UBC News Digest

Nov 14, 2002

The UBC News Digest is a weekly summary of news stories about UBC
people, research, learning, community, and internationalization
initiatives. News Digest past
issues are also available on-line.

Nov. 14, 2002

UBC helps Kuwait design new university

UBC will be helping Kuwait design a new university in a consultancy
project valued at $2.7 million, the largest such project UBC has
ever undertaken. Kuwait Institute of Business and Technology (KIBT)
will be a regional facility located in Kuwait City with an enrollment
of up to 5,000 full-time students.

UBC was invited to submit a proposal to develop a plan for the
new university – the only Canadian university asked to submit, along
with 15 U.S. universities.

To be completed by the end of 2003, the consultancy project includes
creating a vision statement for KIBT, developing an undergraduate
curriculum, and developing recruitment plans for faculty and staff.
UBC project team members will also advise on facilities, research
programs, student recruitment; and organizational structure and
governance. The partnership with Kuwait will also create opportunities
for student exchange programs.

For more information contact Ruby Theilmann, KIBT project manager,
at ruby.theilmann@ubc.ca.

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Catherine A. Quinlan Appointed Visitor-in-Residence
at Dalhousie

UBC University Librarian Catherine A. Quinlan has been appointed
as Visitor-in-Residence for 2002-2003 at Dalhousie University’s
School of Library. Quinlan, who received her MLS from Dalhousie
will serve primarily as a resource and advisor for students in the
Master of Library and Information Studies programme.

Since joining UBC in 1997, she has initiated a comprehensive review
of all the library operations, and has increased the library endowments
significantly. She is responsible for a staff of over 340 and an
annual budget of $30 million. Her involvement on the UBC campus
is extensive, including chairing numerous committees, and holding
membership on the UBC Senate and the President’s Advisory Council.

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Internship changed UBC student’s life

UBC student Heidi Kralik has recently returned from Odessa, Ukraine,
where she worked for Association Kovcheg, a non-governmental organization
that helps to further economic and social development in Eastern
Europe.

Kralik was there as part of her AIESEC experience. AIESEC, formerly
known as the Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences
Economiques et Commerciales, is the world’s largest student-run
international traineeship exchange program. It was established in
Europe after the Second World War to help university students develop
into “responsible, adaptable and culturally sensitive leaders
[who will] contribute to the development of society with an overriding
commitment to international cooperation and understanding.”

Kralik’s favourite memories from Odessa are not only of the
city’s architecture, beautiful Black Sea beaches, and marushkas
– the Ukrainian form of public transportation – but also
of the people who she misses dearly.

“I remember taking dance lessons with a girl who ended up
becoming one of my closest friends. She was to translate for me
but unfortunately she ended up in another class. My instructor knew
only two English words: ‘fast’ and ‘slow’. Needless
to say it was quite an experience. Living in another culture teaches
you so much about yourself. It forces you to show some humility.
My favourite Russian word became ‘ya ne ponimayu’ or ‘I
don’t understand’.”

For more information about AIESEC activities at UBC, e-mail aiesec-exec@interchange.ubc.ca
or call (604) 822-6256.

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Kudos

Outstanding Research/Science Park Achievement Award

Discovery Park at UBC is one of six in the BC network to win the
2002 Outstanding Research/Science Park achievement award from the
Association of University Research Parks, an international organization
of 230 parks. The award recognizes parks that excel in bringing
technology from university research to economically viable business
activities.

Angus Livingstone, managing director of the University/Industry
Liaison Office (UILO), said UBC’s Discovery Park is home to
and acts as an incubator for numerous spin-off companies. These
include Web CT – the world’s leading provider of e-learning
solutions for the higher education market, now in more than 2,500
institutions in 81 countries around the world.

In 2000, the last time UBC did its own detailed survey, its companies
had $155 million in revenue and had contributed $32.2 million to
the university in the form of royalties and research funding.

Harold Adams Innis Prize

Three books published by UBC Press are among the five nominees
for the Harold Adams Innis Prize for the best English-language book
in the social sciences and humanities. The shortlisted books include
Prometheus Wired: The Hope for Democracy in the Age of Network Technology
by Darin Barney, Flexible Crossroads: The Restructuring of British
Columbia’s Forest Economy by Roger Hayter, and Cis dideen kat
– When the Plumes Rise: The Way of the Lake Babine Nation by
Jo-Anne Fiske and Betty Patrick. The Humanities and Social Sciences
Federation of Canada (HSSFC) will announce the winner of the prize
in Ottawa on Nov. 23.