FIC Pre-Master Students Attending Workshop at SFU Surrey

SFU Surrey

This semester's group of graduate students were involved in the SFU Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection Workshop in the morning. And, were also invited to participate in the Coast Capital Savings' announcement of their one million dollars support for SFU Venture Connection. This was the graduates students first off campus workshop together.

Grad Students in Workshop

In the workshop and the later event, other than the opportunities to learn about the fundamentals of Canadian business, the students met with other graduate students, faculties, staff, and some corporate leaders. There were also three early stage entrepreneurs with business start-ups under the SFU Venture Connection clientele that shared their financial statements as samples for discussion.

New Students Arrived for Summer 2017

New Students

The new group of students for the summer 2017 semester was involved in the orientation today. This was a smaller group of students compared to the previous semester's but their enthusiasm was just as strong. In this semester's orientation I was only involved with the graduate students and was with them from morning until about one o'clock in the afternoon.

Orientation

While I was leading the graduate students through their campus tour, I met with several other undergraduate groups of students that were led by their respective student leaders on their own campus tour. In fact, at the SFU corner stone mall at that moment was crowded with students from Fraser International College.

Visiting International Students in Malaysia

With ISKL  Students

In the last two weeks of April, I was involved in a student recruitment campaign in Malaysia. At the end of the trip, we have visited three different international schools, two banking groups and three other parent groups. Overall, the recruitment campaign was to create awareness among the parents and the prospective students about the benefits and advantages of further studies in Canada in general and Fraser International College in particular.

With HSBC Priority Clients

After speaking with these different groups, we realized that there were little or no information about the advantages of furthering with tertiary education in Canada. Majority of Malaysians and international students that have intention to further studies overseas only look at Australia, United Kingdom or United States. I have met with at least three hundred international high school students and parents within the two weeks.

With Kuala Lumpur International

We started with the upscaled Cempaka International School in Damansara Heights and Cheras. Followed a day later, meeting with the students from Kuala Lumpur International School, and two days after at International School of Kuala lumpur in Ampang. We also spoke in HSBC's Shah Alam branch's seminar organized to speak on tertiary education. In between these appointments, we also took the opportunity to meet with groups of parents.

MTH099 Final Exam

MTH099 Final Exam

I took over the MTH099 course just before the fourth week in the semester after the assigned course instructor injured herself in a freak incident that left her not able to lift her arm. While she continues to nurse her injuries, I accepted to temporary assume the instructor responsibilities for both the MTH099 classes. So, we have actually reached this stage of the semester. The final exam which was initially scheduled for next week was rescheduled to this morning to accommodate the students' need for post exam support.

Final Exam

This math final exam will also mark the final class the students will have for this semester. And, the final exam results will only be announce by the college at the end of the semester. There will be one more week where students can drop in during office hours to check on their assignment submission. Then, at the end of week thirteen the semester will be closed and the real final exam week starts. As for the MTH099 class, students will just have to wait for their results to be announced.

BUS216 Final Presentations

Giving Full Attention

The whole of week twelve was scheduled for major team presentations. The presentations started on Tuesday with two sessions. One in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Then followed with another two sessions, one each on Thursday and Friday. All together there were twenty eight teams of fours and fives doing the presentations. The students in the BUS216 Business Communication course have learned the process of gathering information, writing and composing the content, and finally delivering the presentation which are part of the required deliverables of the course.

Getting Ready

The presentation is an opportunity for them to practice their newly learned skills. These practical sessions provides them a platform to perform in front of their peers and at the same time being evaluated on their efforts and their ability to work as a team. The course also provides them the working experience that is required when working in teams. They grow through the process. Going through the four phases of team building. Most team collaborated well and delivered exceptionally polished presentations.

Concentration

Some teams still needs to improve. All of which are typical of a class. Most of their research work, writing and practices were conducted in class with the course instructor monitoring and guiding them each step of the process. This course requires a lot of interaction between the students and with the course instructor. Thus, allowing the students to build their confidence and improve on their communication skills.

Peer Education

With Peer Educators

Week twelve is the last week for peer education and also the last week for all other student support activities. After this week, the students will need time to prepare for their final exams. And so do the students that served as peer educators. I have the privileged to work with the peer educators every semester. Because I require my students in the courses that I teach to seek support with the peer educators every semester. And in return, the peer educators have provided excellent support to their fellow students.

Before the semester draws to another close, final exams will be taking place and after that, students will be heading home for a well deserved vacation. But some of these students have volunteered to help with the next semester's orientation. These are the students that will not be going home nor travelling to vacation destinations. I applaud these student leaders, they are so dedicated to supporting a good cause.

SFU's Bangladesh Students Club Cultural Exchange

The Korean Students Club Drum Trope

I was invited by one of the committee member of the Bangladesh Students Club to attend their cultural exchange night in Simon Fraser University. The cultural exchange included dance, music, songs, and fashion performance put together by other international students within the SFU international students' community. I did not stay for too long as the night was getting colder by the minute in the outdoor convocation hall.

Korean Students Club Members

But I had the opportunity to mingle with some of the international students that were there. I especially liked the performance by the Korean student club which was a traditional drum trope where the musicians were dressed in traditional Korean attire. Other than that I enjoyed watching the individual students in their dance and singing performance. Many of which also dressed in their traditional or national attires.