PrintableDecember 2010 International Student Newsletter
In this Issue
- Season's greetings
- International fashion show at VIU
- Year of Science highlights bright prospects for students
- VIU turns 75
- VIU graduate receives national scholarship
- Keeping in touch
- Malaspina High School @ VIU
- Applying to VIU
- Working in Canada
- Housing Options
- Contact Us
View previous editions of the newsletter
topSeason's greetings
The International Education team at VIU would like to wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a new year filled with love, happiness and success.
All Vancouver Island University (VIU) campuses will close on December 24 and re-open on January 4, 2011.
International fashion show at VIU
Students, faculty and staff showed off the clothing of their homelands at a fashion show to cap off International Education Week at Vancouver Island University (VIU). VIU celebrated the week with a series of learning opportunities, entertainment and Friday’s colourful multicultural festival. Read more
Year of Science highlights bright prospects for students
Science students at Vancouver Island University are poised to tap into well-paying science-related jobs when they graduate.
That’s the word from Ida Chong, Minister of Science and Universities and Minister of Regional Economic and Skills Development, who visited VIU’s Nanaimo campus this week to meet with biology and chemistry students and tell them about the provincial government’s Year of Science initiative.
During her visit to VIU, Chong heard first-hand accounts from chemistry and biology students who study and work in VIU’s multi-million dollar Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL). Students work in the AERL alongside chemistry professors Dr. Erik Krogh and Dr. Chris Gill to conduct pure and applied research related to analytical and environmental chemistry. This early engagement in the practice of ‘doing’ science has had a transformative effect on student outcomes. Read more
VIU turns 75
Vancouver Island University President and Vice-Chancellor Ralph Nilson and Board Chair Mike Brown unveiled a history wall Thursday to mark the start of 75th anniversary celebrations at the institution.
“This university, with close to 20,000 students and more than 2,300 employees, has roots dating back to 1936 when Jack Macready began training automotive students in a converted stable in Nanaimo,” Nilson said. We are proud of our history and the contributions of our students, employees, donors, alumni and community partners. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in shaping our history.
VIU graduate receives national scholarship
Vancouver Island University graduate Riley Glew is hoping to discover how to prevent the onset of diabetes.
Glew graduated from VIU with a Bachelor of Science degree, major in Biology and is working on his masters degree in public health at the University of Saskatchewan thanks to a $17,500 Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada graduate scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
“Now that I am at a larger university with students who hold degrees from all over Canada, and the world, I can see that my choice to attend a small university was a good one,” he said. “I am well prepared to succeed at graduate school. I believe the reason for this is because the professors that I was instructed by in VIU’s biology, psychology, and chemistry departments stressed problem solving and the application of knowledge whenever possible.”
Glew’s masters research will focus on the at-risk population for Type 2 diabetes, the socio-economic determinants of diabetes, and the barriers toward access of healthcare services by diabetic patients. Read more
Keeping in touch
Keeping in touch with VIU has never been easier! Join us on Facebook to meet past, present and future VIU students, get the latest news and browse the campus life photos posted by other fans. VIU on Facebook today. If you are having any trouble with the page, email marco.qaqish@viu.ca
Twitter is a rich source of instantly updated information and now you can follow VIU on Twitter. VIU's Flickr page gives you instant access to thousands of photos of everything from, convocation to everyday campus life.
To view images of VIU taken from various cameras on campus, visit the VIUcam page. Camera images are updated approximately every minute to give you virtually live feedback on weather, parking and other interesting activities & events on campus.
Check out VIU's YouTube channel to watch the over 20 videos that are currently posted.
Malaspina High School (MHS) @ VIU
Malaspina High School (MHS) is located on the campus of Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada and is certified by the Government of British Columbia to offer a Grade 10, 11 and 12 high school program that will lead to a British Columbia High School Graduation Diploma.
MHS provides opportunities for students to use university labs, libraries and technology as learning tools within a nurturing high school environment. It also involves students from the high school in the university community and encourages university involvement in the high school. Classes are taught by dedicated British Columbia certified teachers in an intimate setting with no more than 15 students in each class. Learn more
Applying to VIU
University applications for admission can be downloaded (pdf) or completed online.
Here are some of the many program options to consider:
- Tourism, Sport, Recreation and Hospitality programs
- Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences including Criminology, Economics, Psychology, History, Geography, Global Studies, Media Studies and much more.
- Business Administration including International Business, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Management, Marketing and other popular programs
- Sciences including Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and other in-demand specializations
Not what you're looking for? Have a look at the complete program list.
Working in Canada
As of recently , international students are able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the work permit has been extended to three years across the country. Previously, the program only allowed international students to work for one or two years, depending on location. Read more
topHousing Options
VIU's student residences offer comfortable, convenient and cost-effective on-campus housing for students from all over the world.
Our residences are situated in a village-like environment near the heart of Malaspina's Nanaimo campus, close to classrooms, cafeterias and recreational facilities.
We believe that residence living is more than just a place to stay. Our goal is to enhance student's personal and academic growth through the development of a living and learning community. Space is limited so apply early to avoid disappointment.
Learn more about the various accommodation options available at VIU:
- Live in our modern on-campus residences
- Live with a Canadian family in homestay/peerstay
- Live off campus
topContact Us
Vancouver Island University
International Education
900 Fifth Street
Nanaimo BC V9R 5S5
Canada
Email marco.qaqish@viu.ca
Tel 1.250.740.6316
Fax 1.250.740.6471
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