![[University of Waterloo]](/images/logobars/goldbar.gif)
| Yesterday |
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
|
Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[Side by side and looking nervous]](/images/2005/1114ourtown2.jpg)
Emily and George
at a pivotal moment in their lives: it's Courtney Wilson and Brad Cook
in the drama department production of
"Our
Town", which runs this week
in the Theatre of the Arts. A by-invitation performance tonight at 7:00
is followed by public performances Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00.
Tickets: 888-4908.
|
"We would like to use this week to remind our students of the many global opportunities they can access as UW student," says Gail Cuthbert Brandt, who, as associate vice-president (academic), oversees international initiatives on campus.
The week is spearheaded by the Canadian Bureau for International Education, a non-governmental organization with some 200 members including educational institutions and businesses. Through the CBIE, Canada joins more than 85 countries in celebrating International Education Week.
"UW will continue to hold its International Connections Week in the winter term (March 4 to 10)," adds Brandt, "but we would like to support the CBIE's goal of promoting greater awareness of the importance of international education, especially at the post-secondary level."
Among the events planned this week is a talk on "Going on an Exchange to France," today at 4:30 p.m. in Math and Computer room 1056. Other events:
A session on student exchange programs with Germany's University of Braunschweig and University of Hamburg-Harburg was held yesterday. More information on international student exchange programs is available from the Office of Research.A screening of the film "Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire" (2004), followed by a discussion led by peace and conflict studies professor Nathan Funk, Thursday, 2:30 to 4:30 in the Student Life Centre multipurpose room.
An information session about faculty of arts exchange opportunities, conducted by arts exchange coordinator Robert Ryan, Thursday 4 to 6 p.m. in Humanities room 373.
A presentation on student exchange programs with representatives from the Guadalajara campus of Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday at 5:30 in Math and Computer room 1056.
A talk on "Environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods in coastal areas of Sri Lanka" with David Wood, environmental studies, and Drew Knight, international programs office, Friday at 3:00 in Environmental Studies I room 221.
| WHEN AND WHERE |
|
Craft and toy fair sponsored by Hildegard Marsden Nursery,
9:00 to 5:00 today through Thursday, Davis Centre lounge.
'Mental Health Services in Waterloo Region' presentation by speakers from Canadian Mental Health Association and Grand River Hospital, sponsored by UW Employee Assistance Program, 12 noon, Davis Centre room 1302. Electronic grade submission demonstration 2:30, Arts Lecture Hall room 113. Engineering faculty council 3:00, CEIT room 3142; guest speaker, provost Amit Chakma. Career workshop: "Work Search Strategies", 3:30, Tatham Centre room 1208, information and registration online. Waterloo Centre for German Studies presents "Ein Autor und seine Themen: Hugo Loetscher liest as seinen Werken, mit Kommentar," 4:00, Humanities room 373. 'Euthanasia: Caring or Killing?' Natalie Hudson, Toronto Right to Life, 5 p.m., CEIT room 1015, sponsored by UW Students for Life. Toronto planning alumni dinner tonight at Royal York Hotel, 900 graduates expected, speaker Joel Kotkin, New America Foundation, on "The Evolution of the Global City". Engineers Without Borders general meting 5:30, Rod Coutts Hall room 307, focused on the Scala project. Team-building workshop organized by Launchpad $50K Venture Creation Competition, 6:00, Wilfrid Laurier University senate and board chamber. Authors of two political books -- John Ibbitson, The Polite Revolution, and Maude Barlow, Too Close for Comfort -- debate Canada's political future, 7 p.m., Centre for International Governance Innovation, 57 Erb Street West, sponsored by UW bookstore, $2 at the door. 'The Browning of Christianity,' second session of three by Darren Marks, University of Western Ontario, sponsored by Renison Institute of Ministry, 7 p.m., Renison College. 'The Cobain Case' showing, and question period with filmmaker Ian Halperin, 7:00 (doors open 5:00), Bombshelter pub, all ages, free admission. 'Iraq: Does It Have a Future?" Michael Bell, former Canadian ambassador to Israel and Egypt, 7 p.m., Paul Martin Centre, WLU, sponsored by Centre for International Governance Innovation, RSVP 885-2444 ext. 246. Tony Yayo performs at Federation Hall tonight, all-ages event, tickets $29.99 at Federation of Students office. Geographic Information Systems Day with poster displays, keynote presentation and research discussion, Wednesday 12:00 to 3:30, Environmental Studies I courtyard, details online. Arts research seminar: Daniela O'Neill, psychology, "Children Learning to Talk: A Meeting of Minds", Wednesday 12:00, Humanities room 373. Registered Education Savings Plans presentation by Education Credit Union, Wednesday 12:15, Davis Centre room 1302. Noon-hour concert: Roman Rudnytsky, "Virtuoso Piano", Wednesday 12:30, Conrad Grebel University College chapel. 'Porn Nation' multimedia presentation sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ, Wednesday 5:30 and 8 p.m., Humanities Theatre, tickets $2 at Humanities box office. Engineering Society drama production: "Beyond Therapy", "a farce that explores society's obsession with therapy", Wednesday 8 p.m. Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 2:00 and 7:00, Arts Lecture Hall room 116, tickets $6 at Student Life Centre turnkey desk. Compressed gas cylinders safety seminar sponsored by UW safety office, Thursday, 10:00 or 2:00, Davis Centre room 1302, reservations ext. 5613. |
The $3.5 million initiative was made possible through a donation by Balsillie, who is also the original financial backer of CIGI itself. It will assist the two universities in building "multidisciplinary graduate programs of top international caliber" on international public policy issues.
![[Behind CIGI lectern]](/images/2005/1115CIGIsign.jpg)
Donor Jim Balsillie and UW provost Amit Chakma sign the agreement at a celebration in CIGI's great hall. |
Said Amit Chakma, UW's provost: "We are grateful to Jim Balsillie for providing his generous support allowing our universities and CIGI to offer expanded opportunities for graduate students and researchers in these critically important areas of study. It's exciting to realize that the Region of Waterloo is poised to play an increasingly significant role in defining and understanding governance issues world-wide."
There are two components to the initiative. The first will support half the expected cost over seven years of four CIGI Chairs in International Public Policy at each university -- new faculty positions at both UW and Laurier. The first two of these chairs have already been appointed, both at UW. They are Eric Helleiner in political science (a specialist in global financial institutions) and Jennifer Clapp in environmental studies (working on international environmental governance).
The second component of the initiative will support thirty graduate students in fields related to international public policy, through the creation of the Balsillie Fellowships, worth $15,000 annually. Twelve Balsillie Fellows have been appointed for the 2005-06 academic year (six from each university) including students from across Canada as well as from China, Pakistan and Bulgaria.
The fellowships will be offered to fifteen students each year at both universities through the 2006-07 to 2008-09 academic years. The students will also have an opportunity to build their research experience by participating in projects run by CIGI researchers.
"For the first time, we're extending our reach beyond the Waterloo region," says program coordinator Melissa Latour, "We're expecting kids from Fredericton, Halifax, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and all over southern Ontario."
How have they solved the residence problem? Local participants are hosting out-of-town students in a "billet-and-breakfast" approach. As in an exchange program, host families, students, and their billet buddies will have time to get acquainted at home every evening. Then all the students and staff meet in the Student Life Centre for a morning meal together before their Unlimited day gets going.
![[Coffee cup and other litter]](/images/2005/1115cleanup.jpg)
Ick!
Participants in Sunday's "campus clean-up" didn't like everything
they found. In two hours, Residence life staff
calling themselves the UW Community Volunteers "were able to make
a big difference in the area around Village I, Mackenzie King Village
and Ron Eydt Village," reports one of the organizers,
political science student Paul Lehmann.
|
Students who've attended Unlimited events describe them as awesome, inspiring, challenging and indescribable. "By half-way through the week," says director Ed Jernigan, "They start asking if they can stay. They take on a solid week of twelve-hour days at UW -- and even then, they don't want to go back to high school." Parents and teachers are impressed too. "Nothing is better," said one teacher, "than hearing a 15-year-old student returning from lectures and activities who is not intimidated or overwhelmed, but instead antsy to begin their full-time university career."
One of the most important touchstones of success: Of the 47 students attending the grade eleven Design program, eleven are veterans of the very first Waterloo Unlimited session last fall. When they said they wanted to come back, they weren't kidding.
CAR