With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1071224
U N I V E R S I T Y U N D E R G R A D S p e c i a l F e a t u r e create a new learning framework," says Brandon Simmons, president of the Athabasca University Students' Union. "It's about being collaborative and having more engagement. There are lots of exciting changes happening at the university moving forward." Simmons is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Management program. "Over 50 per cent of our learners are working full time already," says Simmons. "A lot of students start their program and land a job during their studies. Once an employer hires an AU grad, they often want to hire another; they're aware online education requires more discipline from you and employers really like that aspect." SFU Beedie School of Business Business Bachelor of Business Administration A successful foray into undergraduate business studies begins with a commitment to discover your pathway and explore the options that most inspires you to excel in an ever-evolving business world. Simon Fraser University Beedie School of Business provides you the support, guidance and structure—tempered with the flexibility of options—to earn your Business Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. Undergraduate programs demonstrate a spirit of innovation and relevance with a focus on custom-tailored academic plans to help fine-tune your individual career goals. "We have a lot of choices and that's where our advisers come in and help you with the program," says Peter Tingling, the associate dean of undergraduate programs for Beedie. "The first year is all about discovery, so it's not uncommon for your interests to change from the first to fourth year." The BBA is designed to help you develop a strong business base and encourage you to fully realize your intellectual promise. Courses in the lower and upper division requirements are challenging and academically rigorous; however, group projects allow for team collaboration and interaction while you accrue real- world practicality. Tingling believes your educational journey is a function of discovering your place in the world. "Our undergrad programs help students transition into a fully functioning, fully contributing member of society," he says. You'll build a solid foundation and become a well-rounded business graduate, as well as a specialist in your area of focus by choosing any combination of the program's nine business concentrations. As you progress, you'll add breadth and depth to your degree as you follow your interests. "We want to create business leaders with global perspective, innovation, and social responsibility," explains Tingling. "Each of those things will be salient at different levels at different times, but we think that's the important thing. We want you to be a globally responsive contributor with global perspective." With the Beedie Study Abroad program, you can develop a global perspective that changes your worldview. Both full-time and short-term exchange opportunities in 29 different countries with over 45 partner institutions will challenge you to experience international business and prepare for a world economy. Tingling is a big advocate of the international experience. "The program is fantastic. We try to get students to understand internationalization, and PHOTO COUR T ESY AT H A BASCA UNI V ERSIT Y Dr. Neil Fassina, current Athabasca University Students' Union council. Left to right: Melinda Goertz, Natasha Donahue, Dr. Neil Fassina, and Brandon Simmons