Business Leaders Share Knowledge and Expertise with Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 5, 2012

NANAIMO, BC – Innovative business trends, job opportunities and job readiness – these are the key topics Vancouver Island University students in the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program discussed today (Monday, Nov. 5) with prominent Canadian business leaders.

Susan Allan, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce and Charan Sethi, President of Tien Sher Group of Companies in Richmond, BC, were among the guest speakers sharing insights and wisdom with MBA students at Speaker Day.

“Speaker Day is for the benefit of our MBA students, most of whom come to VIU from international origins,” said David Woodward, Internship Coordinator at VIU.

“The event is also open to fourth year Bachelor in Business Administration students, and is intended to add a ‘real world’ element to the students’ academic courses by introducing them to a selection of individuals from the Canadian business community who speak to areas of their particular expertise.”

Students will benefit through presentations on leadership, succeeding as an entrepreneur in today’s business environment, business trends across a variety of sectors, and receiving tips on how to prepare for entry into the Canadian job market.

“Our department has been inviting speakers to our campus for six years, but this is our first full Speaker Day,” Woodward said.

Student Dilpreet Uppal said the event represents “a significant opportunity for MBA students to learn from talented business leaders, not just the technical aspects of business but soft skills, such as leadership and public speaking.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of VIU’s MBA program. The 14-month program represents a unique Canadian/British partnership between VIU and the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

The two institutions joined forces in 2002 to offer the University of Hertfordshire’s Master of Business Administration and International Master of Business Administration programs in Nanaimo.

A dual-degree partnership was established in 2007, allowing students to earn a Master in Business Administration from VIU and a Master of Science in International Business from University of Hertfordshire at the Nanaimo campus at the same time.

As part of the program, MBA students complete a 16-week internship in July and September, or November and January according to their specific stream of study – Finance, Marketing or general studies.

VIU’s MBA program is unique in Canada and a popular choice for students from all over the world, said VIU’s MBA Director Brock Dykeman.

The program attracts an average of 150 students a year, with two intakes, fall and spring. Last year, students came from 23 countries. For more information, visit www.viu.ca/mba

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ABOUT VIU: Vancouver Island University is Canada’s west coast university. Known as a centre of excellence for teaching, learning and applied research, VIU offers a diverse range of certificate, diploma, undergraduate and master degree programs to more than 18,000 students on campuses in Nanaimo, Powell-River and Cowichan, and at the Parksville-Qualicum Centre.