Fall convocation

Sandra - with whom I worked in 2013 during my year of work in Colombia (see my blog posts from that year) - came to Seneca in January 2017 to improve her English. Afterwards she enrolled in one of our post-graduate programs (International Business) and she graduated in August - with honors (meaning all "As"). She now studies a 2nd post-graduate program (Global Logistics - Supply Chain). Today she had her graduation ceremony of the International Business program (called here in Canada the "Convocation"). It was nice to see a proud Sandra who in Colombia obtained a law degree.

It was nice to see the hundreds of graduates walk over the podium, including Sandra. Many of the graduates - like Sandra - came from elsewhere in the world. A long journey for all of them.

We also got a photo with the current Seneca college President who gave a very nice convocation speech to the graduates and to many of their parents as well as friends. The valedictorian today was a student from India who at home already had obtained a bachelor degree in computer sciences as well as and MBA. Today he celebrated graduating from an Events Management post-graduate program.

Rotary and Polio

Today this year's President of the Rotary International Foundation spoke at a conference of Rotary Clubs in the Niagara region. He is from the Bahamas where he managed for many years one of the larger local hospitals and he has been an active Rotary member during most of his career. During the past two decades he dedicated a lot of time to organize assistance projects in Haiti with a focus on the availability of water & sanitation. Today he spoke about how close we are as humanity to rid the world of the polio disease. No cases for the past two years in northern Nigeria anymore. Four cases in north-west Pakistan and sixteen cases in the east of Afghanistan. This remains the only region in the world where vaccination still faces challenges. Last year's RI President met with Taliban leaders to ask for one day dedicated to no fighting so that UNICEF & Rotary teams could vaccinate, and they agreed. We are so very close to eliminating a disease which crippled and killed so many people around the world 60-70 years ago. The Rotarians around the world are the largest donors towards the vaccination campaign together with the Bill Gates Foundation.

Working on new generations of young professionals to embrace the work Rotary Clubs around the world work on. And many of the new members come from more and more diverse communities which is fantastic to see. Thank you Barry for coming to Niagara and giving the folks here some nice compliments and extra motivation. The Rotarians are a dedicated group of people who have an interest to make their community better and who support such activities also around the world....

Training groups from China

During October and November we are hosting five different training groups from China at Seneca. This week a group who train students in China for professions in the Broadcasting sector. One of our professor worked for 30 years at the CVT News Desk and developed their digital media strategy. He now teaches at Seneca to the next generation of media professionals. He did the session today together with a recent graduate from Seneca who has specialized in digital media. She stopped her studies (Psychology) at a University in Toronto to complete a two year specialized diploma in this field at Seneca. The visitors from China were fascinated by the approach used at Seneca.

Family - 28 years

Last Friday - September 21 - was Mary's birthday and also our 28th wedding anniversary. We brought Fiona along and had dinner together in Burlington where Mark lives at the moment (about 45 minutes from Fonthill). After dinner we enjoyed a short walk along the shore of Lake Ontario and Hilary took some nice photos....

A moment of reflection and on we go again.....; we are a lucky bunch....

MSF at York

James Orbinski - a good friend from the crazy years with MSF - is setting up a fascinating research institute at York University on global/planetary health. Tonight they organized an inaugural lecture by the current International President of MSF on humanitarian work in the 21st century.

A wonderful, thought provoking and sincere presentation from Joanne followed by a question and answer period between James and Joanne including several questions from the audience. After all of that James had a moment to do a selfie with me. He is truly a very special human being...

Action shots in the new office

So happy to see our new reception desk functioning in a way I have envisioned since I started at Seneca four years ago. Sweet patience, but now it starts to look modern, inviting and professional.

At each work-station there are cushions which can be used as seats. One of our student ambassadors is showing it on the photo above. Something to get used to for folks, but very cool...

We are a "happening place" again. Still lots of details to be finished, but important milestone.

New offices - time to move in

The new offices of Seneca International at the main Newnham campus are ready to move in today. One of the outside windows offers a view of the world....

The reception desk is shaped as a "globe" and takes a very prominent and welcoming atmosphere in this office where we mostly welcome prospective students, agencies and other business partners we have locally and around the world. Behind it to the right is an open space with a small kitchenette and relaxed furniture which will arrive in a few weeks; a bit like Google/Facebook style atmosphere. Also three small meeting rooms because the work-stations are designed in an open office area style.

The meeting rooms are at the moment a bit of storage until we unpack everything again after having camped out in a temporary space for almost five months during the renovations.

To the other side of the central reception desk is the office area for about 30 staff consisting of our business development and projects & contracts teams; excited to move in our new digs...

In the back we have a number of so-called "hoteling work-stations" with lockers for those who only every now and then are in Toronto. From the back the view towards the reception desk:

Happy and proud to have initiated and steered this office transformation. Ready for the next years of impacting the internationalization of Seneca....