VIU business student wins Mercer HR award

Vancouver Island University (VIU) business student Megan Bailey has been awarded the 2008 Mercer Scholarship Award for Human Resources Excellence. Bailey, a fourth-year student, was chosen among applicants from members of the BC Colleges Consortium that offer HR programs.

“I’m flattered that they offered it to me,” said Bailey. “It’s confirmation that my studies are on track and I think it’s an affirmation of VIU’s programs: one of their students won the HR award from a national consulting company.”

This is the first year the scholarship has been offered. Applicants were asked to describe, based on their classroom learning, how they would manage various HR situations presented to them. The responses were judged by Mercer, a global company providing business and human resource consulting, outsourcing, and investment services.

“I think it’s a testament to the quality of teaching and the hard work of our learners here at VIU,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ralph Nilson. “We’re very pleased – congratulations Megan.”

Mercer representative Eileen Beadle said Mercer was pleased to present the inaugural award to a VIU student in the first year of the institution’s history as a full university.

Bailey said she chose the field of Human Resources because it’s a challenging field that has lots of opportunities. “I like the blend of getting to deal with people and challenge of business practices,” she said. “I like working with people - you’re not just an analyst at a desk.”

VIU offers a number of business-related undergraduate and graduate degree, diploma and certificate programs through the Faculty of Management. For more information visit www.viu.ca/business.