PrintableSpring 2011 International Student Newsletter
In this Issue
- VIU students raise over $10,000 for Japan
- VIU launches re-designed website for international students
- VIU hosts model United Nations conference
- Friends of the environment challenge
- Students celebrate Year of the Rabbit
- VIU soccer team named "Team of the Year"
- The world we live in - the world we want (video)
- VIU culinary wizards
- Alumni profile
- Keeping in touch
- Malaspina High School @ VIU
- Applying to VIU
- Working in Canada
- Housing Options
- Contact Us
View previous editions of the newsletter
topVIU students raise over $10,000 for Japan
In response to the recent devastation in Japan, Japanese students at VIU have set up a ‘Stand Up for Japan’ relief fund and raised over $10,000 with the support of the Canadian Red Cross and Vancouver Island University. Students are also maintaining a blog to promote fundraising and support for Japan. They are wonderful ambassadors for their country. Stand up for Japan
VIU launches re-designed website for international students
Earlier this month, Vancouver Island University (VIU) unveiled a re-designed website for international students. The site features a clean and modern design with easy to navigate menus and instant translation to nearly 50 languages. Visit the new website and send us your feedback so we can continue to improve your experience on the site.
VIU hosts model United Nations conference
Eighty Vancouver Island high school students will gather at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo to practice international diplomacy skills this week. The conference is organized by the Vancouver Island University Model United Nations Club and co-hosted by VIU’s Global Studies and the Political Science programs under the guidance of Global Studies and Political Studies professors Catherine Schittecatte and Allan Warnke. Each team will represent a particular country, and delegates will serve on five simulated United Nations committees to discuss issues including terrorism and combating the use of child soldiers. Delegates must follow protocol, diplomatic language, dress code and rules for speaking, including how to address fellow delegates and how to break into informal groups to negotiate. Full story
Friends of the environment challenge
The polls are open as two teams from Vancouver Island University compete for national video honours in the fourth annual TD Friends of the Environment Go Green Challenge.
Students from across Canada have entered videos up to four minutes long describing how they would take on their schools’ greatest sustainability challenges. Bachelor of Tourism Management students Pascale Jallabert and L-A Shibish focus on the potential to extract heat from water in abandoned coal mine shafts deep beneath the Nanaimo campus through an innovative geo-exchange system. Full story
Students celebrate Year of the Rabbit
“The sign of the rabbit is considered to be a lucky one, and judging by the excitement surrounding this Lunar New Year event, the Year of the Rabbit is starting off on a high and very positive note,” says English Language Centre Instructor Maurice Gallant.
Live entertainment performed by musicians, dancers, and singers will feature a variety of traditional and contemporary works from various parts of China. The evening’s finale included a mixed performing arts piece featuring song, calligraphy, and an oral reading.
Happy Chinese New Year from Vancouver Island University.
VIU soccer team named "Team of the Year"
The VIU Mariners men’s soccer team was selected Team of the Year and Sports Story of the Year at the Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards on Feb. 5. Coach Bill Merriman, who guided the team to national glory with the Canadian Colleges’ Athletic Association championship last fall, won High-Performance Coach of the Year.
In addition to the men’s soccer success, VIU’s Aileen Holder was honoured as Female Team Athlete of the Year for her achievement in soccer and volleyball. Other VIU finalists at the awards were Mariners Golf and Baseball in the Team of the Year category, Soccer goalie Robbie Cochrane for Male Team Athlete of the Year and standouts Kayla Gromme (Basketball) and Bronte Fitzimmons (Soccer) for Female Team Athlete of the Year. VIU Mariners
The world we live in - the world we want (video)
International Development Week (IDW) provides a great opportunity for Canadians to increase the awareness of the role many Canadians play in international development; and find out how they can become global citizens, actively involved in international development. “Our theme for the week-long celebration is Millenium Development Goals,” said Meg Savory, International Grants and Projects coordinator. “There are many opportunities for the public to participate.” Watch Hans Rosling's thought provoking video.
VIU culinary wizards
Four students from Vancouver Island University showcased their award-winning culinary arts skills at the 15th annual BC Chefs Hot Competition LIVE! in Vancouver recently. Students James Hannah, Alex Formosa, Carlos Cordeiro De Mello Neto and Adriana Purdie brought home a Grand Gold medal, two silver medals and a bronze medal respectively.
The medal winners are completing the one-year Culinary Arts certificate program at VIU. Some have already lined up jobs once they graduate. Hannah will soon be cooking up a storm in a camp setting in the Yukon before heading to Victoria to work at the Empress hotel. De Mello Neto will be heading to Vancouver to work as a line cook at Il Giardino di Umberto. He plans to return to VIU next year to complete the diploma program. Full story
Alumni profile
In 1976, when Warren Erhart graduated from Vancouver Island University, he was a young, enthusiastic business student who already grasped the importance of hard work.
Three decades later, he’s the president and CEO of White Spot restaurants. When Erhart joined White Spot, there were 27 locations. Currently, there are 64 locations throughout BC and Alberta, and more than 50 Triple O's in Western Canada and Asia, employing over 4,000 people and serving more than 17 million customers annually.
Throughout it all, Erhart has not forgotten his VIU roots. "The skills and learning I received at Vancouver Island University were invaluable,” he said. “VIU has created a great environment for learning and I would highly recommend it for anyone wishing to pursue a career in Hospitality or Business Management."
More on Warren's success story
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:
- Language and university preparation programs
- 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
- Graduate programs including MBA/MScIB, MA and MEd
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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