As the second-highest rated business program in Canada, after Queen’s University, and the top business school in BC, according to The Globe and Mail 2012 Canadian University Report, Trinity Western University’s School of Business stands out as one of the most desirable schools for students seeking a first-class business education.
The Canadian University Report surveyed students about their academic and community experiences. “I think the results of the survey are indicative of the type of program we give all students,” explains Andrea Soberg, Dean of the School of Business. “We try to focus on values-based, global learning in the classroom and practical skill-building in the business community.”
To accomplish these goals, the School of Business has a Leadership Advisory Counsel that provides advice on the School’s programing. The Counsel is comprised of business leaders across Canada whose purpose is to ensure that the business program continues to be informed by current marketplace trends.
As one of the steps taken to ensure students have market-ready skills, the School developed a mentorship program in 2004. The application-based program is designed to connect students with business leaders to foster business relationships, provide networking opportunities, and offer real-world lessons for students. Over the past eight years, the program has multiplied, and some mentorship relationships continue to grow well after the student graduates.
Business student Clement Wee, who is currently being mentored by Rod Forrest – Executive Director of Child Care Canada – says this experience is invaluable. This is his second year in the mentorship program. “The ability to develop a relationship with business leaders from your future industry is incredible,” says Wee, who graduates this month. “To understand what makes their careers successful and to learn from their mistakes is essential as I move into the working world.”
Another distinctive of the School’s program is the international exchange program, in which students have an opportunity to complete some of their business courses while attending Fachoshule Wiener Neustadt (FHWN) in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, Institut Superieur de Gestion (ISG) in Paris, France, or The Hague University in The Hague, Netherlands.
“These programs are one of the ways that our students develop a global mindset. Students also have an opportunity to participate in a business travel study where they monitor and critique international businesses first hand,” explains Dean Soberg. “These experiences are incredibly important as the global marketplace is part of the future world of business for our students.”
Third-year student Erin Thorpe recently returned from a semester completing business courses at ISG in Paris. “Studying in Paris was the experience of a lifetime,” says Thorpe. “I gained a great understanding of European business and economics while studying with students from 22 other countries.”
At the core of TWU’s innovative business program is a holistic, values-based curriculum. By combining real-world experience, globally-focused education, and an emphasis on ethical business practices, graduates of the School are well equipped to meet all the challenges of the workplace. The School’s motto is values that work. “It is essential that our students develop the acumen to not only be successful in business, but fulfilled in their life choices,” explains Dean Soberg. “Ultimately, this holistic approach to business education will give our graduates the opportunities to excel in every aspect of their life and career.”
Read more about TWU's School of Business in the current issue of BC Business magazine.