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S ; e November 2001

  

The Douglas College Newsletter

m= New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus & Thomas Haney Campus

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Douglas College

    

Program aims to create effective leaders

Cultural Facilitator in Student Services. “When I talked to
Sharon Smith [CE Programmer] she said that the
instructors were all leaders in their field, and I thought this
was a good opportunity to learn from them.”

The program consists of one foundation course, five core
courses and a leadership project. Participants start with the
Foundations of Leadership, an eight-week course that
examines leadership models and concepts, explores the

 

Community Workplace Leadership program
participants Maria Valekova (left) and Ron
Nordenmark (right) discuss class work in their
Foundations of Leadership course.

What does it take to be an effective leader in today’s fast-

paced and constantly changing world?

That’s the question addressed by a new course offered by

Continuing Education. The Community Workplace

Leadership Certificate Program teaches learners to be

effective leaders, and it’s an idea that has captured the

interest of some College employees.

“T liked the fact it had short components and is offered

again in the Spring, so that if] got off track I could pick
up where I'd left off,” says Gail Johnson, Language and

myths of leadership and much more.

“The most valuable thing I’ve learned so far is to examine

how I practice leadership in the work I do,” says Ron
Nordenmark, Employment Consultant, Worklinks,

Centre 2000. “I’ve looked at the reflection required of a

good leader and the listening required to further develop

good leadership skills.”

Johnson says she “started out thinking ‘oh, what am I

doing here, everyone else is already working in leadership

roles.’ I couldn’t see how I fit in. This course has really

communicated to me how we are all leaders in some way.

I’ve even been able to use this in my work with ESL

students. I can see how every person, no matter where

they are, has leadership capabilities in their life.”

By the end of the Program, participants will have learned
a variety of skills, including the relationship of
communication to effective leadership; an understanding

College wins national award for
international education program

Douglas College has
provided an exemplary
model of best practices in
the world of Canadian
international education,
says the Canadian Bureau
for International
Education.

The college received the
Outstanding Program in
International Education
award from the Bureau for
its partnership with the
Shanghai Institute of
Foreign Trade (SIFT) in
developing end delivering
a joint degree in Capital
Markets in Shanghai,
China.

“This is a highly specialized
undergraduate program
that provides graduates
with a degree from SIFT
and a diploma fron

Douglas College,” says
College Vice President of
Instruction Dr. John
McKendry, who is
responsible for Program
relationships with SIFT.

Under the partnership
agreement, SIFT delivers
generalist courses
comprising the
undergraduate degree,
while Douglas College
delivers diploma
specialization courses,
including economics,
finance, mathematics and
statistical methods, all in

English.

“This program is unique in
that we've integrated the
diploma into a degree, but
not in the traditional
sense,” says Commerce and

Business Dean Jim Sator,

who developed the
conceptual framework of
the partnership program.
“The diploma is integrated
into the program in years
two, three and four, and
upon graduation
participants are awarded a
diploma and a degree.”

Since its inception in
1998, program enrolment
has exceeded expectations,
with 83 students in year
one, 108 students in year
two and 159 in year three.
The program is exclusively
for Chinese students, most
of whom reside in
Shanghai. The costs of the
program are covered by °
tuition fees generated from
these students.

The partnership also
provides a professional

development program for
SIFT faculty, allowing
them to assume teaching
and assessment
responsibilities for the
Douglas College Diploma
while meeting College
standards. SIFT faculty
spend a semester at
Douglas College, working
alongside Douglas College
faculty who are teaching
the same courses as those
taught at SIFT. While at
the College, SIFT faculty
are required to prepare and
deliver presentations to
Douglas College faculty
who assess their technical
expertise and ability to
teach courses in English.
By the end of 2001, 15
SIFT faculty will have
completed one semester of
professional development
at Douglas College.

of the elements of group dynamics, their preferred
personal style of groups and how to apply group
leadership strategies; and how to use the dynamics of
effective presentations in a variety of settings.

“As an Employment Consultant for ESL clients at
Worklinks [Centre 2000], it is necessary to model good
leadership skills in order to empower clients to adjust to
our Canadian culture and successfully enter the workforce
and become productive members of our society,” says
Nordenmark.

For Johnson, the final project presents a good challenge.
“The project excites me the most — I can see lots of
opportunities around my work here at the College for this
project. I also feel more confident about taking ona

challenge like that.”

Both Johnson and Nordenmark recommend the course to
other College employees. “I think the course is designed to
make people think about how they interact and affect
others in their work,” says Nordenmark. Johnson agrees.
“Seeing how we fit into the scope of things as employees is
very valuable,” she says.

A free information session on the Community Workplace
Leadership Program will be held November 20, 7-9pm in
room 1812 at the New Westminster Campus. For more
information, call Sharon Smith at 604-527-5161.

Donations needed for ICARE
holiday celebration

Every December the ICARE Adult Literacy
Program puts on a holiday party for students and
volunteer tutors. “Most of our students are on social
assistance so they don’t look forward to the holiday
season,” says ICARE Coordinator Heather
Campbell. “We try to give our students a night of
fun and food and send them home with a few small

 

token gifts. Our party is only six weeks away and we
are looking for more gifts to wrap. If you have any

new or unused items that you would like to recycle,

 

please give me a call. We can use candles, knick-
knacks, Body Shop type products... anything! I
work on all three campuses so I can arrange a pick-
up convenient for you.” If you have something to
donate, please call Heather at 604-527-5409.

 

 

Douglas College was

international education,
nominated for this award especially programs that
by the Chinese Consulate —_ engage various members of
in Vancouver and
seconded by Stewart Beck,
the Canadian Consul-

General in Shanghai. The

award recognizes highly

the university/college and
wider community. The
award also encourages the
adoption of best practice
ideas among Canadian and

creative programming in foreign institutions.

 

Quote of the Month

Not even computers will replace committees, because committees buy computers.

Edward Shepherd Mead