TWU a world-ly education

Posted by admin on Sep 21, 2010 in Featured Articles | 0 comments

Trinity Western University has been making a name for itself around the world through programs such as ESLI (the English as a Second Language Institute), missions trips and travel studies. In fact, the most recent TWU census indicates that nearly 17 percent of those studying at TWU are international students. Compared to the 12.6 percent of international students at UBC. These students are “mostly from Asia and the Pacific” and a number of students from Latin America, noted TWU President Jonathan Raymond in an interview regarding global awareness. TWU focuses on making a global impact. The Board of Governors in its Ends Statement, published in 2008, states “Trinity Western University exists so that, through its students, alumni/ae, faculty, and staff, the world may experience Christ’s truth, compassion, reconciliation, and hope.”

TWU has seen a rise in its international student population over the past ten years, a big part of which according to Raymond is the result of a low North American birth rate. “Every university president in every university, I think, in North America is very aware of what is happening.” Raymond notes that over the last 20 years as the North American birth rate has slowed, immigration has become a driving force in the Canadian economy.

Such an increase in the international student population has notable consequences, which both furthers education and in some ways constrain it. Raymond recognizes one constraint being the difficulty of communication in the classroom. For both the international and North American student, as well as professors, dialogue can be inhibited by language and cultural barriers and can often occasion patience. Raymond believes though that despite the potential difficulties, the benefits for all involved are greater than the cons.

“When students graduate and they’re alumni and they find themselves in various professional fields, their network is no longer a lower mainland network or Western Canada network, but more and more students are going to have an opportunity, in a global age… to have a network of friends that’s a potentially [global] network” states Raymond. Beyond that network, students can also broaden their worldview by understanding the values of their international counterparts. In 2004, Laura Burnouf from the University of Alberta published a paper discussing the benefits of including global perspectives in education. She includes five dimensions that an education should include: “perspective consciousness, stateof- the-planet awareness, cross-cultural awareness, knowledge of global dynamics, and awareness of human choices.” All these she argues better equip students to understand the global marketplace. And TWU is not far behind in this pursuit. Last year a review was begun by the University Senate to look into the global perspectives currently included in the University curriculum and where they could be strengthened. The hope is that TWU will prepare students “for the marketplaces of life,” including work around the globe. And though not all welcome the globalization of TWU, an education without borders may be for the best considering “students need to learn about global issues in school in order to become living and practicing citizens in our ever-changing global society,” according to Burnouf.

So whether the increase in international student enrollment is more a reflection of a strengthening global community, or a consequence of low North American enrollment, and whether the focus on global perspectives in education is liked or not, it seems to be the direction TWU is heading. And it seems to be the direction the world is heading. Author: Jason Brandl