July 14, 2009 - 9:00am
Move over Apprentice.
Students enrolled in Vancouver Island University Master of Business Administration program will go toe-to-toe in the sand to compete for charity and bragging rights during the Silly Boat Regatta on Sunday, July 19th at Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo.
It’s all in the name of fun and for a great cause – to raise money for the Child Development Centre (CDC).
Two MBA cohorts will pit their energy, wit and team sales abilities against one another during the Regatta festivities to see which team can raise the most money for charity.
“We wanted to create a fun competition for students that would have spin-off benefits for the community,” explained David Woodward, one of VIU’s three MBA Internship Coordinators.
“Our MBA students have a keen interest in giving something back to their community. They are looking for activities to bring them together, create a sense of belonging and allow them to make a difference.”
Team members, wearing MBA t-shirts, will roam through the crowds at the Silly Boat Regatta selling a “mystery product” to raise funds for the CDC.
“The teams are being secretive about their plans for the day, each hoping to outdo the other team in sales and fund-raising,” said Woodward. “This whole exercise is good experience for the students. Many of them want to be entrepreneurs in the future. This competition gives them a chance to be creative, entrepreneurial and innovative.”
“The Silly Boat Regatta seemed like the perfect community event to launch the competition because it’s fun and engages the whole community. More importantly, the Child Development Centre is strongly linked to the university and the perfect charity for MBA students to support.”
Woodward said the winning MBA team will earn a trophy. “We hope this will become an annual competition and that the trophy will be something for every MBA cohort to vie for in the future,” he said.
“The charity we support may change from year to year, but there will likely always be some kind of interaction with the community with proceeds going to a given charity. It gives the students a great feeling to know they can practice their skills, have fun and support their community at the same time.”
MBA students at Vancouver Island University earn both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from VIU and a Master in Science in International Business (MScIB) from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. The dual degree program is one of the most unique in Canada, said coordinator Brook Pearce. With credentials from two continents, this intensive 14-month program prepares graduates with the support and skills they need to apply for management positions in North America and around the world.
Right now, VIU has over 450 MBA graduates working around the world. Last year’s pool of graduates represented 21 countries including Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, Trinidad/Tobago and Turkey.
“We’re very pleased to see the current cohort of MBA students enthusiastically supporting community events such as the Silly Boat Regatta,” said VIU President Ralph Nilson. “Their participation clearly demonstrates their commitment to the community.”
To find out more about VIU’s MBA program, visit the website at www.viu.ca
Tags: In the Community
