Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology
The Communication, Culture and Technology Building | |
| Established | 2001 |
|---|---|
Parent institution | University of Toronto Mississauga |
| Director | Brett Caraway (acting)[1] |
| Location | , Ontario , Canada 43°33′00″N 79°39′47″W / 43.55000°N 79.66306°W |
| Website | utm.utoronto.ca/iccit |
The Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (ICCIT) is an institute and extra-departmental unit at the University of Toronto Mississauga. ICCIT covers interdisciplinary communications and new media programs programs and is based in the Communication, Culture and Technology Building in Mississauga.
The institute's flagship program, the communication, culture, information and technology (CCIT) major, was first developed in 2000; since then, ICCIT has grown to encompass four programs: CCIT; digital enterprise management; professional writing and communication; and technology, coding, and society.[1][2]
History
Work to create what would become the Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (CCIT) program took place from 1997 to the year 2000, as a collaborative initiative of the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College. Sheridan president Sheldon Levy and UTM's Cec Houston were instrumental in its creation. The program accepted its first students in 2001, as a joint offering between the two institutions. The Communication, Culture and Technology Building at UTM, which houses the institute, opened in 2004; funding for its construction was provided by the Ontario Superbuild fund in addition to $3 million from the City of Mississauga and other donations.[3]
The institute created a professional experience Certificate in Digital Media, Communication and Technology under former director Rhonda McEwen.[4]
The CCIT program ceased being a joint initiative with Sheridan College in 2024. The program is now hosted fully by the University of Toronto on its Mississauga campus.[5][2]
Academics
Research
Research conducted by faculty in the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology covers topics including the social impact of technologies such as virtual reality (VR),[6] cell phones and social media for youth,[7] online content moderation,[8] and artificial intelligence (AI).[9]
The McEwan Mediated Communication Lab is a research lab affiliated with ICCIT for communication technology and human interaction in virtual reality. It is led by Bree McEwan.[10]
Programs
- Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (CCIT)
- Digital Enterprise Management
- Professional Writing and Communication
- Technology, Coding, and Society
See also
- Toronto school of communication theory
- Centre for Culture and Technology (Toronto)
- List of academic units of the University of Toronto
References
- ^ a b "About ICCIT". Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Ahmed, Hafsa (October 25, 2020). "UTM Campus Affairs Committee discusses slight decrease in enrolment due to COVID-19". The Varsity.
- ^ Percy, John; Abbas, Sabeen (2007). "Celebrating 40 Years of History at the University of Toronto Mississauga". University of Toronto Mississauga.
- ^ "Rhonda McEwen is the U of T's Mississauga campus new Dean & Vice-Principal". Ron Fanfair. May 12, 2021.
- ^ "Communication, Culture, Information & Technology". Sheridan College. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
- ^ McEwan, Bree (February 26, 2023). "Billions have been sunk into virtual reality. To make it worth it, the industry needs to grow beyond its walled gardens". The Conversation.
- ^ McEwen, Rhonda (June 24, 2024). "Opinion | I know the answer to protecting kids online and it's not banning cellphones". Toronto Star.
- ^ Fida Mohatarem, Kashmala (July 20, 2024). "Behind the screens, these unpaid moderators are keeping online communities safe". CBC News.
- ^ Deschamps, Tara (Jun 14, 2024). "How Meta's AI systems are using your data and why opting out is not so simple". The Canadian Press.
- ^ Sorokobi, Nick (October 6, 2025). "In Discussion with Bree McEwan: Explaining the relationship between human communication and technology". The Daily Campus.