On June 26, TRU and Tianjin University of Technology (TUT) held graduation ceremonies for 102 business students from the joint TRU-TUT program offered both at the main TRU campus in Kamloops and at the TUT campus in Tianjin.

TRU and TUT officials along with some of the graduating class during convocation ceremonies in Tianjin.

The students received Bachelor of Business Administration Degrees from both institutions, bringing the total number of graduates to 660 since the joint program was established in 2002. This year, Wang Xiaoxia was recognized as the top student of her class.

Since 2002, this partnership between TRU and TUT has given rise to other transnational education opportunities, including a Field School in Tianjin for BBA program students from Kamloops, student exchange programs, and TRU faculty assignments in China.

A few days later on June 28, TRU representatives were in Shanghai at the Shanghai Institute of Technology (SIT) to participate in convocation ceremonies for the joint TRU-SIT Bachelor of Business Administration program. At the graduation ceremonies for 52 Chinese BBA students, the top ten students were recognized with the highest award going to Yao Jing.

June 2010 convocation participants at SIT.

237 students have graduated from the joint SIT-TRU program since its inception in 2003. TRU looks forward to welcoming both new and returning students from TUT and SIT in Kamloops this fall.

Also in Shanghai, TRU representatives were invited to attend the Governor-General of Canada’s address at Fudan University, where her Excellency Michaelle Jean launched her official 2010 visit to China.

TRU recently signed three notable Tourism Management agreements with partners in China: an articulation agreement with CIBT School of Business and Continuing Education College in Beijing, one with South Central University for Nationalities in Wuhan, and a further agreement with Ocean University in Qingdao.

The new agreement with CIBT follows on the success of two earlier agreements signed in the areas of Business and Computing Science, and extends transfer opportunities for current CIBT Business students in China to pursue Tourism Management studies at TRU. CIBT opened its first campus in 1995 with Beijing University of Technology and by 2001 was ranked in the top three foreign-owned programs in Beijing by the Academic Degree Committee of the State Council in China.

Founded in 1951, South Central University for Nationalities (SCUN) is one of the key higher education institutions in Central China. Under the new agreement with TRU, SCUN students who complete the first two years of the Bachelor of Tourism Management program in China may transfer to TRU complete TRU’s Bachelor of Tourism Management Degree in Canada.

Meanwhile, the new agreement with Ocean University (OUC) provides the opportunity for OUC students who complete the first two years of the OUC Hospitality program in China to transfer into the Bachelor of Tourism Management program at TRU. Ocean University is one of China’s leading national universities and is renowned for its science disciplines, particularly in Oceanography and Fisheries research.

TRU Stories is an occasional interview series with international students and alumni from Thompson Rivers University.

Name: Malin Otmalm
Age: 23
Home City/Country: Sundsvall, Sweden
First Language: Swedish
Program of Study: Arts
Planned Graduation Date: May 2010

What will you remember about your time at TRU?
How much fun we’ve had! I’ve met so many cool people and made contacts for life!

What were your first impressions of TRU and Kamloops?
It’s surprising how much alike Sweden and Canada is, and in particular BC. I remember rolling through Merritt on my way to Kamloops, the scenery is just breathtaking!

What would you say to somebody from your home country who is considering coming to TRU?
If you really want to experience Canada and it’s culture- I think Kamloops is the way to go. The people you meet when you travel makes a huge difference on how much fun you’ll have. I believe that Canadians are a warm and hospitable people and I have never felt more welcomed! It’s like a more relaxed Sweden where everything is bigger- the mountains, the burgers, the beer!

What are your plans for after you graduate from TRU?
My plan is to get my citizenship here in Canada and to do graphic design.

Thompson Rivers University announced today its approval of a new Global Competency distinction that will become part of the official transcript of graduating students. The recognition of Global Competency represents a distinctive advantage for TRU students—one that is designed to formally recognize international skills and experience that students acquire during their time at the university.

Eligible qualifying categories include foreign language study or other course work with a distinct cross-cultural or international focus, as well as participation in student exchange programs, field schools, and international volunteer opportunities. (Please see the accompanying table for a detailed overview.)

Global competency is best understood as a body of knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes that reflect a capability for global citizenship—that is, a capacity to engage effectively in an international environment. In today’s globalized world, where economies and societies interact with one another on a multitude of levels, this capacity is ever more in demand.

“The opportunity to create their own, unique university experience is attracting students from across Canada and around the world to Thompson Rivers University, and the international aspect has become a very important part of that experience,” reports Josh Keller, TRU’s director of recruitment and school liaison. “The employers of tomorrow want individuals with a global perspective, and TRU’s new Global Competency distinction will give our graduates the advantage of being able to demonstrate this in a meaningful way.”

TRU is a Canadian leader in internationalization in higher education, and the new Global Competency qualification reflects both the university’s commitment to global citizenship and its capacity to establish institution-wide internationalization initiatives. “The working group was drawn from throughout the university,” says Lian Dumouchel, a faculty member in the School of Tourism and chair of the Global Competency Working Group. “Each member consulted extensively with his/her department or faculty. We agreed on some fundamental values early on—student accessibility, affordability and program flexibility—which provided us with a good framework to build the program requirements.”

The Global Competency distinction is available to all students at TRU, regardless of their program or field of study, and those who meet the criteria will have it recorded on their official university transcript.

Vera Wojna, an executive with TRU World—the university’s international division—and the chair of TRU’s Senate International Affairs Committee (SIAC), notes that this institutional perspective is key. “The new Global Competency qualification is made possible by the university’s broad engagement, at the highest levels, with important internationalization issues. TRU’s Strategic Plan, for example, explicitly sets out a number of pan-institutional goals to increase international opportunities for students and faculty, internationalize our curricula, expand services for international students, and expand training for faculty and staff.”

TRU’s history of international engagement dates back over 30 years. International projects and linkages currently extend to more than 45 countries with students from more than 70 nations enrolled at the main campus in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Auzeb Manzoor, a recent graduate from the Computer Systems Operations and Management Diploma, has been awarded the Governor General’s Academic Medal (Collegiate Bronze), becoming the first international student at TRU to win the prestigious achievement award.

Auzeb Manzoor (centre, left) with TRU Chancellor Nancy Greene Raine (left), TRU President Roger Barnsley, and TRU World’s Vera Wojna.

Auzeb is an Indian citizen who transferred from TRU’s partner-institution Continental Institute of International Studies (CIIS) in Chandigarh, India.”It is a great feeling,” says Auzeb of his big win. “It is an honor and I am sure there will be many more after me. I have to give my faculty a lot of credit for my success…[and] TRU World is always there for us international students.”

The Governor General’s Academic Medal (Collegiate Bronze) is awarded annually to the student who achieves the highest overall average upon graduation from a diploma-level, post-secondary program of a minimum of two years full-time duration.

TRU World is very proud to recognize Auzeb for his outstanding academic achievement. Congratulations Auzeb!

The BC government recently announced changes to its Provincial Nominee Program to allow international graduate students at provincial universities to fast-track their permanent residency status upon graduation.

Under a 3-year pilot program, graduates of BC masters and PhD programs in natural, health, and applied sciences can apply for immigrant status in advance of receiving and accepting a full-time offer of employment, eliminating the need to wait for a job offer.

Other changes to the PNP will expand opportunities to include international graduate students with diplomas or degrees from any eligible Canadian institution, extend the application deadline from one to 2 years, and broaden the range of employment options that qualify candidates for resident status.

TRU World hosted their 2010 Agent Familiarization Tour  from May 17th to May 19th.  This “Fam Tour” was a great success with 32 participants from 10 countries taking part. The annual event is a key element of TRU’s international marketing efforts as it allows current and potential recruiting agents to have a first-hand experience of the TRU campus and the City of Kamloops.

This year the FAM trip started at the Vancouver International Airport where TRU staff met the guests and took them by bus to Kamloops. An extra bit of adventure was added when the bus had mechanical problems on the Coquihalla highway. The international guests were treated to a great example of Canadian kindness when 2 trucks stopped and helped fix the bus!  Upon arrival at the TRU campus the next 2 days were a mixture of fun and business with participants taking part in presentations as well as social events. The highlights of the 2010 FAM trip were no doubt the time agents, faculty, and staff spent together at Rocksalt and Tobiano networking and enjoying themselves. Overall the feedback from participants was excellent.

“I want to thank you and the TRU team for such a wonderful event,” said Sahar Gharachorlou of India’s WWICS agency. “I enjoyed every single moment and found the FAM tour very informative, fun & very well organized. The thing I loved best about TRU is the very beautiful people in TRU. I now know my students would be in safe hands.”

The TRU team wishes to thank all the participants for taking time from their busy schedule as well as all the people in Kamloops who made this event such a success.

TRU Stories is an occasional interview series with international students and alumni from Thompson Rivers University.

Name:   Maria Pak
Age: 19
Home City/Country: Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Moscow (Russia)
First Language: Russian
Program of Study:  BBA/BTACS
Planned Graduation Date: 2013

What will you remember about your time at TRU?
Everything! The time here totally changed my life, and that was something I always wanted. At TRU I got experience in a variety of things: living abroad, living alone, taking responsibility, dealing with people from all over the world. It’s not just a post-secondary school; it’s a school of life. I will never forget about all relationships I’ve built here, adventures while travelling around Canada with a bunch of friends, the ISAP events, the orientation weeks, the interesting courses and a whole different way of life people lead here.

What would you say to somebody from your home country who is considering coming to TRU?
If a person wants to study, needs a tranquil and calm environment with little stress of big cities and a good balance of studying and entertainment, then it’s a perfect place to be.

How has your time at TRU helped you achieve your goals?
TRU taught me to be open for everything. It gave me the opportunities to apply my skills and enthusiasm in a variety of things, such as volunteering, understanding my own wishes, first-paid job, working in a multicultural environment and becoming a confident and a self-reliant person.

Ambassador Mulroney on the TRU campus with Dr. Wes Koczka, Associate Vice President, TRU World (left) and Dr. Roger Barnsley, President and Vice-Chancellor (right).

TRU had the honour of hosting Mr. David Mulroney, Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China, on Monday May 10, 2010. Ambassador Mulroney met with the representatives from TRU and the Kamloops community. The Ambassador also met with Canadian students who have studied in China as well as Chinese students currently studying at TRU.

Ambassador Mulroney with Chinese international students on the TRU campus.

Mr. Mulroney first joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1982, serving abroad in Seoul, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei.  In 2001, he was appointed as Assistant Deputy Minister, first for the Asia-Pacific Region, then for broader Bilateral Relations.  In 2006, he joined the Privy Council Office as Foreign and Defence Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister.  Mr. Mulroney served as Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Personal Representative to the G8 Summit from 2007 to 2008.  In February 2008, Mr. Mulroney was appointed as Deputy Minister of the Afghanistan Task Force in the Privy Council Office. He was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in May 2009.

TRU Stories is an occasional interview series with international students and alumni from Thompson Rivers University.

Name: Isabell Désirée Hopfgartner
Age:  26
Home City/Country: Hopfgarten i.D., Tirol, Austria
First Language: German
Program of Study: Economy and Management (Diploma) and Law
Planned Graduation Date:  January 2010 and 2014

What will you remember about your time at TRU?
I will remember the great time I had here, especially with my friends from all over the world. It was a wonderful experience to live in such a culturally open minded and diverse place.

What were your first impressions of TRU and Kamloops?
That the campus is quiet and new, and all the buildings are close together. In Innsbruck, the town I study in, the faculties are spread all over the town and some faculties are really old. The University of Innsbruck was founded in 1669.

What would you say to somebody from your home country who is considering coming to TRU?
I would tell him/her, that I would do it again if I could and that it is definitely worth the experience. It’s great to get some insight into a different system of education and to learn how Canadians see Europe, which in return helps us to understand ourselves better.

What are your plans for after you graduate from TRU?
After my time at TRU, I will write my Diploma-thesis and graduate from my Economic and Managements studies. I will start working and try to finish my law studies. Studying for me will never end and maybe I’ll return to Canada to make an MBA, MSc or Ph.D. You’ll see.

How has your time at TRU helped you achieve your goals?

It helped me to get more international experience by getting to know poeple from so many different cultural backgrounds. I also improved my English, which will help me for my career in the international business and my future studies (maybe abroad again).