![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Friday |
Monday, November 24, 2003
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[Sunset on steel]](/images/2003/1124ncampus.gif)
The sun
sets over Hagey Boulevard, on UW's north campus, and the building now
under construction for Sybase Inc. -- first tenant in the
research and technology
park. The 100,000-square-foot building is expected to be ready for
use towards the end of 2004. Meanwhile, a call for "expressions of
interest" will go out in the next couple of weeks as plans move ahead
for the second building in the park, the small business "accelerator".
This photo was taken Thursday by computer science student
Karl Nikolai Zaryski.
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Plans for the money focus on an audit of local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to be conducted by co-op students, which will lead to a better understanding of the possibilities deriving from more effective knowledge transfer.
"Through this contribution from the Merv Lahn fund, at least four co-op students will gain knowledge about the issues facing small companies when transferring knowledge from universities," said Doug Sparkes, director of UW Innovate Inc.
The four co-op students (two for each of two years) will work under the close supervision of Sparkes and UW's vice-president (university research, Paul Guild.
Sparkes said: "We are pleased that the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation is supporting this project and are confident that it will provide benefits not only to the University of Waterloo, but to the community as a whole." As well, he said, the project provides the students involved with an opportunity to acquire first-hand knowledge and experience of the issues facing SME's, barriers to transfer and potential strategies for enabling successful knowledge transfer.
Sikh martial art shown todayThe Sikh Students' Association will be hosting a Gatka presentation today (noon to 2:00) in the great hall of the Student Life Centre, says Parambir Singh Keila of the SSA. He explains:"Gatka is a Sikh martial art based on meditation and the use of a single movement called the Panthra. The Panthra is practised initially for hours (using no weapons) to help develop the accuracy of footwork needed to keep the body in balance when using weaponry. It can be practised in a manner of different ways including circular motions, simple forward and backward motions and also more complex motions, such as star shapes, using a range of 18 different weapons. "There will be a range of Gatka experts coming from Toronto for this presentation. In addition to watching Gatka demonstrations, slide shows, and movies, the audience will have an opportunity to learn more about Sikhs and Sikhism." |
The group of post secondary teachers is in Canada on an intensive training program in "Teaching English as a Second Language" -- a pilot project that has brought approximately 185 Chinese teachers to several institutions in Ontario. Initiated in China, the project aims to explore Canadian teaching methodologies with a view to upgrading teaching skills and introducing new techniques and materials.
"From the outset, the Jiangsu provincial department of education recognized that Renison's expertise in teaching English as a second language to prospective university students would mesh perfectly with the province's desire to upgrade the quality of English teaching in their schools," says John Crossley, principal of Renison. "The program gives Jiangsu the opportunity to help their teachers of English move away from teaching English as a foreign language and toward teaching English as a second language.
"Renison College has benefited tremendously from this program. We have designed a new curriculum, moved into a new area of teaching, and developed a highly productive partnership with the Waterloo Region District Board of Education. It has been a pleasure working with this group and we are hopeful that other groups from Jiangsu province, or, indeed, from other parts of China and other countries, will be interested in the professional development we can now offer teachers of English."
The teachers have enjoyed living in Waterloo and a number have taken advantage of "home-stay," a program that matches individual teachers with local families. Hosts have included the Central Ontario Chinese Cultural Centre, the Bamboo Bunch, and members of Renison's Town and Gown Society, among others.
Pamela Helmes Hayes, a home-stay host (and secretary to UW president David Johnston), thoroughly enjoyed her experience with Lian Zhengyong, known by his chosen English name, Baker. (During their stay, many of the teachers elected to be called by English names.) Pam and her husband, Rick, of the department of sociology, thought that spending some time with someone from another culture would be a great experience both for themselves and their children.
"And it was," she says. They took their guest to their 12 year old son's basketball game, to shopping and to dinner in Stratford and to Johnston's farm for a visit. Baker, she says, was very charming and spoke excellent English so communication was very easy. Conversations centred on cultural comparisons, idiosyncrasies of language, particularly "Canadian" expressions, environmental issues and family. As an added bonus, the family received ping pong lessons (they had recently purchased a table) from Baker, a bona fide table tennis champion.
Both hosts and guest seem to have enjoyed their experience. Baker, one of the group's monitors and a spokesperson for the teachers, says he has very much enjoyed his time in Canada. He notes that Canada is quite different from China. Baker was particularly impressed with large, open spaces and fresh air. He has learned a lot too, he says. The classes at Renison College have been very valuable and the Canadian people "kind, friendly and helpful".
| WHEN AND WHERE |
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Robert Needham, department of economics, "Gutter
Politics: Women's Newspapers and the Suffrage Movement in Britain",
Kitchener Public Library main branch, 12 noon.
Former premier Bob Rae gives Laurier Lecture in Canadian Studies, speaking about Wilfrid Laurier, 4 p.m., Paul Martin Centre, WLU. Content management on web sites, seminar by Jesse Rodgers, communications and public affairs, Tuesday 10 a.m., Davis Centre room 1302. Certificate in University Teaching research presentations by three graduate students, Tuesday 2 p.m., Math and Computer room 5158. "The Six-Day War and Understanding the Contemporary Middle East", lecture by Michael Oren, Wednesday 7:30 p.m., Theatre of the Arts. Staff association craft sale, Thursday and Friday, Davis Centre room 1301. |
The Royal Society of Canada is holding its annual meeting this week, and a highlight will be the induction of 65 new Fellows -- holders of what's considered Canada's highest academic honours. The winners, announced in July, include two from UW: Ian Munro, of the school of computer science, and Adel Sedra, of the electrical and computer engineering department (and dean of engineering). The presentations come tonight at a banquet at the National Gallery of Canada. Tomorrow, the RSC is holding a day-long symposium under the title "Energy, Environment and Society: Making Choices".
The Federation of Students has issued a news release applauding the not-too-surprising announcement on Thursday -- as part of the Ontario throne speech -- to the effect that the new Liberal government will, as promised, freeze tuition fees for two years. Liam McHugh-Russell, vice-president (education) of the Feds, expressed "enthusiasm", but added: "The Federation of Students is eager to see a plan outlining how this tuition freeze will be paid for, given the government's inheritance of a $5.6 billion deficit. This is the third time students have heard this commitment. We're concerned that a similar commitment will not be made to funding the freeze." And: "The Federation of Students cautions the Liberal government to avoid understating the importance of post-secondary education in Ontario or the real costs of providing a quality education."
The second annual International Celebration Week will be held February 2-7, and a new event for ICW 2004 will be a literary contest, says a note from the international student office: "All entries must be original pieces of work written by the entrant. Content: Written expressions which are representative of your international or cross-cultural experience. Entries can be a short story, poem, journal entry, essay or any other type of literary form. Entries should be no more than 500-600 words. The contest is open to all currently registered students. . . . Each entrant gives the International Student Office the right to reproduce her/his entry for use in University publications or in any other non-commercial manner. First prize is $75, second prize $50, third prize $25." All entries must be submitted by January 19 -- the ISO, in Needles Hall room 2080, has the necessary entry form.
There was an interesting observation in the Record last Wednesday, as part of a story about the plan for Wilfrid Laurier University to buy the old St. Jerome's High School building in downtown Kitchener as a home for its school of social work. Here's the paragraph that jumped out at me: "UW, meanwhile, has its eyes on the former Epton site at King and Victoria streets. There's nothing concrete yet, but there is speculation that the site, given its proximity to two major hospitals, would be a natural for a UW health-sciences school."
"You can now access the UW wireless network throughout all of the UW libraries," says an article in the "News at Your Library" electronic newsletter. That includes the Dana Porter Library, the Davis Centre Library, the University Map and Design Library and the Optometry Learning Resource Centre. "To access the network, you will need a wireless ethernet card for your laptop, plus your UWdir userid and password. Instructions are available on the web along with information about where to go for help. This service is available to UW faculty, staff, and students at no charge. Please note that printing from personal laptops is not yet available within the libraries."
CAR