Friday, October 30, 2009

University of Saskatchewan President Peter MacKinnon and Joan Greyeyes, advisor to the president on aboriginal initiatives, will be in Whitehorse on Tuesday Nov. 3 and Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, to speak with students, members of the public, community leaders and U of S alumni. Members of the media are welcome to attend the following events:

1) Peter MacKinnon and Joan Greyeyes will join U of S alumni and friends for a wine and cheese reception and presentation: 

Place: Westmark Whitehorse Hotel & Conference Centre
Time: Nov. 3, 5:30 - 7 pm
Theme: “Where Great Minds Meet” - The current state of the University of Saskatchewan will be discussed, followed by a question and answer period.

2) The Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce will host Peter MacKinnon and Joan Greyeyes at a chamber breakfast:

Place: The Old Firehall, 1105 1st Avenue
Time: Nov. 4, 8 -10 am
Theme: “Research and Innovation: an Economic Force” - Innovative research and programming at the U of S will be discussed, followed by questions from the audience.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Yukon College is attracting students from around the world and is fostering relationships with two of the most prestigious universities in Japan, which have a total of 87,000 students.

Last year Yukon College attracted 13 students from Waseda University, one of Tokyo’s leading private universities. The College has also established a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining a relationship with Meiji University, another of Tokyo’s Ivy League institutions. And this fall, Yukon College’s Yoshie Kumagae will be back in Japan recruiting more international students.

Kumagae is the College’s International Education Coordinator. She says the College has a well-established reputation in Japan and her contacts there continue to grow. “The College has a strong relationship with Japan and our Japanese student base continues to grow as a result of our reputation,” Kumagae says.

In the last two years, 23 students from Waseda University have taken part in Yukon College’s three-week wilderness education program, which was designed by Kumagae and is delivered by NOLS, the National Outdoor Leadership School. The program teaches leadership, communication skills and respect for the environment, during eight days of backcountry hiking.

Kumagae says outdoor education in Japan is uncommon, but officials at Waseda saw the program’s potential. “What wilderness can teach people is unlimited,” Kumagae says. “I saw it bring students together in spite of their cultural and physical differences.”

On October 10, Kumagae was presented with the NOLS Alumni Service Award in Wyoming for her dedication to promoting outdoor education.

Yukon College currently has 17 full-time international students from Japan, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Russia, Croatia, France, Brazil and others. Kumagae says international students help to bring diversity to the College and to the wider community.   

Friday, October 23, 2009

New Bachelor of Science Program in the Yukon

In collaboration with the University of Alberta, Yukon College will be offering a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental and Conservation Sciences.  To learn more about the BSc Program, course offerings, and admissions for January and September 2010:

• October 29th, Yukon College, Whitehorse (Ayamdigut), Pit (inside front doors), 7:00-8:30 pm.  Public information session
• October 30th, Community campuses via videoconference (please contact your Yukon College community campus for information on how to participate), 12:00-1:00 pm.  Public information session.

For more information, contact:

• Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow, Director, Northern ENCS Program, University of Alberta, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), ph: 867-668-8711
• Lisa Christensen, Coordinator, Northern ENCS Program, Yukon College, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), ph: 867-668-8758

Friday, October 23, 2009

Yukon Research Centre of Excellence Celebrates Opening

The doors to the Yukon Research Centre of Excellence were officially opened today by Premier Dennis Fentie, Yukon College Board Chair Clarence Timmons and Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Andy Carvill.

“This opening represents a milestone in establishing Yukon’s commitment to the growing northern-based knowledge sector,” Fentie said. “Yukoners are well aware of our need to adapt to changes in climate, environment and economy. The Yukon Research Centre of Excellence initiative, which we committed to in 2006, is well represented by talented individuals and dedicated partners, to place Yukon in the forefront of research and innovation in these areas.”

“Yukon Research Centre of Excellence consolidates and focuses the strengths of Yukon’s professional innovators and researchers and provides the platform for synergy and growth of the territory’s knowledge-based economy,” Yukon College president Terry Weninger said. “While the Centre is very new, the positive effects of its professional approach to research and innovation are already benefiting Yukon, in accordance with our strategic plan.”

“We are jointly developing the Research Centre of Excellence based on equality, creativity and opportunity,” Carvill said. “The scientific portion is based here at Yukon College, and the traditional knowledge and community-based knowledge portion will be based at the Council of Yukon First Nations. It is a unique opportunity and one that we look forward to developing in the coming years.”

The Government of Yukon has committed $452,000 to Yukon College during 2009-10 to support the start-up of the centre.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Thompson Rivers University Provides YC Students with Admission

Whitehorse – On October 29th Thompson Rivers University (TRU) delegates will arrive at Yukon College to sign a Memorandum of Understanding giving Yukon College students access to ‘Dual Admission’ at TRU and YC.

Students in the Liberal Arts, Sciences or Business will be eligible to apply for Dual Admission to the TRU Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Business Administration degree. “This process guarantees students transfer from Yukon College to TRU in one of these three degree programs,” said Karen Barnes, VP Education and Training. “This type of agreement is something we’ve been working towards over the past year.”

Yukon College-Thompson River University students’ registration priority is based on credits completed the same as current TRU students. These students are not considered ‘transfer students’ and are permitted the same registration priority privileges as ongoing TRU students.

“This is a great opportunity for students to obtain tangible reassurance of the transferability of their YC program to a university,” Colleen With, Director of Student Services points out. “With BCCAT.bc.ca we’ve had a transfer system in place for some time; this agreement takes it one step further.”