and vision for education in a rapidly changing world. Please join us in warmly welcoming him to our school community.

Roy Huang, CEO & President, NOIC Academy