Niagara College is preparing to mark the 20th annual International Development Week (IDW), February 7 to 13, by celebrating its strong global focus and its mission of providing outstanding applied education and training for a changing world.
The College is hosting a series of events at both the Welland and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus to raise awareness of international development, including a poster competition, exhibits, fundraiser, documentary screening and more.
“We believe that our involvement in development projects around the globe, together with our broad international student population, enhances the educational experience and makes our College more diverse, tolerant and globally aware,” said Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “We have been very successful in bringing the world to Niagara College, and we have also been successful in bringing Niagara College to the world.”
Niagara College’s International Education and Development Division (IEDD) is committed to the internationalization of Niagara College staff, students and the surrounding community, with more than 500 international students, representing 60 difference countries, studying at the College.
IEDD focuses on promoting change in a sensitive, action-oriented manner, and is constantly addressing new ways to ensure that Niagara College fits into the global picture. Niagara College, through IEDD, is very active in publicly and privately-funded development projects around the world – projects that exemplify the College’s enthusiasm and commitment to providing international development opportunities for students, citizens and communities worldwide.
Current projects include:
IN-REACH (Rural Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Hub) in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The aim of the IN-REACH program is to enhance the capacity of the Centre for Rural Development (CRD) to drive economic growth in rural communities, support local resources to satisfy local needs, empower and build the capacity of cooperatives, train entrepreneurs and community development workers, and provide opportunities for service learning by students and mentoring for students.
Mulheres Mil (Empower 1000 Women) in Northern Brazil. The project focuses on gender equity in access to education and the workforce with the ultimate result of improvements to family life, regional and national economic development and greater participation from disadvantaged women in the political process. By sharing expertise in the hospitality and tourism industry with Brazilian colleges, Niagara College is providing unemployed women with programs that will link them to educational and workplace opportunities.
Niagara College is also involved with projects in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Saudi Arabia and China, with many new development projects planned for 2010.
IEDD takes part in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Internships, and the Young Professional Going Global program, offering opportunities for international placements for college students and graduates, involving direct experience in an international community setting, often leading to employment for Canadian graduates in international agencies and organizations. Since 2001, Niagara College has facilitated the placement of over 350 young Canadians in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malta, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa and Zambia.
Niagara College also exports education to other countries, through articulation agreements in partnership with Universities in China, including the Hospitality Management – Hotel and Restaurant (Co-op) program at Changzhou Institute of Light Industry Technology (CZILI), and the Business Administration – Professional Golf (Co-op) program at Jiao Tong University. Both programs allow students to study the first two years in China, and the final year at Niagara College.
For more information, visit www.international.niagaracollege.ca.
With 8,000 full-time students, Niagara College offers more than 90 diploma, baccalaureate degrees and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, applied health and community safety, and the College is home to the globally-recognized Niagara Culinary Institute and Niagara College Teaching Winery. In 2008, Niagara College launched an unprecedented $90 million campus redevelopment project, which is scheduled for completion in 2011.
NOTE: International Development Week – Niagara College events provided below.
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For more information, contact:
Mary Kilmer-Tchalekian
Manager, International Projects
International Department
Niagara College
905-735-2211, ext. 7852
mkilmer@niagaracollege.ca
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK – NIAGARA COLLEGE EVENTS:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8
9:30 a.m. – 10:20 p.m. (NOTL, Yerich Auditorium)
“Aiding Dramatic Change in Development,” Shaw actor Jenny Jimenez.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Welland, central foyer)
Exhibits: Red Cross, 10,000 Villages, Friends of Yryapu.
12:30 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. (Welland, V5)
Screening of BRFT video, “Against the Odds: Community Leaders in the Dominican Republic.”
1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. (NOTL, W213, 3&4)
Presentation: “Involving Faculty and Students in International Applied Research.”
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (NOTL, outside library)
Exhibits: Red Cross, 10,000 Villages, Amnesty International, NCIC Fair Trade, Friends of Yryapu.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10
1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. (NOTL, SAC office)
Henna demonstration by Shazia Khan.
4:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. (NOTL, W207)
“International Aid and its Effectiveness” during Issues in Global Development I class.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. (NOTL, W216)
“1000 Women” video presented during Global Issues class with Professor Judy Calvin.
1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. (NOTL, SAC office)
Henna demonstration by Shazia Khan.
TBA (Welland, After Hours Pub)
Ghana Fundraiser, graffiti-themed.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Announcement of “What in the World is Global Development?” poster competition winner.
Announcement of “Where in the World?” contest winner.
