KEEPING ALUMNI CURRENT SPRING EDITION 2007 VOLUME 8 NUMBER 2 Global IMPACT Alumni around the world are making a difference London Calling The Roots of International Success The Nepal Connection The Orange is the Faculty of Education’s alumni magazine. Published twice a KEEPING ALUMNI CURRENT year by the Faculty’s Office of External Relations, the Orange is distributed to alumni, friends, faculty, students and staff. Greetings from the Dean of Education Fern Snart Director of External Relations/Editor Dean Michele Shea Associate Editor Spring is upon us, bringing with it the welcoming warmth of a bright sun and the promise of Gordon McIntosh new growth. Much like the season, the Faculty of Education is growing in many exciting and promising directions. External Relations Team Sean Mowat, Asheley Cowie, Dawn Ford, This issue of the Orange focuses predominantly on our international education initiatives. Within Thea Hawryluk these pages you will read about some of the exciting work of our our faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the international education arena. We are proud of our international efforts Graphic Design because of the considerable mutual benefits, not only in the resultant learning and knowledge Creative Services sharing, but also the heightened cultural understanding that is ultimately created in an atmosphere of education and academic inquiry. Contributing writers and photographers Several of our graduates go on to teach abroad and many of our faculty members and Asheley Cowie, Dawn Ford, Ted Holdaway, graduate students are providing leadership in countries undergoing educational reform. We Michael Holly, Gordon McIntosh, Scott are proud to have international initiatives and/or student exchange programs in approximately Rollans, Michele Shea, Richard Siemens, 30 countries. Wanda Vivequin The central theme during the University of Alberta’s International Week this past January was Send your comments to: Beyond Terror: the Real Weapons of Mass Destruction. These presentations suggested that issues Office of External Relations of poverty and the lack of human rights are devastating entire populations and are of far more Faculty of Education pressing concern, on a global scale, than the threat of terrorism. The University of Alberta is University of Alberta involved in many research and development initiatives to offer assistance in alleviating these 4-107 Education North serious worldwide problems. Our Faculty is working collaboratively with many countries to Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5 create educational systems that will provide positive change and a better life for their citizens. Most recently, the Faculty was identified by UNESCO to become one of five faculties worldwide Tel: 780.492.7755 to form an educational consortium focusing on rebuilding the educational system in Iraq. Fax: 780.492.0155 E-mail: [email protected] Over the past several months, it has been an honour for me to host several education alumni www.education.ualberta.ca events. It is always a pleasure to meet fellow alumni and hear their stories. Reunion 2006 was immensely enjoyable and was enhanced by the special pleasure of having many of our Professors Emeriti attend. We expect that Reunion 2007 will be just as memorable. Please keep in mind that Reunion 2008 is the University of Alberta’s 100th birthday and we have many special events already planned. This is a celebration you do not want to miss! Have a wonderful summer and I hope you enjoy our latest edition of the Orange as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. I encourage you to stay in touch and to come back and see us when you can. Fern Snart, ‘79 PhD Dean THE ORANGE I SPRING 2 0 0 7 0 PAGE KEEPING ALUMNI CURRENT SPRING EDITION 2007 VOLUME 8 NUMBER 2 ON THE COVER: A classroom in Sundaridanda, Nepal Photo: Barb Gauf 10 The Roots of FEATURES International Success 4 London Calling Dr. Kazim Bacchus recalls the beginnings of international Melissa Pearson, ‘05 BEd, shares her teaching education. experiences in London. 6 Welcome Back, Dip Kapoor! Dip Kapoor, ’87 BCom, ’89 MBA, ’95 PhD, returns to the Faculty of Education. 8 Standing on U of A Shoulders 12 The Nepal Connection Shirley Hopkinson, ‘81 BEd, ’82 MEd, ’86 PhD, credits Three Nepalese alumni reminisce the U of A for helping her get through some tough times. about their time at the U of A. 14 Leaders in Australian Education Starting in the 1960’s Australians came to the U of A in droves to study educational administration. DEPARTMENTS 16 A New Centre for 18 Upcoming Alumni Events Phenomenological 18 Alumni Scrapbook Pedagogy in China 19 Class Notes U of A researchers play an important role in establishing 22 Education Generations Project a new research centre in China that will nurture “pedagogical tact” in Chinese education. London Calling BY ASHELEY COWIE THE ORANGE I SPRING 2 0 0 7 05 PAGE (l-r) Michelle Tang and Melissa Melissa’s Classroom It was June 2005 and Melissa Pearson, ’05 BEd, for my arrival in London. They suggested going The teaching assignment was not intended was faced with the same question as many over in October, so I bought a ticket for an to be long term, but turned out to be four other new graduates - “What do I do now?” October 6th flight to London, organized my months in duration. In that time, Melissa Armed with her elementary education degree things and was on my way.” discovered what it was like to have your own with a minor in science/math, Melissa was at classroom: she was responsible not only for ITN recruiters kept in touch with Melissa until the proverbial fork in the road that all new lesson planning, grading and reporting but her arrival in London, at which point she was grads face. “I was unsure of what I wanted to also for planning a major field trip for the class assigned a London-based ITN agent who do. I knew I wasn’t ready for full time teaching of 30 students. “I was responsible for all sub- provided her with her first supply teaching as- in Canada but I didn’t want to not teach. The jects, all day. It was great. A little intimidating, signments in London. Supply teaching is very idea of travel was certainly appealing, but I but great. I don’t know if it would have been similar to substitute teaching in Canada; the didn’t know where, when or how. It was a different if I knew from the start of the assign- assignments can be one day or up to several bit overwhelming.” ment that it would last four months, but as it weeks long. “The whole experience was a little was, I had such a great learning experience. In the year leading up to convocation, Melissa surreal. I am so thankful that I wasn’t there The staff, especially the teaching assistant, and investigated taking part in the Play Around alone! My good friend and university room- the students are all wonderful people and I the World program, a three-month practicum mate, Michelle Tang, ‘05 BEd, and I decided learned so much from all of them!” experience for University of Alberta students to go together. Coincidently, on one of our who, while learning through service, work to first nights in the hostel, we ran into another Aside from the cultural and teaching experi- build sustainable programs for under-served ‘05 Education grad, Lorena Castro, who was ences Melissa had, there was another amazing populations in Thailand. Though the program also about to begin teaching in London. When benefit of teaching in London. “The opportuni- appealed to Melissa, her parents weren’t quite you’re in a foreign place, you kind of attach ties for travel are simply unbelievable! Not that as sold on the idea. “My parents’ concerns yourself to anything and anyone familiar, so I didn’t enjoy the teaching, but the travelling about my going to Thailand were increased the three of us decided to stick together and I did was absolutely my favourite part of this after the tsunami in December of 2004, so found a flat in the Victoria area which is about entire experience.” In the 14 months Melissa they were definitely trying to guide my travel a 20 minute walk from Buckingham Palace.” was in London, she travelled to: Paris (twice), interests elsewhere!” Luckily for Melissa and Tunisia, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Ireland, Croa- Melissa took teaching jobs as ITN offered them, her parents, Melissa had taken advantage of tia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland and but having moved half way around the world the Education Career Fair at the U of A in Janu- Egypt. in pursuit of employment, money was a little ary 2005. At the career fair, Melissa spoke with tight. “One thing I would tell anyone who is Melissa’s overseas teaching experience came many different agencies offering international going to teach overseas, particularly in London, to an end in December 2006 when she arrived teaching opportunities, and when she spoke is to sign up with more than one agency. You home in Calgary, just in time for Christmas. with recruiters from the International Teachers are not obligated to get supply jobs only from Network (ITN) agency based in London, What does the future hold for her? “I want the agency you came over with, as they may Melissa had no idea what a life-changing to pursue figure skating (something Melissa not have work for you every day. You can sign experience she was about to embark on. has done for over 14 years) and then teach in on to multiple agencies, and that way you can Asia after my time in Calgary.” Apparently, the “I gave them my email address and from Janu- pretty much work every day if you choose to.” travel bug is not easily squished.