Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

York University is one of the most excellent universities in Canada, with a student population of approximately 55,000 on winter and fall semesters, and about 30,000 on summer semesters. It offers a wide variety of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate courses. With the highest population of students and staff being Canadians, the university is characterized by the following cultural elements.

Individualism versus collectivism

Canada is a highly individualistic community, and so is York University. Here, people are more self-centered and prefer to function independently rather than as a group. For example, at York University, people are more concerned with themselves and their close family members, and hardly are they worried about belonging and taking care of a larger social group.

Masculinity versus femininity

Canada is a moderately masculine and feminine community. Canadians are more determined to have great success, but they also value having a balance between work and life. At York University, the majority of the students are determined to get the best grades, and staffs are determined to be highly ranked. However, they also create time to relax, enjoy sports, have fun, and attend family gatherings.

Power distance

The power distance in Canadian culture is quite low as Canadians consider one another as having power, rights, and opportunities. At the York university, students and staff work together guided by respect, rights, and responsibilities. For example, as a student, one can always consult from the professors and the managers on areas that need clarification, and they will respectfully offer their assistance.

Uncertainty avoidance

Canadians are more likely to accept uncertainty rather than avoid it. That is, we are more open to new ideas, technology, business practices, and innovation. For example, the York university provides room for changes and incubation of ideas. Also, people here are so open to opinions from others, hence giving them freedom of expression.

Long-term versus short-term orientation

Canadians are more short-term oriented. That is, Canadians value the past and the present more than they value the future. As such, they hold high regard for their traditions and norms. This is a characteristic of the York University community as the people here tend to be more concerned about their social impact, such as community development projects. However, these people are less interested in saving or preparing for the future.

Indulgence versus self-restraint

Canadians are characterized as indulgent. That is, the majority of the people here have less control over their desires and impulses. The York University community is characterized by people who are more willing to realize their motivations and desires through having fun and enjoying life. For example, they are more likely to spend money on leisure activities such as movie nights, clubbing, and swimming.

Shortcomings of the Hofstede Dimensions

The main shortcoming of these dimensions is that the country is the only unit of studying culture (Jandt, 2018). For example, the facts above are based on the entire Canadian community. That is, they refer to the broader Canadian society, which may not be precisely the same for the smaller community at York University. Therefore, some of the facts may be different based on those who have experienced the York University community.