Youthink PS is Western Canada¹s post secondary resource guide for high school students planning on attending university, college or other Canadian post secondary institutions and is distributed to 400 high schools across BC and Alberta.
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8 YOUTHINK PS > SPRING 2020 YOUTHINK.CA Canadian Tourism S tudents at SFU Beedie learn from day one that they won't change the world from the sidelines. To un - derstand what makes the business world "tick," students need to dig deep into their learning and get real-world experience. Peter Tingling, associate dean of undergraduate programs for the Beedie School of Business, will tell you that what sets Beedie apart is their focus on experiential learning — a blend of learning by doing, trial and error, reflection and big-picture thinking. "We do several things very well, and one that is key is some - thing I describe as the difference between watching a movie passively and acting in a play," says Tingling. He sees this difference played out in the school's thriving co-op program, where students gain paid work experience during their studies — whether it's in a small, private company or a large gov - ernment organization. They work full-time for four or eight months and build the practical and social skills that stand out to potential employers. SFU Beedie's strong relation - ships with the business community mean the experiences students receive are relevant and grounded in current practices. Just as co-op students venture out to work in the "real" world, members of the business community routinely visit SFU Beedie to offer guidance and insight. Whether it is through co-op, leadership training or study Bringing Learning to Life At SFU's Beedie School of Business, real-world experience is a priority abroad programs, Tingling wants students to connect their learning to life outside the classroom. He stresses that the opportunity to put passions into practice helps students mature into confident professionals. They learn to take risks, collaborate across disciplines and discover unexplored interests and talents. "We have co-curricular opportunities such as case com - petitions, the hands-on managing of projects and many student clubs that are conduits to tons of events and activities," he says. "We encourage new students to regard all this as a buffet they should start sampling immediately." There are also opportunities to branch out and work with other Simon Fraser University faculties. For example, the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship offers the Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which is open to students in every SFU faculty. All this experiential learn- ing takes place within a flexible academic program of study that lets students choose the path and concentrations that most interest them. According to Tingling, this freedom of choice encourages self-discovery and independence. "Students who used to be intro - verted often become more inclined to move away from their comfort zone and interact with people they don't know, which is essential to their future success in the business world," he says. If this sounds like a lot of ex - citement and bustle, it is. Nothing is more rewarding to Tingling than seeing students nervous, happy, apprehensive and excited all at the same time: "We don't toss undergraduates into the deep end of the pool, but at the same time they know going in that this isn't a spectator sport." Even with such a strong focus on independence and choice, stu- dents are never alone. SFU Beedie offers a caring and supportive community of peers, faculty, staff and mentors, and the Career Man- agement Centre is very active with mentoring programs, company visits and help with job applica - tions and interview practice. "Everything we do is geared towards helping young talent to help themselves, " says Tingling. "And what we're doing works." •