ALUMNI News - Fanshawe College

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS 12 “I would strongly recommend this kind of exchange program,” says Wendy. “I know I am a better teacher. I’m not only bringing home new course materials on textiles, but certainly a deeper level of skill...” When Fanshawe was offered the chance to deliver its world-class Fashion Design program in India, the opportunity was a perfect fi t. The College was already well into a strategic plan to internationalize that began in the mid-90s. Through concerted efforts, recruitment levels had risen to more than 300 international students each year and exchange programs and international partnerships were fl ourishing. What worked so well in this case was that Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario already had a viable working arrangement with CIIS, the Canadian Institute for International Studies, in Chandigarh in the Punjab state in North India. The modern campus of about 650 full-time students focuses on delivering North American diploma and degree programs. Fanshawe became a partner with Georgian and CIIS in 2005. It is a very attractive feature to Indian students that the curriculum at CIIS is equivalent to what the student would be learning in Canada. Their diploma in Fashion Design will be from Fanshawe College and students may transfer to study at Fanshawe in Canada and get full standing for their credits. One key step was selecting a Fanshawe professor willing to travel to India and work for the year. Enter Wendy Sperry, a 17-year veteran within Fanshawe’s Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Design programs. She taught part-time in London for 13 years and full-time for the past four years. For many of those years, she also ran her own business, designing, manufacturing and marketing a high-end line of children’s clothing. When she arrived in Chandigarh in August 2005, she was warmly welcomed by her Georgian colleagues, her Indian hosts, and her fresh-faced students. India is the world’s 12th largest economy with a population of one billion. While its fashion design industry is only about 10 years old, it is growing exponentially within an incredibly rich textile base. Textiles form a huge part of the national economy and culture in India. As program coordinator and professor, Wendy got the program up and running at CIIS. She purchased equipment, hired staff, interviewed students, and even worked with carpenters to build the design studio. She mentors other staff members so that they understand the Fanshawe curriculum and Canadian teaching methods. Admittedly the work environment is quite different. Virtually everyone speaks either Hindi or Punjabi with very little spoken English. There is a strictly defi ned level of hierarchy, so no one wants to take action without an OK from the top. “One strange thing that happens almost daily in India is power outages,” says Wendy. “Now, we don’t even notice if the lights go out except in sewing class.” The assignment has been challenging both personally and professionally. “I am away from everything I know and love, especially my family, which has been pretty hard at times,” she admits. “Plus there is such a lack of privacy and autonomy. Indians would not even understand these concepts but I miss them dearly.” While her Indian students seem younger and have different priorities in terms of their education and career, they have become very dear to her heart. “It is culturally unacceptable for students to hold part time jobs. They’ve had servants all their lives and most still live at home with their parents,” says Wendy. “Since their educational system is based largely on memorization, our type of hands-on learning and creative thinking is new for them. But I must say they like it and have adjusted well.” Students in India tend to work as a unit not as individuals. Wendy has had to adapt her teaching style because they all want to do every assignment together. “Their approach means that the whole class will make the same mistakes on the assignment so I have to watch for that.” Overall, Wendy feels she has connected very well with her students. They are quite sensitive to her needs and really seem to appreciate what she is giving them in terms of knowledge and skill. As she prepared to return home in May, she refl ected on an incredible year. “I would strongly recommend this kind of exchange program,” says Wendy. “I know I am a better teacher. I’m not only bringing home new course materials on textiles but certainly a deeper level of skill in dealing with international students.” Fanshawe College Alumni News Spring 2006
Diploma D TO Degree To what degree is a Bachelor degree valued in today’s marketplace? It depends on many factors, but the reality is that to get ahead in some professions, a degree is still viewed as the preferred standard requirement. Why then are so many students starting out in diploma programs at community college when their ultimate goal is to get their degree? Because it works. Here’s how. There are hundreds of students taking college level programs with the express intent of paving their way to a university degree. Here are two such stories of students who specifi cally chose Fanshawe as the route to get there. Enter Keith Ardron. His goal was to get his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph. When he couldn’t secure direct entry from high school because of intense competition, he found another way in. He applied to Fanshawe’s threeyear diploma program in Landscape Design in 2000. While at Fanshawe, he studied hard and participated Fanshawe College Alumni News Spring 2006 13 ALUMNI SUCCESS
Page 1 and 2: ALUMNI news Spring 2006 Cover Story
Page 3 and 4: cast of falcons Siskinds is one of
Page 5 and 6: COVER STORY It’s a long way from
Page 7 and 8: intellectual property, we would com
Page 9 and 10: Respiratory Technology as a career
Page 11: fashion design fi nds its style in
Page 15 and 16: MUSIC INDUSTRY ARTS It’s a bond t
Page 17 and 18: A steady stream of guests signed in
Page 19 and 20: PERK UP YOUR DAY Discounts on all k
Page 21 and 22: Hamilton’s Bakery 12 Front St. W.
Page 23 and 24: The new labs shown here are used by
Page 25 and 26: FEATURES Joanne Beaton is a Fanshaw
Page 27 and 28: y Canadian Blood Services means tha
Page 29 and 30: PLAN YOUR OWN REUNION If you’ve e
Page 31 and 32: Broadcasting - Design (Fashion) Hot

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