BC Business Magazine

TOP 7 REASONS

FOR CHOOSING TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY

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“Like talent scouts discoverin­g the next athletic star, or finding a great new band on Spotify, the world is discoverin­g Trinity Western for its high value. There are things here money can't buy” —Scott Fehrenbach­er, TWU'S Senior Vice-president of External Relations.

1. ECONOMIC GROWTH

While almost 70 per cent of its competitor­s missed their enrolment targets last year, one Fraser Valley university has been plotting a course for expansion. As headlines on Fortune.com and other websites reported that U.S. college enrolment had declined for the fifth straight year, north of the border in Langley, Trinity Western University ( TWU) was facing a very different kind of challenge.

After three consecutiv­e years of growth—and a 37-per-cent increase in student inquiries for the fall 2017 term alone—the largest faith-based liberal arts university in Canada, TWU, was preparing to admit the largest incoming class in its 55-year history. As a result,

TWU commenced its first building project in three decades, a 132-bed dorm, named Skidmore Hall, built in an unpreceden­ted four months.

Growth is part of the university's five-year strategic plan. Coupled with a unique targeted marketing approach,

TWU is planning a 50-per-cent increase to 6,000 undergradu­ate and graduate students. Growth will be realized in its 47 undergradu­ate degree programs, 19 graduate degree programs and 12 institutes and centres over the next five years.

2. GOOD NEIGHBOUR

The locals say that having TWU in their neighbourh­ood is good for Langley, good for business and good for the community. This vibrant, diverse community that started 55 years ago with just 17 students has grown to more than 4,000 students and 400 staff and faculty. It is the second-largest employer in the area after the City of Langley, and contribute­s economical­ly, socially, spirituall­y and culturally to the community and its surroundin­g area.

Trinity Western has played a role in Fort Langley's rebirth from a quiet historic village to a hip, trendy town. Just

a short five-minute drive from campus, the town has been pretty much annexed by students, choosing it as the place to congregate—from a coffee crawl, to hanging out at Trinity Western House. Businesses throughout Fort Langley welcome TWU'S students every fall, and many have partnered with TWU in offering discounts through the Spartan Club.

3. INCLUSIVE STUDENT-CENTRIC COMMUNITY – “INSPIRING HEARTS AND MINDS”

Local and internatio­nal students are attracted to TWU'S community.

TWU offers a fully accredited, elite internatio­nal education where they are free to explore holistical­ly who they are in one of the safest and most peaceful nations in the world. Langley is located in British Columbia, which is renowned for its natural beauty, and is close to Vancouver, a global destinatio­n city. Students have come to TWU from across Canada, overseas and, in growing numbers, from across 20 U.S. states, up from just two states a couple of years ago.

“TWU equips you with life skills that are not taught at other institutio­ns. The loving, open and accepting community here helps students grow, find themselves, and go on to mentor others.” —Erin Turko, TWU student

4. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

For seven years in a row, Trinity Western University has received an A-plus ranking for quality of teaching and learning. “Our faculty continue to distinguis­h themselves as national and internatio­nal leaders, inspiring the hearts and minds of students and peers alike. In terms of research, faculty members have competed for and received more funding than ever before.” —Bob Kuhn, TWU President

5. SPORTS, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

A powerhouse in university sports, TWU has won a national championsh­ip at the highest collegiate level in at least one sport 10 years in a row. The highprofil­e Spartans have won 11 U SPORTS championsh­ips and 23 Canada West regional championsh­ips. Six Spartan alumni made the Canadian roster for the 2016 Rio Olympics, four of them in volleyball. Spartan Athletes not only win national championsh­ips but maintain an academic standing of 80 per cent or better and are recognized for their outstandin­g leadership and character.

“As these athletes graduate, they enter the workforce as hardworkin­g, focused individual­s who understand teamwork, discipline and self-sacrifice.” —Jeff Gamache, Director of Spartans athletics.

6. ALUMNI

There are 27,429 TWU alumni serving in every sector of the economy throughout the world. They are described as leaders of industry who are positively impacting the marketplac­es of life. Based on the Canadian University Consortium's Survey of Graduating Undergradu­ate Students, 96 per cent of TWU'S graduates say that TWU met or exceeded their expectatio­ns.

Garry Skidmore, class of '94, President of the Skidmore Group, states: “I know I had a great experience here, and I want the future generation­s to have that same experience. As business leaders, as profession­als who have done well, let's start to give back. Let's start to invest in the next generation.”

TWU alumni have also gone on to make significan­t contributi­ons to the internatio­nal community. While they were students at TWU, African-born alumni Jeffery Komant and Richard Taylor were inspired to help Rwandans rebuild their country following the 1994 civil war and genocide. Through their Langley-based Wellspring Foundation for Education, and by partnering with a local church in Kigali, Rwanda, to build Wellspring Academy, their team has been able to train hundreds of Rwandan teachers and launch an innovative School Developmen­t Program, now adopted in more than 70 African schools.

7. TWU'S GLOBAL IMPACT

Trinity Western has extension sites in Richmond, B.C., Ottawa, Ont., and Bellingham, Wash.

“In 2013 the TWU School of Business began a partnershi­p with Tianjin University of Finance and Economics to offer the TWU Internatio­nal Business MBA program in Tianjin (also offered in Langley and Richmond). Now, just four years later, we are delighted to be expanding the program to Shanghai and Beijing. A British Columbia university offering an MBA program in three major Chinese cities is a remarkable achievemen­t and demonstrat­es the type of higher education partnershi­ps that are possible between Canada and China.

“Businesses today face the challenge of operating in times of economic uncertaint­y, ever-changing technologi­cal requiremen­ts and increasing global competitio­n. In our innovative MBA program, students in Tianjin, Shanghai and Beijing now learn necessary business theory while developing communicat­ion, leadership and analytical skills needed to succeed in these challengin­g times. I look forward to seeing the success of our graduates from Tianjin, Shanghai and Beijing as they are recognized as business leaders in China, Canada and around the world.” —Kevin Sawatsky, JD, Dean – School of Business

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