International Education
Internationalization at VIU
Internationalization is a process that integrates an international element into the teaching, learning, research, and service functions of an educational institution. Within this framework, the pressure for British Columbia to produce a world-class labour force is continually increasing. Preparing students to meet the challenges of the 21st Century has become a provincial priority, and post-secondary educational institutions are now expected to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful community participation, social interaction and cultural involvement, and to engender in the learner the desire for acquisition of knowledge. The internationalization process will foster understanding of other cultures and develop skills for effective living in a global community.
Since the early 1980s Vancouver Island University has been committed to creating international understanding through education and has played a leadership role in internationalization by generating innovative and challenging opportunities for students, faculty, and members of the community. These opportunities are part of a larger commitment to internationalize VIU’s programs and campus activities, and they take many different forms, such as:
- providing out-of-country experiences for Canadian students that position them to be more competitive in seeking employment—field schools, study abroad programs, international practicum placements and research opportunities, as well as out-of-country co-operative work experiences are offered;
- delivering inter-cultural courses and skill building workshops for students, faculty, staff and communty members;
- establishing international student exchange programs;
- creating a travel stipend fund to assist Canadian students with expenses associated with overseas courses or practicum placements;
- funding foreign language courses like Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese for Canadian students;
- funding expanded course options for Canadian students;
- hosting more than 1,000 international students a year;
- developing programs to link international students with their peers, and fostering friendships across cultures;
- encouraging and assisting faculty to incorporate global perspectives in their courses or programs;
- supporting faculty research and exchanges overseas.
Internationalization is enriching institutional programming at Vancouver Island University. It is providing opportunities for Canadian students to live and work in other countries, and it facilitates expanded course offerings that link VIU Students with others around the world in common interests and educational challenges. It has also meant an increasing number of students from a growing diversity of countries, learning and living in the local community with Canadian students. Internationalization is providing VIU Students, faculty and the community of Nanaimo with an expanded lens through which to view the world.
Following is a list of language courses and courses with international content:
Anthropology: ANTH 231, 267, 270, 272, 280, 304, 307, 311, 312, 315, 324, 325, 325A, 325B, 325C, 325D, 325E, 326, 328, 331, 332, 335, 367, 368, 370, 388, 401, 415, 419
Art: ARTS 111
Child and Youth Care: CYC 260D, 321
Chinese: CHIN 100, 101, 111, 112, 120, 121, 200, 201, 211, 212
Criminology: CRIM 290, 420, 450, 470, 480
Economics: ECON 206, 223, 305, 306, 320, 323, 360
Education: EDPB 508, EDTE 325, 412, 523
English: ENGL 405, 406, 407, 415
Film Studies: FILM 200
Finance: FNCE 423
First Nation Studies: FNAT 320
Fisheries and Aquaculture: FISH 334
French: FRCH 100, 101, 110, 121, 122, 221, 222, 230, 300, 301, 320, 330, 437, 447
Geography: GEOG 100, 230, 280, 362, 466
Global Studies: GLST 210, 211, 390, 391, 490, 491, 492
History: HIST 205, 240, 351, 358
Japanese: JAPA 100, 101, 111, 112, 200, 201, 211, 212
Language: LANG 240, 417, 470, 471
Liberal Studies: LBST 290, 291, 292, 322, 323, 390, 391, 392, 412, 422, 490, 491
Management: MGMT 323, 382, 423, 482
Marketing: MARK 368
Nursing – Generic Baccalaureate: NURS 371
Physical Education: PHED 200
Political Science: POLI 100, 101, 200, 201, 230, 245, 300, 310, 400, 440, 457
Recreation and Sport Management: RMGT 153, 161, 170, 211
Religious Studies: RELI 111, 112
Sociology: SOCI 111, 112, 212, 320, 360, 370, 380, 430
Spanish: SPAN 100, 101, 200, 201, 211, 300, 301, 310, 311, 330, 331, 417, 437
Tourism Management: TOUR 153, 161, 207, 208, 215, TRMT 252, 311, 368, 390D, 430, 441
Women’s Studies: WOST 305
For Further Information
For more information about internationalization at Vancouver Island University, please contact the Dean of International Education, tel: 250-740-6310; fax: 250-740-6472; or e-mail: international@viu.ca.
Updated June 5, 2008
June 5, 2008