November 28, 2007
$1.3 Million Donation Will Help Athabasca University Deliver Education to Remote Areas of Alberta
A $1.3 million donation to Athabasca University by distinguished philanthropist Allan Markin, chair of the board of Canadian Natural Resources, will fund a unique three-year pilot project to develop distance-learning systems for remote, rural and northern communities.
The Learning Communities Project will help people in remote areas, particularly those in northern Alberta work camps, to earn a university degree while they work. The goal of the project is to allow people who are working away from home for extended periods to focus on their educational activities during their off-work hours.
“I believe that education is one of the things people need to reach their full potential and to have a quality of life that they otherwise might never have,” Markin said. “The need for further education has been identified in the North, and the solution came from Athabasca University. The goal is to foster career advancement and eventually transform remote communities by giving people opportunities to address personal and professional educational goals. This way, we can increase capacity and meet current and future needs in remote areas. A more educated workforce benefits workers, communities and the province.”
Athabasca University president Dr. Frits Pannekoek sees the Learning Communities Project as another way for the university to fulfill its mandate of increasing educational opportunities for adult learners. “We are very appreciative of Mr. Markin’s support,” he said. “This very generous donation will allow us to research and then tailor our program delivery to the needs of rural and remote learners. At Athabasca University, we take education to our students, and the flexibility of our distance and online delivery system allows people to obtain a quality post-secondary education wherever they are, whatever their schedule.”
During the first stage of the pilot project, researchers will conduct a detailed assessment of learning needs in a number of communities in northern Alberta. Among other factors they will examine current education levels, participants’ goals and infrastructure availability.
A major focus of the project will be researching and testing the use of mobile technology in the delivery of courses. This delivery method was recently studied by Athabasca University in partnership with the Mennonite Learning Centre in a project where cell phones were used to help immigrants learn English.
Source: Athabasca University, Alberta
November 28, 2007
University of Toronto: New Support for Integrative Thinking at Rotman School of Management
One of Canada’s leading supporters of business education has donated $10- million to the University of Toronto’s Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. The gift by Marcel Desautels, president and CEO of the Canadian Credit Management Foundation, will support the ongoing initiatives of the Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking, bringing his total gifts to the Rotman School to a remarkable $31 million. His earlier donations founded the Desautels Centre and supported student scholarships.
The gift will help the Rotman School further develop the Desautels Centre for Integrative Thinking by hiring additional faculty and staff, pursuing curriculum development in all the Rotman School’s undergraduate, graduate and executive programs, and supporting research projects, conferences, and other events based on Integrative Thinking. It will also support the construction of an additional new building for the Rotman School. The project, which has received $50 million in funding from the Province of Ontario, is scheduled to open in 2011. The Desautels Centre will be housed in the new building.
“We are honoured that Marcel has continued to support the vision we have for the future of business education. We have made significant progress since his initial gift in 2000,” says Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School. “From our first meeting, he understood the ideas and concepts of Integrative Thinking and, as an astute entrepreneur, he also understands how Integrative Thinking can benefit business.”
The Desautels Centre has quickly gained an international reputation through its work on researching, understanding and teaching Integrative Thinking. Integrative thinkers build models rather than choose between them. Their models include consideration of numerous variables — customers, employees, competitors, capabilities, cost structures, industry evolution, and regulatory environment — not just a subset of the above. Their models capture the complicated, multi-faceted and multidirectional causal relationships between the key variables in any problem. Integrative thinkers consider the problem as a whole, rather than breaking it down and farming out the parts. Finally, they creatively resolve tensions without making costly trade-offs, turning challenges into opportunities.
“The world of business education has been fundamentally changed for the better by the emergence of Integrative Thinking,” says Desautels. “I am delighted with the progress that the Rotman School has made under the leadership of Roger Martin and Desautels Centre Director Mihnea Moldoveanu.”
The remarkable gift was announced today during the Toronto book launch for The Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking by Roger Martin. Published by Harvard Business School Press, the book takes a practitioner’s look at great Integrative Thinkers in the worlds of business, the arts, and social sectors and provides insight on how readers can also become integrative thinkers themselves. Much of the original research was based on presentations by speakers in the Rotman Integrative Thinking Seminar Series, which has brought more than forty of the world’s leading integrative thinkers to the Rotman School.
Since the initial gift from Marcel Desautels in 2000, the Rotman School has redeveloped the curriculum for its Two-Year and Three-Year MBA programs, adding required and elective courses to the curriculum. Integrative Thinking modules have also been added to the Rotman School’s Executive MBA and Omnium Global Executive MBA programs and to the school’s executive programs. Additional details on Integrative Thinking at the Rotman School are available online at http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/integrativethinking
Source: University of Toronto, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, Ontario
November 20, 2007
Outstanding Faculty and Staff Recognized at Memorial University
Some of Memorial University’s best educators, researchers and staff members were honoured at a special ceremony today at the Fluvarium in St. John’s.
The inaugural President’s Award for Exceptional Community Service was also introduced at this annual ceremony. Dr. Joan Oldford, Education, was named winner of the new award that recognizes the commitment of Memorial’s employees to helping build stronger communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Memorial University's mission encompasses service to the community and I am proud that the university has a very strong record of supporting communities throughout this province," said Memorial President Dr. Axel Meisen. “This new award recognizes faculty and staff who have made outstanding contributions to an important aspect of our mission.”
Eleven Memorial employees were honoured at the reception – one for exceptional community service, three for outstanding research, two for distinguished teaching and five for exemplary service. Dr. Elizabeth Murphy, Education, was the recipient of the President’s Award for Research, while Dr. Richard Rivkin, Ocean Sciences Centre, and Dr. Barbara Neis, Sociology, each received the distinction of University Research Professor.
The President’s Awards for Distinguished Teaching went to Dr. Christopher Sharpe, Geography, and Dr. Katherine Gallagher, Business Administration.
The five Memorial staff members who received the President’s Awards for Exemplary Service were: Greg Bennett, Computing and Communications; Linda Kirby, School of Medicine; Zita Murphy, Memorial University Bookstore; Sonja Knutson, International Student Advising Centre; and Gary Collins, Department of Biology.
Memorial began its annual presentation of the University Research Professor designations and the Awards for Outstanding Research in 1984, and the Distinguished Teaching Awards in 1988, as ways of singling out particularly distinguished contributions within its academic community. Exemplary Service Awards were introduced in 1995.
“Each award category underlines Memorial's mission of innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, research and scholarship and service to the community,” said Dr. Meisen. “Together our distinguished faculty and staff help build a local, national and international reputation for Memorial.”
President’s Awards for Distinguished Teaching recognize the teaching excellence in the university community. Each winner of the teaching award receives a $5,000 grant contributed by the Memorial University Alumni Association. The President’s Award for Outstanding Research recognizes researchers who have made outstanding contributions to their scholarly disciplines. Each award includes a $5,000 research grant. University Research Professors have acquired a designation above the rank of professor. The title is the most prestigious award the university gives for research, and goes to faculty who have demonstrated a consistently high level of scholarship and whose research is of a truly international stature. The designation carries with it a $4,000 research grant (each year for five years) and a reduced teaching schedule. The President’s Award for Exemplary Community Service carries a $1,000 award.
Source: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
November 15, 2007
Wilfrid Laurier University: Aspen Institute Ranks Laurier MBA Program Among Top 100 in the World
The prestigious Aspen Institute awarded the Laurier School of Business & Economics top honours today in New York City by ranking its MBA program among the Top 100 in the world.
The Aspen Institute’s “Beyond Grey Pinstripes” initiative ranked Laurier’s MBA program third in Ontario in its biennial survey. An alternative ranking of business schools, the mission of Beyond Grey Pinstripes is to spotlight innovative full-time MBA programs that are integrating issues of social and environmental stewardship into curricula and research.
“Laurier is very proud to be counted among the top 100 business schools from around the world,” said Ginny Dybenko, Laurier’s dean of business and economics. “Laurier’s School of Business & Economics has long emphasized the importance of corporate responsibility as a critical ingredient in the successful multinational of the future. It is a great pleasure to finally receive recognition for what has been a mainstay in both our academic programming and research.”
Beyond Grey Pinstripes surveys global full-time MBA programs over an 18-month period and examines the way the programs incorporate social and environmental issues into the training of future business leaders. The aim is to celebrate innovation in business education, while informing students about the options and challenging business schools to incorporate social and environmental skill into their programs.
Source: Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario
November 15, 2007
Wilfred Laurier’s Global MBA Leaders Honoured at Toronto Gala
Arriving from as far away as Mexico and Thailand, nominees for the inaugural Laurier MBA Alumni Awards gathered in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007 to celebrate the excellence and innovation demonstrated by Laurier MBA graduates. “At Laurier, we feel strongly that the success-track of our graduates is a true testimony to the strength of our MBA program. We are extremely proud of our graduates—they are our best ambassadors and have long been sought-after by the largest and most important companies around the world,” said Laurier dean of business and economics, Ginny Dybenko. In addition to highlighting the achievements of MBA alumni, the evening was designed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Laurier’s prestigious Toronto program, and to provide an opportunity for current students to network with alumni, faculty and employers. The keynote speaker for the evening was Laurier’s new president, Dr. Max Blouw. Awards were presented in four categories: Outstanding Executive Leadership; Outstanding Innovation and Achievement; Outstanding CMA / MBA Alumnus; and Recent Graduate - MBA Alumni Award of Distinction. The Laurier MBA Alumni Award winners include: Outstanding Executive Leadership
Bruce Hodges ’97
Bruce has proven himself to be an international financial powerhouse. Now president and chief executive officer of Manulife Insurance (Thailand) PCL, he has worked in the life insurance and financial services industry for over 17 years in Canada, the U.S., Japan and Thailand. During his career, he has worked in banking, insurance and technology. Like many successful senior executives, Bruce has held diverse roles including product development, marketing and communications, operations, IT, and HR, before being recognized in his current general management role. Bruce received both his BBA and his MBA (with distinction) from Laurier and has been a frequent speaker at financial services events as well as having published research on the deregulation of financial services. Outstanding Innovation and Achievement
Dave Lacey ’95
Dave, a licensed and active racing driver in the Rolex Sports Car Series, is currently serving as senior vice-president, corporate development for Brookfield Asset Management with a focus on growth in the residential real estate services sector. Dave has also served as a founding partner in The Futura Loyalty Group and currently sits on the board and the audit committee. After completing his MBA at Laurier, Dave held positions at Affinity Investments, a brokerage firm focused on servicing affinity and alumni associations, The Loyalty Group (Air Miles), and he co-managed the $75-million Borealis Financial Technology Fund.
Dave is actively involved in the not-for-profit sector as Ontario chairman for the Children’s Wish Foundation, an organization he has been involved with for more than 10 years. Dave also serves on the National Board and Finance committee for ACE (Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship), a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in Canada. Outstanding CMA / MBA Alumnus
David Hayter ’98
In nine years since graduating from Laurier with his MBA (CMA and CMC), David has soared to controlling one of Canada’s largest and most influential pension plans. Directly out of Laurier’s MBA program, David developed a critical international perspective by traveling the globe for Ernst and Young as a financial consultant.
Leveraging this experience, David was scooped up by Manulife Financial, quickly moving into a vice-president’s role as head of Global Securities Operations, managing offices around the world in New York, Boston, Tokyo and London, and considered one of the firm’s top young executives.
David went on to join the Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan where he holds the position of chief financial officer. Like many Laurier grads, David is also very active in his community, raising thousands of dollars each year for a number of charitable organizations. This past summer, David hosted a champagne tasting at his home in Toronto to raise money for Project Peter, which helped a young boy come to Canada for life saving surgery. Recent Graduate - MBA Alumni Award of Distinction
Debra Gillies ’07
A graduate just this year of Laurier’s Toronto-based combined MBA and CMA program, Debra Gillies worked full time throughout her academic career and is currently the director of finance at Maple Leaf Foods. She received the unprecedented mark of 99 per cent on her final CMA exam and has the honour of holding the highest CMA exam mark in Canada this year. Typical of Laurier grads, Debra views her accomplishment with a high degree of humility and looks forward to participating in future alumni events so that she can mentor future graduates.
Source: Wilfred Laurier University, Ontario
November 9, 2007
University of New Brunswick Ranks in Top Five in Maclean’s Survey of Comprehensive Universities
The University of New Brunswick has ranked among the top five comprehensive universities in the 2007 Maclean’s university survey.
“We pay attention to all surveys like this, but we measure ourselves every day in terms of the quality of our teaching, the rigour of our research and the experience we provide our students,” said UNB President John McLaughlin. “As Canada’s smallest comprehensive university, we have set our bar high. We continue to compete nationally for the best faculty, staff and students and measure ourselves against the biggest and best in the country.”
All data for the Maclean’s rankings are based on publicly available information. The rankings for comprehensive universities are: Victoria (1), Simon Fraser (2), Waterloo (3), Guelph (4), Memorial (5), New Brunswick (5), Carleton (7), York (8), Regina (9), Windsor (10) and Concordia (11).
UNB ranked first in the categories student-to-faculty ratio, library expenses and library holdings per student. UNB is ranked in many national surveys, like Maclean’s, and continues to trend upwards among its peer institutions.
Patrick Beamish of UNB Saint John’s Students’ Representative Council notes that the ranking is a step in the right direction.
“The Students’ Representative Council in Saint John firmly believes that UNB’s place is among the major universities of Canada,” said Mr. Beamish. “Through the partnership between our campuses in Saint John and Fredericton we have access to opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to us and we, as students, expect no less.”
UNB Fredericton Student Union President Bradley Mullins agrees with this sentiment and adds that UNB is truly a student’s university.
“UNB is truly one of Canada’s great universities,” said Mr. Mullins. “It has a rich history and exceptional facilities, with dedicated and knowledgeable faculty and staff. For years, UNB has been committed to meeting the needs of the whole student.” The University of New Brunswick is the oldest English language university in Canada. With flagship campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, UNB continues to be an engine of transformation for New Brunswick and beyond.
Source: University of New Brunswick
November 5, 2007
University of Toronto: Rotman MBA Events Aimed At Promoting Women in Business
Two events aimed at promoting the career and life opportunities that business degrees provide for women will be held this week at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
On the evening of November 6, the annual Rotman Women in Management Association Open House will be held at the Rotman School. The event is designed to help women discover the value and benefits of pursing an MBA and is presented by Scotiabank. Supporting sponsors are Deloitte, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions and The Princeton Review. Attendees have the opportunity to meet with current Rotman students, staff, and faculty as well as Rotman alumni and members of the business community. What? Rotman Women in Management Association Open House When? Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 6:00 to 8:30 pm Where? Fleck Atrium, Rotman School of Management, 105 St.George Street, Toronto Register for Open House? http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/wima-nov6/" target="_top">http://http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/wima-nov6/
Source: University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, Ontario
November 1, 2007
KPMG Invests in Concordia University
Concordia University and the John Molson School of Business (JMSB) are pleased to announce a generous gift of $250,000 from the audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP. The funds will go toward the KPMG amphitheater, a 60- seat, state-of-the-art classroom to be located on the fifth floor of the new JMSB building presently under construction at the corner of Guy Street and De Maisonneuve Boulevard West.
The interactive amphitheater will feature the latest audio-visual technology, as well as advanced connections for laptops and video-conferencing. It will also have tiered seating, with oblong rows of modular tables that will enhance sightlines for both speakers and audiences.
The amphitheater, a central venue for internal and external events, will offer JMSB’s 7,000 graduate and undergraduate students a first-class facility equipped with cutting-edge teaching tools, thereby optimizing their learning experiences.
“This is an important investment in education by a leading international business firm,” said JMSB Dean Sanjay Sharma. “It reaffirms the business community’s support and confidence in the quality of JMSB programs and the calibre of its students.”
“KPMG has already invested in JMSB students by consistently hiring between 20 and 30 accounting graduates each year from the School’s first-rate accounting program. Last year alone, KMPG was the third largest recruiter of JMSB accounting students among local accounting firms,” said Nathalie Bernier, Managing Partner KPMG. “We support the JMSB program and its students because the School shares our values of leadership, integrity and quality. This is a natural partnership; an investment in education is paramount to our firm.”
The new, 15-storey JMSB building is expected to open its doors to students, faculty and staff in the fall of 2009, grouping all JMSB departments under one roof. It will be LEED certified (the Green Building Rating System’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
Source: Concordia University, Quebec
