A welcoming committee: Student volunteers are pictured promoting the Global Experience Certificate (GEC) during the university's Fall Open House on Saturday, November 3, encouraging prospective students to internationalize their undergraduate degrees. From left to right: Irem Albek, Yannish Sewraz, Lisa Hallman, Niké Gichuru, Paula Murphy (GEC Coordinator), Becca Mayers, Amy Clifford, Jen Lawry (Waterloo International Staff) and Tommi Tiidus.

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UAE-based programs to return to Waterloo

On Tuesday, October 30, the university's Board of Governors "voted to support a recommendation to reconsolidate programs offered in Dubai on the main Waterloo campus, beginning in September 2013," reads a statement from Associate Vice-President, International Jean-Jacques Van Vlasselaer that was posted online yesterday.

The decision will see approximately 80 students currently completing their first year in Dubai come to Canada one year early to complete the balance of their undergraduate degree. The decision to relocate also impacts approximately 12 faculty members and 10 staff.

"The cohort of students now in their second year of studies in Dubai will come to Waterloo as scheduled in September 2013 to complete the final two years of their undergraduate program, while those enrolled in their first year in Dubai will complete their final three years on the main Waterloo campus," the statement continues.

"Like many universities around the world, Waterloo must continually prioritize and assess the viability of the programs it offers at home and abroad. The recommendation was based on a thorough assessment, which determined the existing program – while positive for students and in terms of the relationship Waterloo developed with our partner institute – in its current form and structure does not meet the central strategic goals and expectations of either Waterloo or the Higher Colleges of Technology."

The UAE campus, located in Dubai, was established in 2009 and includes chemical and civil engineering, financial analysis and risk management, and information technology management programs all taught by professors from the University of Waterloo. 

The full statement and a FAQ can be found on the Waterloo International website.

 

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Employers share their co-op experiences

by Karina Graf, Co-operative Education and Career Action (CECA).

So far this term we’ve had 3,065 jobs posted, 15,240 interviews hosted at the Tatham Centre, 650 Skype interviews, and 1,609 phone interviews. Many people are working behind the scenes every term to post jobs, schedule interviews, book space, answer student questions and much more. Their hard work is often recognized by our employers. The praise from our employers about co-op and about their experience working with the University of Waterloo is illustrated by their comments shared below. 

“After spending quite a bit of time interviewing students on various campuses across Ontario, I can definitely say that Waterloo has this co-op process down pat – everything ran so smoothly and was so efficient. As well, to top it off each individual we encountered, from the parking attendant to the representatives at the info desk, was so helpful and friendly. As a whole, this experience has been fantastic and we can’t wait until we have the opportunity to come back again.”

“Thank you once again for your support with regard to organizing the interviews on such short notice from us.  We are so amazed at the caliber of your students and with your support staff. We are very proud to be a part of your co-op program from an employer’s perspective.”

“I just wanted to let you know that it was a real pleasure interviewing at Waterloo yesterday.  The staff there was so helpful, and the students we met with were all very bright.  It was a great experience, and left us with a great impression of the institution!”

“I had a great morning interviewing. You folks organize the process seamlessly, from beginning to end!”

“Whenever I need temporary solutions, Waterloo is able to help me recruit the good candidates. Though I graduated from another institution, I have to admit that my school could not compete with Waterloo in terms of anticipating and satisfying customer needs.”

The employer experience extends beyond posting a job and hiring a student. The impression we make on our employers demonstrates that University of Waterloo is a leader in co-operative education with a reputation for excellence. A big thanks to everyone on campus for making the employer experience on campus such a terrific one!

Last week’s poll results: 88 per cent of you guessed correctly; Inside sCo-op is the name of the bi-monthly student newsletter that features outstanding students, cool jobs, and career tips. Congratulations to last week’s draw winner Brian Lai, computer science student.

 

This week’s question: What is the average number of Waterloo co-op job interviews conducted each term?  Take a guess and enter to win a CECA lunch bag.

 

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SharePoint switching to Nexus next week

On Tuesday, November 13, Sharepoint.uwaterloo.ca will switch over to Nexus authentication, one of the university's last major IT services to migrate. The switch will require some down time from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

This change affects anyone using a central SharePoint site.

Information Systems and Technology (IST) has crafted a set of guidelines for Sharepoint users that will enable them to best weather the change:

1. On Monday, November 12, if you are a user who does not shut down your computer at the end of the day when you go home, please close any web browser that has been using SharePoint. If unsure, close them all.
2. On Tuesday, November 13, if you are an early riser and plan to use SharePoint, you need to close your browser by 7:45 a.m.
3. You can begin using SharePoint after 8:15 a.m.
4. For a managed Windows Nexus computer, you will no longer need to login to SharePoint.
5. If you do get prompted to login, please prefix your userid with nexus\ (the slash above the Enter key). For example, nexus\jjones
6. If you have any SharePoint documentation that refers to ADS\username, please update with this change.

Anyone with questions about the changeover can contact the IST Helpdesk by calling extension 84357, or by sending an email.

If you discover that you cannot access your SharePoint site(s) after the change, please contact your department's computer support person or IST's CHIP Helpdesk.

IST has put together additional troubleshooting information together for computer support staff, which is available online.

Check the IST Notice Board for updated information as the changeover date draws near.

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Hagey lecturer eyes next scramble for Africa

University of Oxford professor Paul Collier (right) will discuss the possible outcomes of the current resource scramble across Africa when he delivers the 2012 Hagey Lecture later this month.

Collier's lecture is entitled "Will Africa's resource scramble lead to development or disaster?"

Collier is a Professor of Economics and the Director for the Centre for the Study of African Economies at the University of Oxford, and he acted as the director of the Development Research Group of the World Bank from 1998 to 2003. His research covers the causes and consequences of civil war, the effects of aid, and the problems of democracy in low-income and natural-resource rich societies.

He has authored a number of critically acclaimed books, including: Why We Must, and How We Can, Manage Nature for Global Prosperity (2010); Wars, Guns and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places (2009); and the Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It (2007).

The Hagey Lectures — considered Waterloo’s biggest guest lecture series, and created more than 40 years ago to honour founding president Gerry Hagey — are co-sponsored by the university and the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW). They bring to campus academics and prominent figures who “have distinguished themselves in some scholarly or creative field and their work cuts across traditional disciplines and national boundaries. Previous lecturers have included Nobel laureates in various disciplines, internationally renowned scholars, architects, peace activists and well-known artists.”

The free public lecture will take place on Thursday, November 22, at 8:00 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre. No tickets or registration required.

 

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