Postsecondary International Network Newsletter
Fall 2005
A Message from the PIN President
By Mike Schafer, PIN President
Fall has settled in and upstate New York is enjoying a beautiful display of autumn color. As I write this letter, I am reminded of our memorable time together in Canada. The Conference provided the opportunity to attend some interesting presentations and to engage in lively discussions with international colleagues about transformational projects underway at their respective institutions. Thanks again to our hosts at Durham and la Cite Collégiale for providing a wonderful venue for this exchange.
I thought I would take a few minutes to share some thoughts with the PIN membership about the importance of this organization. Our respective institutions, share a common mission of providing affordable quality educational opportunities for students. We are committed to preparing students for transfer to upper level institutions and for the world of work. We are also committed to partnering with business and industry to provide training and retraining programs to meet corporate needs. We partner with others as well, with secondary schools and health care agencies to offer education and training tailored to individual needs. We know the benefits of partnering.
As members of PIN, we also know that there are institutional benefits to be gained from an active partnering in PIN. We have a unique opportunity to network, to learn about innovative educational programs. We have a forum that will enable us to provide faculty and staff to develop and exchange programs but we have to use it. As I have said before, the strength of this organization is multiplied by its membership and its effectiveness is truly dependent upon each and everyone making those important connections with one another. Please use email, write or call your colleagues and try to nominate and recruit new members to join us in our efforts to internationalize our colleges and make our world a better place. The following materials may assist you in networking with other PIN members: Document of Understanding, Membership Directory, and the Benefits of Membership. Access these documents at www.pinnet.org.
Kathleen and I extend our very best wishes to you and your families as we enter the holiday season.
2005 PIN Conference Attracts Record Number of Participants
The 2005 Annual PIN Conference held June 24 to July 1, 2005 attracted a record number of participants. Representatives from PIN member colleges in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States attended. The Canadian conference hosts were Durham College in Oshawa (Gary Polonsky, President) and La Cite Collégiale in Ottawa (Andree Lortie, President). Durham College, in the Greater Toronto Area, is the home of General Motors of Canada, with one of the two largest automotive manufacturing complexes in the world and La Cite Collégiale in Ottawa, Ontario - Canada’s capital city. While La Cite Collégiale is a 100% Francophone college, the entire PIN program was conducted in English.
The theme for the 2005 Conference was “What Makes YOUR College Special?” PIN members made presentations on true differentiators within their own colleges. In addition, presentations on a variety of relevant topics affecting two-year colleges were included. Conference sessions were held on the campuses of Durham College, La Cite Collégiale, and Algonquin College. The conference started in Oshawa and Toronto on Friday, June 24 and moved to Ottawa on Tuesday, June 28. The conference concluded on Canada Day - Friday, July 1, with the spectacular national celebration in the Capitol City. In addition to the professional conference presentations, conference participants visited Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Montreal. The Partners Program included a variety of educational, social, and free time activities at each venue.
A picture of the conference participants is on page 17.
2005 Annual PIN Business Meeting Summary
Held Sunday, June 26, 2005 - Oshawa
Continued on Friday, July 1, 2005 - Ottawa
The following is a summary of the Annual Business meeting:
PIN Presidency - State of PIN: PIN President, Mike Schafer indicated that we all have a shared responsibility for membership and involvement in PIN activities. The main emphasis of the current Plan of Work is to bring in new members. The current membership is “aging” (nearing their sell by date) and there is a need to emphasize bringing in members who will be actively involved in the future. Each country will attempt to attract three new members for next year.
What do we need to do to get current members involved in the PIN conference and PIN connections? Some possible approaches may include:
· Invite current members to present a paper at future conferences.
· Assist with succession planning - presidents need to get key leadership at their college involved in PIN.
· Better identify the benefits of membership - Including the opportunity for partners to be involved in the conference.
PIN President - Irene Lewis, president elect, is scheduled to be next PIN president. However, she does not feel she can do justice to the job due to the heavy schedule she will have at SAIT in the next few years, as well as other provincial and federal commitments.
The plan is to have Mike Schafer continue as a transition president for a year beyond his two-year appointment. Mike will continue as president until the 2007 conference. The presidency will move to the designated Canadian member at the PIN conference in Australia in 2007. MaryLynn West-Moynes, president Mohawk College, will become an Executive Board member, with the potential of becoming president-elect. She would then become the president in 2007.
Executive Committee - Richard Greene, US Executive Committee member, has announced his retirement from Western Piedmont CC. Joe Sertich, Northeast Minnesota Higher Education District president and the host of the 2006 PIN conference, will be added to the Executive Committee to replace Richard Greene. Donna Allan, Canadian Executive Committee member, has retired from Lethbridge CC. MaryLynn West-Moynes, Mohawk College, will be added to the Executive Committee to replace Donna Allan.
Membership Recruitment: John Skitt reported on his efforts to “enliven” UK membership. He has contacted 15 UK colleges. Several colleges responded but there are no members currently identified. One main issue is UK budget restrictions on travel. John will work with the Association of UK Colleges to promote memberships. A flyer promoting PIN will be provided to UK Association members.
Awards: Richard Greene and Donna Allan are retiring on June 30 and have been long time Executive Board members. PIN plaques were awarded to Richard and Donna. Thank you!
PIN 2007 - Australia: John Maddock, Box Hill Institute will coordinate hosting the 2007 conference in Australia. Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia, has expressed interest in hosting the conference. Vicki Baldwin, Charles Darwin University, provided a presentation on ideas for the 2007 conference. The conference would begin in Darwin and be held in June or July. Currently three options for venues are being reviewed:
· Darwin/Alice Springs - several days between for travel
· Darwin/Alice Springs - meeting on train from Darwin to Alice Springs
· Darwin/Cairns - one travel day between locations
Visits and Exchanges: The PIN exchange and visit program is available to all PIN members. PIN provides a stipend of $500 (US) to assist with expenses. The home college is expected to match the $500 stipend. The Executive Committee approves awards. Proposals are submitted to the Executive Director using the forms available on the PIN website.
Treasurer's Report: Bill Warner presented the May 31, 2005 financial statement. There is $34,421.23 in the checking account and $23,717.02 in the investment account.
Membership Update: Bill Warner provided an update of the status of PIN membership. Currently there are 37 PIN members, compared to 39 in 2004. There are currently no members is the UK, as Barnet College dropped their membership this year.
Note: The complete minutes of the 2005 Annual Business meeting can be accessed on the PIN website at www.pinnet.org.
PIN Annual Conference Calendar
2006 Annual Conference - Minnesota, United States
The Land Of 10,000 Lakes, Paul Bunyan, The Iron Range, And Swedish Meatballs Welcomes PIN In 2006!
Submitted by Joe Sertich, President - Northeast Minnesota Higher Education District
President Joe Sertich of the Northeast Minnesota Higher Education District and President Anne Weyandt, Anoka Technical College extend a warm Minnesota welcome to members and guests of the Postsecondary International Network for the 2006 Conference July 21-28. PLEASE BOOKMARK these dates and look forward to a summer symposium that will be entertaining, insightful, reflective, and engaging.
Therefore, here is a glimpse of what is in store for us as we explore, “EDUCATION INSIDE OUT!”
- Arrive Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport and make our way up the Mississippi River to the St. Paul Hotel for a couple of days in the Twin Cities.
Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul
- Stimulating sessions with business, industry, community, and education leaders will highlight the essential partnerships between these key players as we continue to prepare learners and workers for life in the 21st Century.
Minneapolis skyline at night
- Visit the joint campus of Anoka Technical College and the nationally recognized Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) high school.
- Visit the Mall of America, the world head quarters for Carlson Companies, Medtronics Inc., and attend cultural events like the acclaimed Prairie Home Companion show, the Guthrie Theatre or the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
- Travel north to Great Lakes port of Duluth and on to a magnificent resort hotel with two world-class golf courses, Giants Ridge, located in the heart of the Iron Range.
- Discover the dynamics of applied learning delivered statewide, to K-16 and incumbent workers through the Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing.
- Feast outdoors on regionally famous foods, while enjoying ethnic music and crafts.
- Reflect on our shared challenges and opportunities in a day trip to Ely, a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Look for registration and more information from PIN. See you in Minnesota!
2007 Annual Conference - Australia will host the 2007 Annual Conference. John Maddock, Box Hill Institute, will coordinate hosting the 2007conference in Australia. Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia, has expressed interest in hosting the conference. The conference would be held in Darwin and either Alice Springs or Cairns. More details will be provided as planning evolves.
John Scott, CEO of Christchurch Polytecnic Institute of Technology to Retire
Submitted by Christchurch Polytecnic Institute of Technology
John Scott, the CEO of CPIT, has advised the governing board that he will not be seeking a renewal of his contract and will retire at the end of April 2006. John has been a member of the PIN Executive Committee since 1994 and has been an active supporter of PIN.
“It has always been my intention to retire during the 2006 Centenary Year and the Autumn Graduation gives me the opportunity to retire after participating in what is always the most rewarding function of the academic year.” John has been the CEO of CPIT since April 1994 and has steered the Polytechnic through many significant changes.
Of Ngai Tahu descent, John was the first person of Maori descent to lead a New Zealand tertiary institution when he became the founding Director of the Wanganui Regional Community College in 1984. At the time he was the youngest ever appointed to a CEO’s role and now after 22 years will be the longest serving CEO in the sector.
This experience coupled with John’s total commitment to polytechnic education has been fundamental to the leadership John has provided at both the institutional and national level. CPIT has almost doubled in size in the last decade and successive structural and procedural changes have seen CPIT develop into a major educational and economic force in the city. CPIT has been transformed under John’s visionary leadership with the campus now considered by many as an exemplar of a modern inner city urban campus.
The campus has been a major catalyst in the regeneration of High Street. John has served on virtually every national committee, was on the Executive of the Association for 13 years, and was President of the Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand in 1995.
An outspoken critic of destructive and duplicative competition, John has worked tirelessly to try and foster cooperative relationships between institutions both locally and nationally and has been instrumental in the formation of the Tertiary Accord of New Zealand (TANZ, a cooperative accord between Manukau Institute of Technology, UCOL, and Otago Polytechnic), the establishment of Te Tapuae o Rehua (a trust company between CPIT, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, University of Otago, Christchurch College of Education, and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu), and in the founding of the Canterbury Tertiary Alliance.
Donna Allan, Lethbridge Community College Retires
College Names Tracy Edwards President
Lethbridge College News Release
Lethbridge Community College (LCC) Board of Governors Chair Gord Jong announced the appointment of new president and CEO, Dr. Tracy Edwards. Tracy became president on July 1, 2005, following the retirement of Dr. Donna Allan. Donna was a long-time member of the PIN Executive Committee and active in many PIN initiatives. Tracy served as vice president for academic affairs and as chief learning officer for Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida.
“Prior to moving from Canada to the U.S. to pursue her doctoral degree, Dr. Edwards gained tremendous experience in 15 years with Nova Scotia Community College,” says Gord. “We are very pleased to have her joining LCC and look forward to benefiting from her knowledge and leadership expertise.”
Gord says Donna helped put LCC on the map, earning national and international attention for the college. He thinks Tracy will benefit from that legacy and use her experience in both Canada and the U.S. to represent LCC well at both levels. Tracy brings a good balance of skills that will enable her to not only provide leadership in the academic realm, but she is prepared to manage a $55 million organization, like the college.
Tracy Edwards
Gretchen Naff, President of College of Lake County, Retires
College of Lake County News Release
After serving as president of the College of Lake County for nearly eight years, Dr. Gretchen J. Naff retired on June 30, 2005. Dr. Naff was appointed CLC president in May 1996 after serving as interim president for nine months. Prior to this, she served as the college’s vice president for educational affairs from February 1990 to August 1995.
“Dr. Naff’s leadership has significantly benefited students and the Lake County community,” said Trustee Barbara Oilschlager, chair of the board of trustees. “She has worked tirelessly on initiatives for faculty and staff development, new college facilities, and expansion of educational opportunities for Lake County residents.”
Seeing the growing diversity of the college’s student body, Dr. Naff led initiatives to diversify CLC’s faculty. Likewise, anticipating substantial turnover as many faculty and staff neared retirement age, she initiated a Leadership Institute to develop and empower staff and supported the implementation of a new-faculty orientation program. In the area of facilities, Dr. Naff worked with area legislators to secure funding for a new technology building, now under construction on the Grayslake Campus, and with Vernon Hills officials on plans to expand the college’s Southlake Educational CLC Center.
Committed to expanding educational options, Dr. Naff also championed the creation of more than 50 new CLC degree and certificate programs, and she was an early proponent of making upper division and graduate public education available locally through the University Center of Lake County.
Dr. Naff was active in community organizations, including the Workforce Investment Board and Lake County Partners, collaborations between corporations, industry and educational units in support of economic development. Within the higher education community, Dr. Naff was active in the Illinois Community College Presidents Council, chairing committees in Governance and Workforce Development and holding every elected position in the group, including president. On the national level, she served on the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Global Education and the Commission on Academic, Student and Community Development. Additionally, she was a board member of the National Institute for Leadership Development.
Sault College President in Outdoor Classroom
Sault College News Release
Dr. Tim Meyer, Sault College President, put aside his office work to join more than twenty first-year students of the Natural Resources program at their Field Camp North of Thessalon at the Shaw Dam. At a week-long field camp, the Fish and Wildlife students focused on forest fire-fighting training followed by canoeing, boating, navigation, and dendrology (study of trees). In collaboration with three Natural Resources staff members, on the morning of October 3, Dr. Meyer assisted in the instruction of: fire-camp and pump set-up, “melon rolling” and other fire-hose skills.
Dr. Meyer completed his doctoral requirements in forest management and pathology at the University of Florida. He also holds Masters Degrees from Lake Superior State University and North Dakota State University. Before joining Sault College, Tim held a number of roles related to Natural Resource Management at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the University of Florida, and he was the founding chair of the Forestry Ecosystem Science Co-operative Inc. based in Thunder Bay.
“As a former research scientist I was part of the team that looked after the health of Ontario’s forests”, said Tim Meyer. Commenting on his role in the field, he continued: “I welcome the opportunity to get back to my roots. Student success is our business, and it’s important for us to be hands-on and maintain our focus.”
International Students Flourish in Northern NSW, Australia
Submitted by Neil Black, Director, North Coast Institute of TAFE
Australia is one of the world’s most popular destinations for international students wishing to gain a technical and vocational education qualification and at the same time enhance their cultural experiences. Some students have a goal of obtaining residency status in Australia whilst others are
simply seeking an international experience, usually along with an internationally recognised qualification.
A majority of international students studying at vocational education institutions or universities in Australia are from Asian countries. However, this article is about an Englishman, a Canadian and a Brazilian who went to study with PIN member, the North Coast Institute of TAFE in New South Wales Australia and have made new lives for themselves in Australia, thanks to their particularly judicious choices in study.
All three students enrolled at Kingscliff Campus, the northernmost campus of the North Coast Institute’s 17 campuses servicing a 700-kilometre strip of the New South Wales coastline. This campus is idyllically situated close to the tourist ‘Mecca’ of Queensland’s Gold Coast, and offers arguably one of the most successful set of hospitality courses in the region. As there is an identified shortage of skilled workers in commercial cooking, students coming to study hospitality in Australia are regarded favourably should the study lead to an application for residency.
James Blessed, who hails originally from Solihull (near Birmingham, UK), had been travelling extensively after completing his GCSE A levels in Economics, Geography and German in 1996. After making his way through Canada, Alaska, Central America, Chile, Australia and Thailand, he heard from a friend in Australia who seemed to always have work…in hospitality. He worked his way through a Certificate IV and Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management (which included a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery), hitchhiking over sixty kilometres to the Campus 3-4 times a week for two years. “I met about six or seven hundred people in that time,” says James, “and I made several friends as a result.”
The hard work paid off. As well as sitting (and passing) his exam for the internationally recognised City and Guilds Certificate, James has just got his application for residency in Australia approved. He now lives in world-renowned Byron Bay, and works as a chef at two different and popular hotels. James’ face lights up into a grin when he talks about his situation. “Life’s pretty good - living and working in Byron, beautiful surrounds, walking distance to the surf through a National Park….It doesn’t get better than this!”
Megan Gwin, from Toronto, Canada, had worked in bars and restaurants in Canada, and with such portable skills was able to visit Australia several years ago on a working holiday. “I had a really good time, I liked working behind the bars, and I liked the laid-back style of Australians – very similar to us Canadians.” Megan is enrolled in the Advanced Diploma Hospitality Management at Kingscliff Campus, because the course offers points towards her permanent residency application. “Also, I really like cooking – I like food and eating well, and it seemed logical to choose this course because of that and because of my previous experience front of house.” Megan and her husband have already mapped out plans to own their own restaurant and be part of the rapidly growing community of Banora Point, north of Kingscliff.
The third member of this international trio, Francisco Gomes, comes from Rio de Janiero. “I was attracted to Australia because of its reputation for lifestyle,” says Francisco, “and I must say it is similar to Brazil, especially the surf.” After graduating in Graphic Design in Brazil, Francisco was sponsored by IT multinational EDS in Victoria, but found the job opportunities in that industry too limiting. He dabbled in Business Management, before choosing to enrol in the Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management at Kingscliff because he “liked to cook.” As well as offering a path to
residency, the course took him to a “wonderful part of Australia”. Francisco is very impressed with the learning experience. He enrolled mid-semester, and found that the teachers were “very nice and patient and helpful” in allowing him to catch up on the work.
These international students are only three out of over two hundred students who visit TAFE NSW-North Coast Institute each year for a variety of courses, study tours and other educational experiences of a lifetime.
Francisco Gomes James Blessed Megan Gwin
St. Clair County Community College Opens Institute of Homeland Security Training
St. Clair County Community College News Release
St. Clair County Community College announced its Institute of Homeland Security Training, which stands out as one of Michigan’s first such community college efforts. SC4 will offer online and classroom curriculums meeting specific needs of first responders and the public.
SC4 developed the institute with assistance from the community college’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee. The committee includes PIN member Lambton College in Sarnia; hospital, EMS, police, fire and emergency management representing St. Clair and Sanilac counties and the city of Port Huron; and representatives from school districts, U.S. Department of Labor, environmental agencies, CN Railroad, business and industry, and Sarnia Police Service.
The institute will work to address the immediate training gaps and grow as partners identify additional training priorities. Individual classroom seminars for this fall will be offered for first responders, health-care providers, families, and business and industry and their employees. Online offerings this fall will examine issues including the history and evolution of homeland security and the role of government agencies in the war on terrorism.
In addition, SC4 will offer approved federally funded Homeland Security-Office of Domestic Preparedness curriculums to first responders. Curriculum also will include sessions for students and seminars for the public. The college also plans to incorporate homeland security curriculum into existing college credit programs and courses as well.
Community Learning Campus Set to Revolutionize Learning
in the Province of Alberta
Submitted by Tom Thompson, President, Olds College
Determination, hard work and a passionate vision has paid off for committee members who have worked for over two years to develop a Community Learning Campus (CLC) concept.
The committee is comprised of representatives from Olds College, Chinook’s Edge School Division, Olds High School, municipal and county officials, and members of the public. They first came together in the spring of 2003 to begin developing the concept, after Alberta Infrastructure approved the Olds High School for a $6.7 million modernization and community members encouraged the School Board to consider an alternate plan.
Before long, a vision was ignited and a committee was struck, resulting in a 110 page Community Learning Action Plan and Schematic Design Report that was delivered to the Alberta government in March 2005. On June 23, 2005, the provincial government announced a $37 million commitment to the Community Learning Campus. Total funding for the project is $47 million, with the additional support to come from various community stakeholders.
The CLC will see four structures built on the Olds College campus: the Core High School (grades 9-12), eLearning Core, Health & Wellness Facility, and Fine Arts & Multi Media Centre. The sharing of community facilities, expertise and technology through Olds College, Chinook’s Edge School Division and their respective community and government partners will create a world-class learning environment that serves as a model for Alberta. The CLC is pioneering a seamless delivery system that will take high school students smoothly into the challenges of post-secondary programming.
At the first meeting of the CLC Governance Team on September 19, Rob Mackenzie, Vice-President of Student and Support Services at Olds College for the past four years, was appointed CLC Director through a unanimous vote. Mackenzie has been seconded for a two-year term to fill the role, and will answer to CLC Chair Jim Gibbons (Superintendent of Chinook’s Edge School Division), Vice-Chair H.J. (Tom) Thompson (Olds College President), and eight other members of the CLC Governance Team.
As well, a CLC Operation Team was appointed that will consist of Rob Mackenzie, Pat Bidart - Olds College Associate Vice-President, and Tom Christenson - Olds High School Principal. The Operation Team is entrusted to setting the direction that will get construction underway, with the first priority to proceed with a request for proposals for site design, architectural consultants and cost consultants. The Community Learning Campus is expected to open in the fall of 2007 or spring of 2008, and will revolutionize learning in the Province of Alberta.
Kwantlen and Chilean University to Develop Student and Faculty Exchange Programs and Joint research Projects
Submitted by Skip Triplett, President - Kwantlen University College
The presidents of Kwantlen University College and Chile’s Universidad Arturo Prat (UNAP) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will see the universities participate in faculty and student exchanges, joint research and other ventures.
UNAP President Carlos Merino Pinochet had been invited to visit Kwantlen by President Skip Triplett to explore opportunities for cooperation. UNAP, like Kwantlen, is a multi-campus university. It has two main campuses: Iquique in the north and Victoria, which is south of the capital Santiago in central Chile.
“Today’s memorandum of understanding is the result of the growing ties between Kwantlen University College and the Universidad Arturo Prat,” said Triplett. “The relationship has revealed how much our universities have in common and what we can learn from each other as we prepare students for leadership, service and success.”
The scope of the agreement is to develop joint activities and programs in areas of Horticulture, Criminology, English and Spanish language training and English Immersion where it is feasible and desirable for both universities. The proposed activities may include research, curriculum development, faculty and student exchanges, and short-term training for faculty and students. For Kwantlen, programs anticipated in the MOU will provide faculty with opportunities to work at UNAP, participate in research in areas of common interest and participate in the development of curriculum for new UNAP programs. Kwantlen students will have opportunities to study at UNAP.
Programs outlined in the MOU will provide UNAP faculty and students with exchange and research opportunities. In addition, UNAP hopes to tap into Kwantlen’s expertise in developing programs that meet the needs of regional and international employment markets and allow students to bridge between citations, certificates, diplomas and degrees as their skills and interests develop.
UNAP has identified academic areas in which it would like to add programs that, following Kwantlen’s model, offer diploma credentials that could be bridged into a degree later if desired.
Kwantlen’s Vice President Strategic Services, Gordon Lee says the two universities are currently working on the details and of the plan, such as the number of student and faculty exchanges, funding and the areas of joint research. The MOU is in effect until Aug. 31, 2010.
Foreign Students at Australian Colleges Prefer Them to British or American Competitors, Survey Finds
By David Cohen, Published in the October 14, 2005 Online Edition of
The Chronicle of Higher Education
This article cannot be included on the PIN website due to the permission agreement with The Chronicle. Access this article at this URL:
http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=tgx7yziawb7b2qkcn5foo5kasfuy9l91
Copyright 2005, The Chronicle of Higher Education - Reprinted with permission
Governor Signs Midlands Technical College’s Enterprise Campus Bill
Midlands Technical College News Release
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed legislation that gives Midlands Technical College the green light to work with private businesses to develop the college’s Enterprise Campus in Northeast Columbia. The college is setting aside 100 acres adjacent to the MTC Center of Excellence for Technology for development through public-private partnerships. The area is considered a prime location for entrepreneurs because of its proximity to the Carolina Research Park and I-77. Sites on the campus will be leased and developed through the Midlands Technical College Enterprise Authority.
“Not only will the Enterprise Campus present an innovative opportunity to create new businesses for the region’s economy, but it will provide opportunities for our students to learn in a business setting and to position themselves to move into careers within the knowledge economy,” said MTC President Barry Russell.
The Enterprise Campus will provide a physical, in-state location for commercialization of research and serve as a second-tier incubator for companies who can derive benefit from a close proximity to technical college students and facilities. Discussions have begun with private firms to assess the next phase of the campus development.
The MTC Center of Excellence for Technology is the anchor facility on the Enterprise Campus. Its 50,000 square feet of innovative learning space includes a full-scale manufacturing floor, metrology lab, IT classrooms and an auditorium that offers full connectivity for meetings and conferencing.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Opens New
Centre for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
SAIT News Release
SAIT Polytechnic officially opened its new Centre for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. The Centre is one of the best-equipped diagnostic imaging training facilities located at a post-secondary institution in Canada.
The Centre for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging encompasses five labs and two classrooms that include full facilities for x-ray, ultrasound and the application of nuclear medicine technology. One of the unique aspects of the Centre is that students receive hands-on training in labs that replicate the health care and clinical environment they will encounter during their practicum’s and after they graduate.
“Many partners and donors have collaborated to build a diagnostic imaging training facility that is the best in Canada,” says Irene Lewis, President and CEO of SAIT. “The generosity and foresight of our partners and contributors to SAIT, our students and the Centre for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging will ensure students receive hands-on, real-world training that will result in superbly trained graduates well prepared for employment.”
The Centre is the culmination of four years of planning, design and construction. During that time, SAIT received invaluable assistance from industry and clinical partners and advisory committees to bring this remarkable facility to fruition. The Centre was conceived through the work of SAIT representatives who formed part of a Provincial Steering Committee to address the future outlook of diagnostic imaging. This group worked to increase the number of diagnostic imaging graduates in Alberta to meet demand and avoid a critical skill shortage. The committee received the Premier’s Award of Excellence in 2004 and continues to work together as an advisory group. It is made up of members of the regional health authorities, community clinics, Advanced Education, SAIT and NAIT.
The Government of Alberta is a major contributor to the development of the Centre for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging providing funding towards its operation as well as one-time funding for expansion and development. Additional donors provided equipment and funds for program development and student awards.
A Study Abroad Term Enhances Kwantlen Students’ Skills
Submitted by Skip Triplett, President - Kwantlen University College
Africa, South East Asia, Europe and Australia — the places where Kwantlen University College students have studied reads like a travel magazine. But according to Barbara Smith, Manager of International Education at Kwantlen studying abroad is one of the best career decisions students can make.
"Studying abroad significantly enriches a student’s educational experience and prepares them to participate in the global knowledge economy," says Smith. "Students with overseas experiences become more confident, self-reliant and adaptable. They are generally more creative in problem identification and solving because they bring back with them new and different perspectives. The also develop excellent cross-cultural communication skills. Essentially they develop into the type of employee employers require in a rapidly evolving global marketplace."
Jolie Chan, a fourth year student in Bachelor of Applied Design in Fashion Design and Technology program, said that her study abroad experience helped her to become more confident in her personal and professional life. Chan’s ability to take things in stride and look at new challenges openly, also allowed her to find a new perspective for her work. Chan traveled to Finland in January 2004 and spent five months at the EVTEK Institute of Art and Design. "Scandinavian art and design is very minimal with clean lines and it was amazing to get to experience it first hand in the museums and in the shops and even with fabrics."
Exposure to another lifestyle where things were much more expensive also forced her to use her creativity in a new way and gain experience she otherwise would not have had the opportunity to gain.
"Everything is very, very expensive, so I learned quickly that you do not buy new. Finnish people recycle everything and I went to second hand clothing stores to find fabric for most of my designs. I learned to be flexible and adapt to the resources available. I learned so much and it was an experience I never would have had at home."
At Kwantlen, the study abroad experience is open to academically qualified students in the areas of business, computers, nursing, fine arts and design. Kwantlen students can study at partner institutions in Finland, Germany, USA, Spain, Taiwan and Mexico and many have completed practicums and internships in New Zealand, Africa, Honduras and the Philippines.
"There are lots of opportunities to learn and our students need to know that the world is open for business and the undergraduate experience they are getting here is broad enough to apply their skills globally," says Derek Francis, Vice President Learner Support. "It is critical for Canada to have more graduates who have international experience."
The Gift of (Digital) Memory
Submitted by Sam Shaw, President Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Full-time students at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) were given the gift of memory this year - 256MB of memory, to be exact. Coming in the form of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory stick, the OokSTICK has the same memory capacity as 178 floppy disks – giving students ample space to save projects and class work.
According to Steve Balenovic, NAIT’s Manager of Digital Media, “Providing our students with the memory stick puts them at a great advantage. By placing technology in the hands of our students we are able to reinforce the fact that student success is our number one priority.”
Pointing to the devise, Balenovic says, “This OokSTICK serves as another tool to help them achieve this success. By having the flexibility and ease of the Flash memory drive in tandem with their student storage, students will be able to enhance presentations and projects with media rich displays or simply use it to easily transfer files around.”
As an added bonus, the stick features OokMAG – the NAIT Student Virtual Magazine, a 40-page electronic publication loaded with information about life on campus. OokMAG contains Quick Facts, FAQs, maps, a welcome video from NAIT President Dr. Sam Shaw, digital video movies of various Main Campus locations, a video on the EnCana Aboriginal Student Centre and NAIT’s Athletics program, as well as information on loans, scholarships and student services including NAITSA, NAIT’s Students’ Association.
"NAIT students have long needed more alternatives for digital technology and student storage,” said Dwayne Williams, NAITSA President. “We know that not all students may initially understand how to use the USB stick, or all of its benefits. But we’re sure that once they do know how to use it, they will find it to be an indispensable tool.”
According to Dr. Shaw, “NAIT is taking the lead in using technology to maximize student success. We’re very proud of this project, and it’s one more way that NAIT is committed to giving our students a competitive advantage. We believe we are the first institution in North America to do this.”
Europe is known for its abundant selection of refined deli meats, and Germany is particularly active in creating several thousand different products from meat. Olds College’s Associate Vice-President of Academic Services, Pat Bidart, recently visited Germany to sign an agreement that will launch student exchanges with a meat college in Kulmbach, located two hours from Frankfurt.
“We are excited about developing this exchange, so students from both countries can share information, work experience and possible employment,” said Bidart. “The professionals who work in Germany’s meat industry are highly skilled. German high school students who wish to pursue meat processing enter their apprenticeship program at the equivalent of our grade 10. Those who pursue meat processing are already specializing in an area of slaughter, meat cutting or marketing before they even get to the college level.”
Olds College provides training in all aspects of meat processing, through its unique integration of livestock production, slaughter, value-added processing, food safety training and retail marketing. Last spring, the college was approached by Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to help lead the creation of the European Meat Exchange Program.
“Meat processing is a highly specialized and multi-faceted career in Germany, and there will be huge benefits for students to learn the best practises from both countries. The exchange agreement involves plans for up to 12 students from Germany to tour the meat industry in Alberta and to meet our students for the first week of the Meat Processing program at Olds College. The students will also tour a variety of meat processing facilities in Alberta, as well as touring Alberta. Olds College Meat Processing alumni, students and other industry professionals from Alberta will tour Kulmbach’s college and attend an international meat conference in October 2005,” said Bidart.
“Everyone is enthusiastic about this program. This is the first international agreement the college in Kulmbach has signed and they are quite eager to work with us. Anytime students travel abroad they learn a wealth of different approaches that they would not be exposed to at home. This will certainly benefit students from both countries, and if students could eventually spend a semester studying overseas I think it would be an enormous opportunity.”
Faculty/Staff Exchange-Visit Program
Applications are currently being taken for the Faculty/Staff Exchange Visit Program. The exchange and visit program is designed to facilitate faculty and staff exchanges and visits among PIN member colleges. The exchanges and visits are designed to enhance the professional development of faculty/staff and to further international understanding of two-year colleges. The colleges are expected to support and facilitate the exchange/visit process. The college and the faculty members develop the exchange or visit to meet their institutional and individual objectives.
PIN will award two $500 (US) stipends to facilitate faculty exchanges and visits to each country for the academic year. It is expected that the college will match the dollar amount of the stipend. The match will be cash or an in-kind contribution.
Process
1. The Faculty Exchange and Visit Program Application Form should be used.
2. The program criteria must be addressed in the application.
3. The narrative should be no longer than 1000 words.
4. The college president/principal and the faculty/staff member must sign the application form.
5. If there is a need for assistance in identifying a host college, PIN will assist in identifying appropriate host colleges.
6. Faculty Exchange and Visit Program Application are submitted to Executive Director, Bill Warner.
7. The Executive Committee reviews all applications at the annual meeting.
8. The Executive Committee will identify the award recipients.
9. The PIN Executive Director will notify the successful and unsuccessful applicants.
10. The $500 (US) stipend check will be sent to the college president, who will make the award to the faculty/staff member.
Forward your Faculty/Staff Exchange and Visit applications to Bill Warner, Executive Director.
PIN Executive Committee
The current PIN Executive Committee membership includes:
Australia: John Maddock, Box Hill College
Peter Veenker, Canberra Institute of Technology
Canada: Irene Lewis, SAIT (PIN President-Elect)
Gary Polonsky, Durham College
MaryLynn West-Moynes, Mohawk College
Netherlands: Ricardo Winter, ROC van Amsterdam
New Zealand John Scott, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology
United States: LaVern Franzen, Central Community College
Mike Schafer, Mohawk Valley Community College (PIN President)
Joe Sertich, Northeast Minnesota Higher Education District
The role of the Executive Committee is to:
1. Plan and develop objectives and activities for the organization;
2. Initiate policies and implement policies of the Network;
3. Make recommendations regarding annual membership fees;
4. Review, in context, the participation of PIN members and make decisions about continued memberships;
5. Determine the budget for administrative tasks of the organization;
6. Communicate the decisions taken at its meeting to the membership in semi-annual newsletters; and
7. Facilitate the securing of external resources for PIN projects and encourage members to do the same.
PIN Presidency
Mike Schafer, President of Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, New York, USA was installed as PIN president for a two-year term in March 2004.
Irene Lewis, president elect, is scheduled to be next PIN president. However, she does not feel she can do justice to the job due to the heavy schedule she will have at SAIT in the next few years, as well as other provincial and federal commitments.
Peter Veenker, CEO of Canberra Institute of Technology, Canberra, Australia, is the immediate past president of PIN, completing his term as PIN president at the 2004 Annual Conference. Peter’s term as president was from June 2002 to March 2004.
PIN Group Picture - June 24, 2005 - Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Canada
Row One: Tom Thomas, Mike Sainsbery, Robyn Sainsbery, Irene Lewis, Elliot Lewis, Bill Warner, Kathy Schafer, Mike Schafer, Vaughen Croucher,
Lois Polonsky, Gary Polonsky
Row Two: Lynn Thomas, Lavern Franzen, Connie Franzen, Dawn Scott, Margaret Croucher, Rod Brightman, Ann Mars
Row Three: Bronko Jazvac, Barb Herrmann, Donna McFarlane, Cathy Pitcher, Vicki Baldwin, Terry Saunby, Irene Farrell, Gordon Farrell
Row Four: Bert Curtis, Mary Lynn West-Moynes, Lynn Black, John Skitt
Row Five: Gary Pitcher, Doug Moynes, Audrey Skitt, Joan Black, Jill Maddock, John Maddock
Not Pictured: Joe & Nancy Sertich, John Scott (Photographer)
For more information about this Newsletter or PIN contact:
Dr. Bill Warner
Executive Director - PIN
3088 Branch Drive
Clearwater, FL 33760 USA
Phone: 651-483-0299 Fax: 651-483-5821
E-mail: warne017@umn.edu
PIN Website
www.pinnet.org
