Cambrian Blogs

Reported by Cindy Wing, professor, Dental Hygiene

Well, we are home safe and sound and the adventure was nothing less than fantastic!!  From the time we landed in Hanoi until our departure, there was not one detail that was not 100% taken care of at the highest level.  The trekking company, Footprints, took care of our every need and were very accomodating with any changes that the group requested.  The experience in the hilltribes was life-changing, such happy kids with so very little, truly amazing and humbling.  The students who participated exhibited maturity and were very caring in the schools and orphanage that we visited on the last morning.  The children at the orphanage were either physically or mentally challenged as a result of chemical warfare which is now apparent  two and three generations later, very sad.  In the coming weeks, I have several interviews booked with media interested in hearing our story and would like to also work on a post-card type thank you cards for all of the community partners who supported our initiative. We will also be working on a video to share this very moving experience with those that are interested.  I will be in contact when all our pics, videos and stories are compiled.

Becoming a Cambrian student just got sweeter.

Students who confirm their acceptance to Cambrian College by May 1, 2012,  and start their 2 or 3 year diploma in September 2012 could walk away with a cheque worth 15 percent of their tuition upon graduation! This will come in handy as they start to repay student loans, purchase clothing and supplies for a new career, or even move to a new place.

We know students will  be working hard during their program, so when they complete their diploma/degree, we want to reward them for a job well done.

Why is Cambrian offering this 15% tuition rebate?  We are facing a critical state of Jobs without People and People without Jobs in our Northern economy.  We need everyone to achieve post secondary education if they are to take advantage of the employment opportunties and if our local and regional economies are to thrive. 

Now is the time for those without a postsecondary education to invest in themselves. 

There is Second Career funding from the provincial government. 

Potential students can open a Cambrian Learning Account to earn Cambrian dollars by participating in Cambrian events prior to coming to college. 

The provincial government is offering a 30% tuition reduction to eligible students.

And now eligible students can receive a 15% tuition rebate upon graduation. 

 Visit our website for full details about eligibility and other requirements for all these programs.   Contact us and we will walk you through the processes.

World class programs at post secondary at Cambrian has never been a better value.

Ten Dental Hygiene students are currently working in Viet Nam.  They have travelled to remote villages in the jungle to provide education and support to children concerning their dental care.  Here is what we have heard of their experience so far from the two faculty members who are accompanying the students:

“Sin Jow from Sapa Vietnam…just wanted to let everyone know that this trip has been pheominal from the start.  Not sure if I will be able to get the students on the plane in a few days!!  We are currently in Sapa and have just returned from trekking and our school visits.  What an experience!!  Brought me to tears at our first school.  Although the kids have nothing by our standards, they were so involved and engaged that we were blown away!!  We sang songs (dental related) with the group and everyone had smiles that will forever be remembered by all of us.  My nephew and a photographer joined us and we will be part of a documentary that is being made about the area and volunteers offering to help and better the lives of these hilltribe people.  Very exciting.  We have taken hundreds and hundreds of pictures and are so excited about sharing our many stories with everyone.  There has been not one negative thing about this adventure!!  We are all going out to dinner now our last night in Sapa and will provide another update from Hanoi in a few days.  Regards, Cindy and Nancy….”

Cambrian is providing international work opportunities to students across many programs in order to help them develop their sense of global responsibility and appreciation for diversity.  Our students want to make a difference.  Many work in our community, our region and in Canada, applying their skills to give back while they are still in school.  Some are fortunate to have an international experience that broadens their horizons and brings great perspective back to their future employers.

We have been reinventing Cambrian over the past 2 years into a 21st Century College.  We are a corporation of over 700 full and part time employees, with an annual operating budget of over $70M.  Our business is education and training and we provide a workforce to the agencies, businesses and industries in the northern, provincial and global economies.

As such we have been looking at our strengths and our core business.  We have recognized that there are services we provide that are not funded by government and that can be delivered more effectively and efficiently by experts in the field.  One of these is Residence Life for students.

Up until two years ago, Cambrian operated its own Residences and Residence Life program.  In addition to being very costly, we also did not have the expertise to offer a robust residence life experience, leaving our young students to their own devices for entertainment.  Two years ago we contracted Campus Living to operate our Residences and our students have seen incredible improvements in their engagement in healthy, fun activities that have kept them motivated and connected to their peers in positive interactions.  Our behaviour issues have declined drastically.  Evictions have been reduced dramatically.

Through a competitive process, Cambrian undertook to sell the Residence buildings and 18 months later we have succeeded.  This will result in a continuation of the robust Residence life program, well maintained buildings and happy and safe students.  It removes the responsibilty for the maintenance of the buildings from the College but through the land lease, the College will continue to be a partner in ensuring standards are maintained and costs remain competitive.  The best part is that now we will see new Residences built that will meet the needs of more mature learners – something Cambrian could not afford to undertake. 

This truly is a win for all parties and one example of  how collaborations among partners results in outcomes that are stronger than working alone.

Yesterday Cambrian College and Lauentian University renewed several agreements and signed some new opportunities for students to move between the two institutions to enhance their qualifications while receiving recognition for the learning they have already completed at their home institution.

A college education is directly linked to the workplace and prepares graduates with skills and understandings that enable them to enter the workforce in their chosen career.  College education is known to be more practical in its approach, providing students with the hands-on, practical application of theory instruction and practice needed for the workplace.

A university education, outside of some specific professional schools, provides learners with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding in their chosen field.  Students work with ideas and concepts.

So why pathways from one to the other?  Because in the workplace of the 21st century we need people who can problem-solve, make decisions, and act on those decisions; people who can blend theory and practice to overcome every day challenges; people who can work in collaboration with co-workers across departments and divisions.  Employers tell us that the graduate who has had exposure to both theory and practice in the formation of their career skills is more effective and productive to the workplace.

So, Cambrian and Laurentian continue to provide what employers need to thrive, what our community needs to prosper – students with an opportunity to seamlessly experience both sides of the post-secondary education system.   

Yesterday we signed an overarching agreement of our intent and commitment to work more closely together and we signed agreements in the fields of communications, labour studies, and fine art.  There are more articulations to come and more collaborations that will continue to provide our learners with the best of both learning experiences, and prepare them for the global workforce.