During a month, 28 students of the International Business career of the Economy faculty from University of Colima and 25 of the career of Business Administration of the University of Algoma, Canada, work in combined teams to develop marketing strategies that support the economic strengthening from the Canadian city of Saul Ste. Marie, behind the pandemic by Covid.
This collaboration is possible because both universities participate in the program of Collaborative Intercultural Learning Online (COIL). This activity will be coordinated by CityStudio from Vancouver, Canada, an innovation center that brings together city officials with students, teachers and the community, “to co-create experimental projects that make this city more sustainable, livable, joyful and inclusive,” according to its website .
It was created in 2011 to accelerate sustainability in higher education and provide students with direct opportunities to work in and with the city on urban challenges.
This Friday (22), during the formalization of said collaboration, carried out online, Dr. Christian Jorge Torres Ortiz Zermeño said that “educational institutions are called to promote the transformation of our environment, adding capacities and consolidating alliances that allow us to offer solid training with a global perspective and a relevant, inclusive, sustainable and quality approach.”
He commented that the participation of students and teachers is significant in this activity, as it will respond to a real and urgent need of society, such as the economic reactivation after the passage of the Covid-19: “Their intervention will give them an enriching experience and will show the benefits that solidarity cooperation and the sum of skills in problem solving bring.”
Finally, he commented that as a University, “we ensure our enthusiastic and responsible participation in this proposal, as well as in new options for collaboration and academic exchange that promote the development of young people in training and promote social and productive improvement “.
When taking the floor, the academic Eunjung Riauka, Coordinator of Global Linkage and Mobility at the University of Algoma, said that she was excited to carry out this project with the UdeC: “We hope that, after the pandemic situation normalizes, the students will have the opportunity to travel and meet each other” .
For its part, Taylor Jaehrling, CityStudio coordinator, pointed out that “this project seeks to bring together the city council, the University of Algoma and its students, to seek solutions to the problems the city faces due to the post-pandemic ravages.”
Right away, Istvan Imre, Academic Dean of the University of Algoma, said that these projects are an opportunity to create multicultural networks between students and the municipality of Sault Ste. Marie: “They give the opportunity to have experiential spaces that provide them with experiences and learning.” What’s more, Travis Anderson, Director of Tourism and Community Services and Tom Vair, Deputy Administrative Director of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, said they were excited about the participation of students from both educational institutions in this project.
Students Jocelyne Carrillo and Ryan Fonte highlighted the importance of this project for students seeking an international profile: “They help build and strengthen relationships between those involved and give the opportunity to connect with people who are not in your context.”
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