Two months it is now that I have been in my new position of Dean, Seneca International, and I have been enjoying every minute of it so far. The work is a really interesting challenge. Of course it helps that I have done similar work the past 20 years at Niagara College and the experiences during the seven years at MSF and the six years at Fokker Aircraft also are great influence.
One area of Seneca International houses the offices of our recruiters (our marketing & sales force working around the world) and our projects team. This is where I have my office.
Our area is in one of the older parts of the college but everywhere the modern TV screens keep the students and staff up to date about events and achievements, an excellent internal communications tool of Seneca College.
Close to this international offices area is the "Senecentre", the activity area run by the SSF, the Seneca Student Federation. To the right of the entrance you can see a small sushi bar where I every now and then get a delicious little lunch.
In the "Senecentre" our international team together with SSF and international students regularly organizes events. Last Friday they had an event organized by students from countries where the Russian language is the most spoken language. The organizers invited a Russian dancer/gymnast who had worked for "Cirque de Soleil". She gave a spectacular performance.
Many of these events are supervised by Sergio, one of our International Services Coordinators. Sergio grew up in Mexico and made Canada his new home many years ago. Most events take place during lunch time and international cuisine buffet style meals are offered for 1 or 2 dollars per person.
The "Senecentre" is not far from the student residence (with about 1200 beds).
Our other international office is embedded in the Student Services area. The information desk is serviced by international student ambassadors who are selected and paid by the international services team (this photo was taken around 8 AM; the students start in shifts as of 8:30 AM).
This is Stan, the other International Services Coordinator (next to Sergio). Stan has been at the college for many years and also serves on the college's Board of Governors as elected support staff member at the moment. You can not imagine the international team at Seneca without enthusiastic, innovative and creative guys such as Stan and Sergio!
Seneca College has an impressive art collection spread throughout its hallways. Here a few examples in one of the newer buildings. The art work has been very well placed and gives the building a special atmosphere. Seneca has many arts programs and every now and then they have "in house" artist who leaves some of their work at the college. Other pieces have been purchased during special auctions. The college launched a book last week describing the 30 years of history of the art collection with photos of 70 of the well over 200 pieces.
This is a group of students who are raising money for a WUSC refugee student fund. Most of them study para-legal programs at the college and you can see the diverse background of this group. In February they will be organizing an awareness/fundraising event and I offered to be one of their speakers to tell some stories of my years with MSF.
One of Seneca's "learning enterprises" is a clothes store with products designed and made by senior year students of the fashion management program.
The "learning commons" at this campus has many computer stations. This is the same at the other 4 Seneca campus buildings (Seneca @ York, Markham, King campus and Peterborough). The few smaller community campuses do not have this. This computer area is busy from 8 AM till 10 PM.
And there is a Starbucks.... :-)
The last slide is to celebrate one of my former colleagues at Niagara College, Shawna. A week ago I was at the annual conference of the CBIE (Canadian Bureau of International Education) and there were some posters. The one below is on Shawna's story from being a student to doing some global assignments around the world to become an International Student Advisor. Proud of her!
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