The Douglas College Newsletter October 1998. HM New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus & Thomas Haney Centre eek OOTP rye “m Douglas College International INtrigue possesses Douglas College espite the presence of the Asian Economic Flu out of the Far East, Douglas College’s initiatives with Pacific Rim countries, and with other nations, are anything but on hold. In fact, the people in the Center for International Education and Director Tad Hosoi—among others in the College Community—are expecting a year filled with activity on the College’s international front. Take, for instance, the two-year old Japanese exchange program with Osaka’s Momoyama University, which has already doubled in size. As of October 1, ten Douglas College students will be studying Japanese for ten weeks at Momoyama, with most of the costs provided for them, including the cost of the courses and their homestay. “The students are also set up with language partners, so they get to know their community through people other than just their homestay families,” says Hosoi. Initially, only five students were sent last year, and most of them had intermediate or higher levels of Japanese capability. This year, says Hosoi, five students were chosen for their accomplished Japanese- speaking ability, and five beginners were chosen as well. “It expands the opportunity for other students to have the experience and provides a diversified ethnic background that is more indicative of reality,” he says. With eyes cast towards China.. October will also be busy for members of the College Community involved with the Chinese portfolio. Several ceremonies will soon take place that will help to solidify Douglas College’s connections to the Middle Kingdom. Last November's visit to China by College President Susan Witter, Guangwei Ouyang and Terry Farrell resulted in three agreements-in-principle. These are all coming to fruition this , fall. But Farrell credits others before he takes any of the credit himself. In particular, he singles philosophy instructor Guangwei Ouyang and Susan Witter. “The Chinese projects are a first for Douglas College, Guangwei has been invaluable, and the President has taken a remarkable leadership role,” he says. “The joint programming we've developed with the Chinese institutions is remarkable,” says Farrell, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences. October marks the official commence- ment of the joint Banking and Securities program developed between Douglas College and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (SIFT), with half the programs’ credits coming from each institution. “The students will graduate with a diploma and a degree,” says Terry Farrell, of the program which is headed by Dean Jim Sator. October is also the month when the Shanghai Teachers University (STU) begins its joint therapeutic recreation/ physical education/coaching program, an initiative being supervised by Deans Bev Miller and Des Wilson. There are also a number of programs in the middle of development. STU is bea possible host for a language training exchange program, though that one is still in the embroynic stages. Also under development is a joint program between the College and the several medical institutions in Shanghai. “Though still in the pre-liminary stages, it still is exciting,” says Farrell. The Chinese team in charge of that project will visit the Douglas College Health Sciences Faculty in early November, and will be hosted by Dean Joy Holmwood. The list of potential programs in pre-production doesn’t show any sign of abating. The Shanghai Administration Institute has signed an agreement regarding professional development for the intitution’s faculty and senior students, in the area of training and retraining. “The post-secondary education system is beginning to move away from overwhelming public support towards having institions funding themselves to some extent," says Farrell. "These self-funded courses go a long way to helping the College out.” “No other institute has signed this many agreements with Chinese institutions. they just don’t exist in this number.” Other countries Meanwhile, there is still activity with several Thai and Hungarian schools, including exchanges that are happening or have already taken place this year. Other future initiatives include strengthening ties with a particular Latin American country. “We are in the process of working on a few institutions in Mexico,” said Hosoi. “Specifically, the Technical University of Leon (a city near Guadalajara in Guanajuanto state) is one institution we're seriously looking at.” No, this is not the top of Everest; it is a symbol of goodwill between Douglas College and her Chinese sisters. The school also flew a Chinese flag outside during a recent delegation's visit. Hosoi also spoke about looking towards America for exchange possibilities. “There are four or five American institutions that we are very, very friendly with,” said Hosoi. “If a student goes to a country in which another language is spoken, most of the student's energy is spent strictly on language learning. While there is no language barrier or huge cultural difference, the USS. is still another country.” Though times are tough all over, Hosoi believes that it is important for the Centre for International Education to maintain its mandate of creating opportunities for domestic and foreign students to go on an international exchange and learn about the world through travel and language. A main part of the Center’s mandate is that every initiative be a break-even, cost recovering activity. Considering the return on the “investment”—opportunities for students and faculty alike— the economics of International Education certainly seem to be paying off. Seats filling at Thomas Haney New offerings at Douglas College’s Thomas Haney Campus (THC) are hitting the target with Ridge Meadows students. Figures from the Registrar’s Office reveal that full-time students took 32 of 35 spaces in the new Thomas Haney Campus University Transfer program, while 32 part-time students filled the available seats and some additional offerings (such as Criminology 100). In past years, the campus provided a wider range of courses but no full programs, forcing students to take additional courses in Coquitlam or New Westminster. The result was many under-enrolled classes in Maple Ridge. In response, and based on public priorities identified in last year’s Operational Review, courses were restructured to offer a complete year of university transfer studies in Maple Ridge. Popular developmental courses in literacy and math were also retained. Planning—to ensure the campus effectively meets community needs—continues this fall. The Thomas Haney Campus Community Advisory Committee, composed of community leaders as well as Student Society and School District 42 representatives, meets in October. In addition, a campus coordinating committee has been formed to allow THC staff and faculty to discuss issues, concerns and to make recommendations about campus facilities and services.