June 7 - Douglas College wins national award for leadership in internationalization

Douglas College has been named as the first-ever recipient of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) Internationalization Excellence award.

The award, presented today at the ACCC Conference in Edmonton, is given to a college or institute that has shown leadership in internationalizing its entire institution for the benefit of its learners and community.

Internationalization has become a key strategic driver for Douglas. Students from more than 40 countries now account for roughly 10 percent of the full-time student body. And every year, more than 100 Douglas students participate in overseas programs such as practicums, field schools, internships, work experience and cultural and academic exchanges in countries including China, Wales and Uganda.

"Internationalization is an integral part of the college's teaching, research learning and service functions," says Guangwei Ouyang, associate VP of International Education at Douglas. "Global citizenship and intercultural competence are key indicators of a student's success."

For the past 14 years, Douglas has also run the largest offshore award-winning dual-degree program for a college in the history of Sino-Canadian educational cooperation. More than 1,800 students have graduated from the program in China, and close to 100 percent receive successful job placements.

Over the past decade, at least 100 Douglas faculty members have participated in conferences, research and publication in the international arena. During that same period, thousands of students, faculty members, administrators and professionals from partner institutions around the world have been trained at Douglas.

Ouyang says the journey of Douglas from a service-based, simple model of international education to a model of comprehensive internationalization arose organically.

"We just did what we thought was right, and now we are finding out that this is actually the latest trend. Institutions are realizing that this is the right direction to go in, instead of just focusing on international student recruitment and sending students abroad. For Douglas, it's become an institutional mandate."

Scott McAlpine, president of Douglas College, says the ACCC's recognition of Douglas is both exciting and gratifying.

"We have focused our energies on forging strategic partnerships with foreign institutions," McAlpine says. "We have taken a business approach with an academic focus. I am confident that with this model the college, our students and faculty will continue to reap rewards."