PrintableSeptember 2010 International Student Newsletter
In this Issue
- Who is the class of 2014?
- 2010 academic year kick-off
- Prime Minister of Canada visits VIU flagship site
- Students raise record funds for child development centre
- Jeremy Banks: A man on the move
- Keep in touch!
- Malaspina High School @ VIU
- Applying to VIU
- Working in Canada
- Housing Options
- Contact Us
View previous editions of the newsletter
topWho is the class of 2014?
Every year the administrators at Wisconsin’s Beloit College put together a list of information about incoming freshmen that is shared with the school’s professors. It’s not a list of student names, or the books they’ll need to order for class. Instead, professors are told about the “cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall.” It is called the Mindset List.
So how is the class of 2014 different from previous classes? They’re more digital, of course.
First and foremost, few entering college this year have ever written in cursive. And this mobile phone generation has “never twisted the coiled handset wire aimlessly around their wrists while chatting on the phone.”
They also rarely use e-mail. Why? Because it’s just too slow. And you can imagine how much they use snail mail: “rarely.”
Another insight that shows how quickly things change is this one: The class of 2014 has “never recognized that pointing to their wrists was a request for the time of day.” They don’t own watches and instead use their cellphones to tell the time.
Read the full New York Times article by Nick Bilton. The Mindset List for years 2002-2014 can be viewed online
2010 academic year kick-off
The 2010 academic year (September-April) kicked-off earlier this month with the annual new student orientation and on-going FROSH events, like outdoor concerts, fun games, live entertainment, music and DJs on campus, BBQs and pancake breakfasts.
View VIU's year-round event list. Additional activities are listed in the international activities calendar
Prime Minister of Canada visits VIU flagship site
A six-car cavalcade of black SUV’s and limousines, impressive security detail and RCMP officers marked his arrival. Dr. Ralph Nilson, VIU President and Vice Chancellor, and Mike Brown, VIU Board Chair, were on hand to greet the Prime Minister along with The Honourable James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, Don Tillapaugh, Director of the CSR and Brian Kingzett, Manager of the Deep Bay Field Station.
Dr. Nilson thanked the Prime Minister for taking the time to visit the Deep Bay Field Station which is a flagship of VIU and demonstrates VIU’s leadership in supporting economic development of coastal communities along Vancouver Island and throughout coastal BC.
Prime Minister Harper was interested to learn the history of Vancouver Island University and its uniqueness as an educational institution that supports both trades and academic training. Read more
Students raise record funds for child development centre
Vancouver Island University students raised a record amount of money for the Child Development Centre (CDC) during the recent Silly Boat Regatta in Nanaimo.
David Woodward, MBA Internship Coordinator, said the Silly Boat Regatta the perfect event to bring MBA students together, create a sense of belonging and allow them to make a positive difference in the community.
“An event like this is excellent practice for MBA students,” said Woodward. “Many of them hope to become entrepreneurs one day, so this community friendly event gives them a chance to explore their creative, entrepreneurial and innovative potential. It gives students a great feeling to know they can practise their skills, have fun and support the community at the same time.”
VIU has over 450 MBA graduates working around the world. Last year’s pool of graduates represented 21 countries including Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, Trinidad/Tobago and Turkey.
Jeremy Banks: A man on the move
Jeremy Banks has been a busy man. A graduate of the VIU theatre program, Banks set out this summer to cover the various Fringe Festivals that have been dotting not only the Island, but the whole country. At the same time, he's been acting in a one-man show called Big Smoke at various venues across the nation.
Banks answered a long list of questions sent to him by the Nav. (The Nav. short for Navigator is VIU's campus and community paper) asking about his summer and the various things he's been doing. The answers show a man on the move, loving every second of it.
When asked about what it's like to perform, he responded " Holy giant question, Batman! It's wild. It's intense. It's an adrenaline rush, it's terrifying, it's an experience you'll never forget, and something that many people get addicted to. Personally, I always find it nerve-wracking and also very gratifying. I'm not an actor-first kind of person, however, so I don't think I'll do it forever. For now, though, it's pretty cool."
Read the full article by
Brady Tighe
Keep 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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