Back in black: BlackBerry CEO John Chen addresses the audience at an event in the Sedra Student Design Centre in Engineering 5 yesterday. "An Interactive Conversation with John Chen" drew packed house of students, faculty and staff as Chen spoke about the company's next steps and the Waterloo innovation ecosystem.

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Soochow staff delegation visits campus

A message from Waterloo International.

Earlier this year, Waterloo President Feridun Hamdullahpur, travelled to China to strengthen ties with leading Chinese institutions, including Soochow University. This initiative led to the signing of three agreements with Soochow including a 3+1+1 in the Faculty of Science, a joint academic agreement for Doctoral studies and a Student Exchange Agreement. These agreements build on long standing research and academic partnerships with Soochow which began with collaborations with the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN). In addition to our research endeavours with Soochow University, they have also become one of our largest international co-op employers, hiring a total of 90 students since 2010.

To build and strengthen this partnership, Waterloo International is pleased to be hosting senior staff members from Soochow University to observe and understand our university management, operation and best practices. The Soochow visitors are here at UW to observe and understand operations in the following areas: university affairs, international affairs and student affairs. They arrived on campus in May of 2014 and will be with us until March 2015.

The group has been immersed in learning about how UW does business and have been engaged with many areas across campus including Institute of Analysis and Planning, Retail Services, Office of Academic Integrity, Housing & Residence, Registrar’s Office, Student Success Office, Graduate Studies, President’s Office, Co-operative Education and Career Action, Centre for Extended Learning, Office of Development, Library and Food Services. Along with these meetings the Soochow delegates will participate in projects with Co-operative Education and Career Action and Waterloo International, learn more about our Secretariat and tour our entrepreneurial facilities, Accelerator Centre, the Velocity Garage and Communitech.

Members from Waterloo International will meet with the Soochow delegates every two weeks to share thoughts on the meetings and workshops they participate in to determine if further investigation or discussions are needed.

Having the Soochow delegates on our campus for almost a year is an incredible cross cultural learning opportunity both for our visitors and for departments at UW. As a result of this experience we aspire to enable channels for shared learning and collaboration and to deepen our relationship with Soochow University.

If you would like to meet and learn more about our visitors from Soochow University, please contact Suping Zhao in Waterloo International at ext.35486 or by email.

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IEW concludes with a little Gamelan music

International Education Week continues today and tomorrow, concluding with a concert featuring the UW Gamelan Ensemble along with guest artist I Dewa Made Suparta.

With all the wild weather of the last few days, a trip to Bali might just be the thing. This Saturday night, you'll have the opportunity to travel to Bali without leaving Waterloo as the UW Gamelan Ensemble presents an evening of Balinese Gamelan music.

The ensemble, established in 2013, is directed by Professor Maisie Sum.

The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre.

Check the International Education Week calendar for full event descriptions.

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Remembering Alex Foto

St. Paul's University College, the Faculty of Environment, and the Department of Athletics and Recreation are holding a memorial event for Alexandra Foto, a second-year International Development student who was killed while riding her bicycle in her home town of London Ontario last August.

"Alex was a standout student entering her second year of the International Development program, a tireless and devoted Waterloo Warrior cheerleader, and an incoming residence Don at St. Paul's," writes Kelly Deeks-Johnson.

"Just before entering her first year, Alex wrote out her personal goals for the coming year. The first goal was to "Go to Waterloo and shine." And shine she did. During her time at the University of Waterloo, Alex left an indelible mark on countless students, faculty and staff. She is greatly missed."

The memorial event will take place on Saturday, November 22 at 6:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall at St. Paul's. Friends, family and professors will share their memories of Alex, and then the event will move to the Physical Activities Centre, where Waterloo’s cheerleading team will commemorate Alex with a special routine at half-time as part of the Warriors Men's Basketball Game (admission is free for memorial attendees). Attendees are asked to wear their Waterloo and Waterloo Warrior apparel, or apparel from another institution.

The memorial service will be livestreamed.

In addition, a memorial fund in Alex's name has been established by friends of the Foto family with the goal of creating a lasting legacy for Alex at Waterloo and St. Paul's. The Alex Foto Memorial Fund will support a student that cares deeply about humanitarian and poverty issues, and who is participating in the International Development Program’s fourth-year field placement in a developing country.

Additional funds raised will assist with the purchase of a memorial bench and tree, along with a plaque for Alex, on campus as a tribute to her passion to learn. Gifts in Alex's memory can be designated to the Alex Foto Memorial Fund at St. Paul’s University College. All donations are welcome.

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Friday's notes

The latest entry in the English Language and Literature Speakers Series takes place on Friday, November 28 and features a talk by Professor Terry F. Robinson, visiting from the University of Toronto's Department of English, entitled “‘The glass of fashion and the mould of form’: Georgian-Era Specular Performance.”

"Robinson's roots are in performance theory and theatre history, with particular focus on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries," the talk's abstract says. "Her current book project is titled Impassioned Bodies: Acting and Physical Expression in the Late Georgian Era, and her talk will bring together Romantic-era drama, theories of acting and bodily performance, and the material history of the theatre as a medium. Specifically, Robinson argues that an architectural shift—the installation of mirrors in eighteenth-century playhouses—marked a watershed moment in visual and performance history." The talk takes place in Hagey Hall 334 at 3:00 p.m.

The Third Annual Waterloo West Neighbourhood Fest is taking place tomorrow. The event, organized by Waterloo students in partnership with the Stork Family YMCA and Harper Library, is a free, drop-in celebration designed for families with young children that offers a variety of fun-filled, theme activities the whole family can enjoy - crafts, obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, and active games. All are welcome. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday.

Waterloo Warriors home games this weekend include:

• Women's basketball vs. Ottawa, Friday, November 21, 6:00 p.m.
• Men's basketball vs. Ottawa, Friday, November 21, 8:00 p.m.
• Think Pink Indoor Soccer Tournament, Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22
• Men's volleyball vs. Toronto, Saturday, November 22, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's hockey vs. UOIT, Saturday, November 22, 2:30 p.m.
• Women's basketball vs. Carleton, Saturday, November 22, 6:00 p.m.
• Men's basketball vs. Carleton, Saturday, November 22, 8:00 p.m.
• Women's hockey vs. Queen's, Sunday, November 23, 2:30 p.m.

Check the varsity sports schedule for full event details.

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