knowledge work Putting Trinity Western University s School

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1 TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY Putting knowledge to work Trinity s hands-on and values-based approach to education produces business leaders with a broad base of competences and skills Trinity Western University s School of Business may just be one of the best-kept secrets of higher education in Canada. Ranked second in the country after Queen s University in the Globe and Mail s 2012 Canadian University Report, TWU s business program came out on top among B.C. business schools. I think the fact that, in particular, we topped the rankings in quality of teaching and learning, out-ofclass communication between students and instructors, and relevance and acquisition of knowledge and skills for career says a lot about us as a school and the type of experience we offer our students, says Andrea Soberg, dean of TWU s School of Business. She observes how much the School of Business has grown since its beginnings in 1975 and continues to grow still. The School offers a bachelor of business administration as well as integrated bachelor of arts degrees specializing in business administration, corporate communication, and sport and leisure management. Several of the business specializations prepare graduates for professional certifications in finance, accounting and human resource management. On the graduate side, MBA students can choose to specialize in international business, management of the growing enterprise, or non-profit and charitable organizations. PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

2 CAMPUS LIFE: (clockwise from left) Dean Andrea Soberg discusses program options with graduate students in the Grad Collegium; students stroll the grounds of TWU s Langley, B.C. campus; the university s School of Business, which houses a number of innovative undergraduate and graduate programs. Soberg attributes the School s growth and success to the defining qualities of TWU s educational philosophy: We offer a global perspective on doing business and a hands-on, applied approach to learning it. And we re a values-based school, so we aim to develop graduates who will not only succeed as business professionals but as true leaders who can and will effect change in the business community. In terms of the global perspective, it s not just part of the curriculum, says associate dean Mark McKay. In the context of an internationally diverse student body, classroom discussions about world business practices become more relevant and relatable. Moreover, the relationships developed among students in class inevitably turn into strong global networks after graduation, opening up opportunities worldwide. Building those relationships is at the heart of TWU s educational philosophy, adds McKay, pointing out that small class sizes, a liberal-arts approach to developing the whole person, and a valuesbased foundation that prioritizes relationship building all promote stronger relationships both among students and between students and instructors. In a big school, I don t know who I m teaching it s just nameless, faceless people and I teach the same thing again and again, says McKay. But since Trinity is a smaller school, and since it s also liberal arts and we re trying to do something more > Promotional Feature

3 TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY Trinity offers a triumvirate of MBA solutions Focused on developing effective change agents for a sustainable future, Trinity Western University s School of Business offers more than your run-of-the-mill MBA. The three specializations available international business, management of the growing enterprise, and non-profit and charitable organizations are unique offerings in the portfolio of Canadian MBAs. The most popular of the three is the international specialization, says program director Murray MacTavish, and this describes the cohort as well as the content: more than half of students come from countries as diverse as Venezuela, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Viet Nam and Indonesia. A highlight of the program is a 17-day travel course during which MacTavish takes students to network with leaders of national and global companies in Western Europe. Students visit Germany, Austria, France and Italy, and come away with inside knowledge of such brands as BMW, Maserati, Bombardier and Lavazza Coffee. The growing enterprise specialization appeals to both entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, people interested in growth and innovation in their own firm looking to become project leads on direct new product launches, explains MacTavish. Curriculum content covers everything from venture financing and leadership strategies for small business to the startup and positioning of a new product or enterprise. The non-profit specialization also attracts a wide audience, running the gamut from educators and social service professionals to for-profit business people working on the boards of non-profit organizations or looking to start their own. It is one of only two programs in Canada focused on how to effectively lead and operate a non-profit organization, and course content is specific to this niche market: exploring legal and financial issues, organizational structure, grants, fundraising, non-profit marketing and working with volunteers. Aligning with TWU s values-based educational philosophy, all three specializations prioritize social enterprise, sustainable business and community contribution. We are intentional about how we impact our students lives and how we support their personal and professional development, says MacTavish. We aim to build solid, effective business and non-profit leaders who make a difference in whatever marketplace they find themselves in the world. As well, MacTavish encourages students to maximize the value of their degree by pursuing their own professional goals through their assignments. There s still a course syllabus, obviously, but the application of the course content to specific contexts of interest to the students creates a flexible and more relevant learning environment. That flexibility is an added value of the small class sizes, an appealing quality of TWU s programs that leads to lasting and meaningful relationships between students and faculty. I sit down with each student and we put together an individual study plan, and then we review it along the way, says MacTavish. There s a lot of personalized attention here students are names instead of numbers. than just teach specific skills, I m teaching this person, and that changes things. That means students not only receive more attention, but more meaningful attention. I knew my professors and my professors knew me, affirms alumna Rachel Moerman, currently studying law at the University of Calgary. I don t think I would have applied to law school without the encouragement from my law professor. As for the applied approach to teaching, it is both part of the School s founding philosophy and a response to student demand, says McKay, who leads tours of local companies as out-of-class learning opportunities. Other unique opportunities available to students include studies at the Laurentian Leadership Centre in Ottawa, where students can intern with senior government leaders, and international field studies. While some seek to climb the corporate ladder in a large organization, most of our students see themselves working for small or medium-size companies where they might have to wear two or three hats, starting up their own companies, or going back home to the family business, explains McKay. They need to have a broad base of skills they can implement immediately, and the only way that works is if they have Promotional Feature

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5 TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY Business Professor Dr. Mark Lee chats with students after class; TWU prides itself on providing a hands-on education that students can apply to any number of business career options, from a local start-up to a global corporation. The School s tag line is values that work, and I think that sums it up best. Andrea Soberg, dean of TWU s School of Business. Promotional Feature as much practical application under their belt as possible before graduation. To better prepare them for the challenges they will face in the marketplace, students have the option in their third year to be paired with a mentor a member of the local business community in the student s chosen industry or profession. Mentors meet with their students at least once a month to offer advice, answer questions, discuss topical issues in the industry, and some even take them right into the boardroom to sit in on meetings, says Soberg. Larry Nelson, a chartered accountant and a senior associate with executive search firm Hutchinson Smith Inc., has taken on a mentee each of the last eight years and heartily affirms the merits of the program not the least of which is students connecting with their mentors networks as they launch themselves into the business community. It s an opportunity for the students to ask career advice, how to balance work, life and family, what the executive has learned from his or her various experiences, says Nelson. It just provides some really good practical advice to students as they embark on their careers. Nelson is also a member of the School of Business Leadership Advisory Council, which represents senior members of the local business community from a variety of sectors and serves as a voice of counsel to the dean. Established 10 years ago to strengthen the relationship between the School and the business community, it brings current, reallife, practical perspective to the academic environment of the School of Business, explains Nelson. Always constructive in keeping curriculum content relevant and teaching goals on target, the Council s input is particularly invaluable now, as the School of Business proposes changes to its core curriculum. The dean is asking for fresh feedback from people who are actually in the marketplace in terms of What do you see as being the needs? and How can the school meet those needs? explains Nelson. She s asking for the kinds of qualities and experience that the business community and non-profit community are looking for in new hires and graduates. And to complete the circuit, the Council can also provide feedback on how TWU business graduates are perceived and how highly they are valued as new hires in the marketplace. The School s tag line is values that work, and I think that sums it up best, says Soberg. It is both its process (an applied, global and values-based approach to teaching) and its results (graduates equipped and motivated to create positive change in the community) that make TWU different. And students agree: I think the fact that the School of Business produces students that are ethically and morally trained is so important for the future workforce, says undergraduate business student Clement Wee, class of Our society is becoming increasingly aware of the need to be socially responsible and our generation is increasingly wanting to make a positive footprint in this world... This complete student approach is what I believe makes TWU students unique and more valuable in the workforce for the long run. n This promotional feature was prepared for Trinity Western University by BCBusiness magazine s Special Advertising Features Dept. Writer: Tiffany Sloan. For information, contact VP of corporate features John Cochrane at jcochrane@canadawide.com Students gather in the School of Business lounge to work on group projects; Trinity Western encourages collaboration, mentorhsip and business networking at every level.

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