Education

Winnipeg Free press - saturDaY, December 6, 2014 11 CANADIANMENNONITEUNIVERSITY cmu.ca DiscoverCMU ��������������������������� ������������������ Faith-filledCommunity UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE RURAL. ACADEMIC. COMMUNITY. EARNYOURB.A. BiblicalStudies&PracticalTheology Arts&Sciences ProfessionalStudies 10CollegeCrescent Otterburne,Manitoba,Canada,R0A1G0 Phone:(204)433-7488or(800)668-7768 ProvidenceUC.ca By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press A unique graduate program at the University of Winnipeg bridges the gap between scientists and policy-makers. The Master of Science in Bioscience, Technology and Public Policy is designed to provide an excellent basis for a PhD in biology and related fields. Graduates are qualified for employment in industry, the public sector, and academia. "Scientists want to test hypotheses and have a hard time reaching a final conclusion because you learn as a scientist to keep digging deeper and deeper," said Annette Trimbee, President and Vice-Chancellor, adding that policy-makers need end results. "Graduates who are thinking about policy from the beginning are better prepared to inform important decisions." David Datzkiw is a student in the Bioscience program. He says he immediately noticed a difference between this new approach to learning as compared to traditional science studies. "I first started with the honours program in my undergrad, but I never saw the hands-on aspect to it. It lacked the critical thinking there would be in a real lab," he said. "Some of the research we're doing (in the Bioscience program) can realistically translate into treatments for people and save people's lives." One of the student research projects involves developing a better early-detection method for colon cancer. "The technology is always advancing, and thinking about technology continually helps students in their bioscience research," Trimbee said. "This program provides students with insight into policy-making." The Bioscience program attracts a large number of international students from all over the world, she adds. "This program offers such a nice, close-knit environment. It reduces that initial feeling of being overwhelmed for international students," said Datzkiw. "In the program we get to interact with graduate students from all sorts of different paths." A very different environment creates a very different type of graduate, Trimbee explains. "These graduate programs punch above their weight. These graduates will have opportunities to provide a bigger impact than those coming out of traditional programs," she said. "A lot of our students are interested in social justice, and how science relates to humanity." Graduate studies programs are one of the fastest growing areas at the University of Winnipeg. They currently have over 500 students enrolled in graduate programs. The Master of Arts in Cultural Studies offers two specializations, including Texts and Cultures. This course-based MA program is intended to give students an excellent grounding in cultural, literary, textual, and visual studies. It's also ideal preparation for students who want to pursue further graduate work at the PhD level in English and Cultural Studies. Students interested in careers in secondary-school teaching, publishing, management, marketing, and other careers in communications and cultural industries will benefit from the program as well, says Mavis Reimer, Dean of Graduate Studies. "This program gives students an opportunity to think about culture — text, visual,and literature — all in one program, which is the way most of us actually take in culture," Reimer said. "We don't just read novels in isolation without watching Netflix." The Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance is a multidisciplinary program grounded in an understanding of indigenous peoples' values, principles, and philosophies. The university strives to offer a supportive environment for students of all backgrounds, while modelling and fostering the highest standards of excellence inside and outside of the classroom. "This program really tries to see through the lens of indigenous people's values and philosophies," said Reimer. An international focus prepares students to take leadership positions in the private and public sectors, to create and influence policy, to creatively approach development and governance from an indigenous perspective, and to promote the visibility and recognition of sovereign indigenous peoples and communities in Canada and abroad. "We've had graduates who went through this program become prominent leaders in their communities," Reimer said. "This program is having a fairly significant impact in local and national communities." The university has many other graduate programs available, including a Master of Arts in Theology; Master of Marriage and Family Therapy; Master of Arts in History; Master in Public Administration; Master of Arts in Religious Studies; and the Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies. Many are offered in partnership with the University of Manitoba. For more information, please see their website at www. uwinnipeg.ca/graduate-studies. ● The University of Winnipeg offers numerous unique master degree programs. From left, Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt (Master's in Development Practice, Indigenous Development), Mamneet Manghera (BioScience, Technology & Public Policy) and Quinn Webber (BioScience, Technology & Public Policy). Photo by Naniece Ibrahim u of W graduate programs take noveL approach "The MDP program has helped me to think about development differently," said Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt. "A skill that will help me regardless of the career path in which I find myself in." "UWinnipeg has been excellent," said Mamneet Manghera. "I have learned essential research skills, which has helped lay down a strong foundation for me and will aid me in pursuing a PhD." "I've had an excellent experience in the bioscience program," said Quinn Webber. "The high quality of research in our department has allowed me to achieve the goals that I set out for myself prior to beginning the program."

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