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International Student Newsletter
November 2009 edition
In this Issue
- VIU Mariners make national scholars list
- VIU student wins national community service award
- VIU students learn new skills through field work
- VIU Jazz Studies lead to notable career
- VIU makes environmentally friendly changes to reduce waste
- VIU president sees long term value in Education Quality Assurance designation
- VIU Mariners set sail on another winning season
- LIVE VIU camera, Facebook & YouTube channel
- Working in Canada
- University admissions
- Housing Options
- Contact Us
View previous editions of the newsletter
topVIU Mariners make national scholars list
Vancouver Island University Mariners are proving they have academic smarts along with athletic abilities.
Twenty-six VIU athletes received National Scholar Awards from the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) for the 2008-2009 season - more than double any other school in BC.
“We’re very proud of our student athletes in basketball, volleyball, soccer, badminton and golf,” said VIU Athletic Director Bruce Hunter. “We encourage them to excel within their chosen sport, but especially in their academic studies. When you add this latest achievement to the fact that VIU had the top athletic program in BC for the past three years in a row, I’d say our coaches and athletes are doing exceptionally well.” Full story
VIU student wins national community service award
Curtis Vizza gives new meaning to the term ‘well-rounded.’
Vizza is a student, athlete, and volunteer who recently received national acclaim for outstanding community service.
A Vancouver Island University student and popular player with the Vancouver Island Raiders football team, Vizza received the 2009 Past Commissioners Community Service Award from the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). Full story
VIU students learn new skills through field work
Sometimes the best learning takes place outside of the classroom.
Just ask the students in Marilyn Funk’s third-year Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection Advanced Field Skills class.
Recently the students learned boat handling skills on Lake Cowichan, how to use a GPS system, and how to conduct a residents’ survey – all while working on a research project for the Ministry of Environment and other partners. Full story
VIU Jazz Studies lead to notable career
If you watch some of the hottest shows on TV, you have likely heard the music of Andrew Oye.
The 35-year-old graduate of jazz studies at Vancouver Island University is building an impressive list of credits on shows such as Lost, Dexter, Entourage and The Office.
When Jim and Pam got married this season on The Office, the brief organ passage from Mendelssohn’s Wedding March came from Oye’s compact studio in a converted bedroom of his Nanaimo home. When the Entourage crew made their rowdy trip to Hawaii recently, the hula music came from a $30 ukulele that Oye managed to keep in tune. Full story
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VIU makes environmentally friendly changes to reduce waste
On any given day, up to 2,400 customers are served in two cafeterias at Vancouver Island University’s Nanaimo campus.
That’s why VIU’s Food and Beverage Manager George Kulai gives serious thought to how the cafeteria operations can be as environmentally responsible as possible. “We’ve implemented exciting changes to conserve energy and reduce VIU’s footprint on the environment,” said Kulai. “Small changes make a big difference.” Full story
VIU president sees long term value in Education Quality Assurance designation
British Columbia’s new Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation provides a vital tool for post-secondary students in Canada and around the world to ensure they make the right choice for their learning environment, said Dr. Ralph Nilson, president and vice-chancellor of Vancouver Island University.
“EQA is a symbol of quality that will strengthen the reputation of VIU as a centre of creativity, innovation and social responsibility,” Nilson said. “VIU is committed to excellence and providing students from all countries with a stimulating educational experience that enhances the quality of their lives in a setting that is second to none.”
BC is the first province in Canada to introduce quality assurance designation for universities and other post-secondary institutions. To earn the EQA “seal of approval”, public and private institutions must meet government-recognized criteria. Full story
VIU Mariners set sail on another winning season
All captains are onboard and ready to guide the VIU Mariner ship to a 4th consecutive BCCAA aggregate award.
Already the VIU Mariner soccer teams are undefeated after three league games and the women’s team is ranked #10 in Canada. More Mariner news
VIU camera, Facebook & YouTube channel
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.
Another way to stay informed is to join the Vancouver Island University (VIU) fan page on Facebook. The page is a great way to meet past, present and future VIU students, get the latest news and browse the campus life photos posted by other fans. Join VIU on Facebook today. If you are having any trouble with the page, email marco.qaqish@viu.ca
topWorking 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
topUniversity Admissions
Applications for admission can be downloaded (pdf) or completed online.
Here are some of the many program options to consider:
- 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, Human Kinetics, Engineering and other in-demand specializations
Not what you're looking for? Have a look at the complete program list.
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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