New pact ‘will change the game’ for international studies

NEWS — A new partnership is the beginning of a world in which students can move more freely in pursuit of their education, says a Thompson Rivers University professor heading up the program.

Kathleen Scherf, the academic lead for TRU programs in Europe, said an agreement with the International University Network involves three universities with multiple campuses in Germany, with similar partnerships in China and elsewhere in the future.

“The idea is to have a campus on all continents,” she said. “A key feature is to have a multi-model delivery” that includes both face-to-face and online instruction.

Among the benefits of the agreement is access by TRU students to Unna Campus in Germany starting with a nine-week course this summer.

“We have … opened admission to TRU certificate programs in tourism, social media, global competency and environmental sustainability,” said Scherf.

She said the pact with IUN will “change the game in Canada about international education.”

The agreement was signed by TRU president Alan Shaver and Christian Werner, president and CEO of the IUN.

“TRU’s academic programs are world-class; this partnership will allow us to eventually offer those programs around the world, starting with the Unna campus,” said Shaver.