Students in UPEI's executive-style Master of Business Administration program will explore the topic ‘hyper-localism' at the third annual Local Marketing Challenge, Saturday, February 5 from 9 am-1 pm at Don and Marion McDougall Hall in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium.

The Local Marketing Challenge is the final project of the Marketing Management course in the MBA Program.

'Hyper-localism' refers to the emerging consumer trend known as the local market. During the event, student groups will present marketing plans for a local market opportunity that they have identified. In past years, the challenge focused on local food, but this year the topic range has been broadened to include any product or service that is targeted at the local PEI market.

Tim Carroll, associate professor at the UPEI School of Business, says, 'In marketing, we teach that businesses should follow consumer preferences instead of doing what they want to do. If local goods and services are a consumer preference, it really has the potential to change our market system.'

Seven student teams have been working diligently to identify their local market opportunities-some are strictly conceptual while others are actually in the developmental stage with local businesses. Presentations will include: Comfort Zone: A natural insect repellent; PEI Fresh Express: An online grocer; Cultural Catering: Ethnic food catering; Urban Beehives-Beekeeping; Fresh@Home: Full service food supply and delivery; Outfront Screens: Window and door screens; and North Cape Locally Grown Organic Baby Food.

All are welcome to attend the presentations and view displays from 'buy local' organizations such as Dairy Farmers of PEI, PEI Potato Board, Island Abbey Foods, Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce, PEI Business Development, and Department of Agriculture. From 11:00 to 11:30 am, ADL will host a "local food" break featuring its award-winning local cheeses and milk.

For more information, contact Grace McCourt at (902) 566-6474 or email mba@upei.ca.

Launched in September 2008, the executive-style MBA program allows students to pursue their graduate studies while they continue to work. It uses an integrated approach, peer-to-peer learning and an emphasis on developing global perspectives to prepare graduates to act as leaders and innovators in the changing business environment.

When long-time Newfoundland resident John Steffler, Canada's Parliamentary Poet during 2006-2008, gives a reading, it's certain that people in the audience will ask him to read 'That Night We Were Ravenous.'

This frolicking, sensuous poem begins with a near-disastrous encounter with a moose on a highway in Newfoundland, and ends with the couple back home devouring a feast and ravishing each other. In between, Canada's landscape, history, and culture burst across the windshield and readers' eyes in luscious, comical, menacing, and magical glory.

Steffler, one of Canada's most admired poets and prose writers, will read from his work on Tuesday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the UPEI Faculty Lounge, Main Building. From his powerful historical novel of Labrador, The Afterlife of George Cartwright, and his meditative exploration of self and seascape in The Grey Islands, to the exquisite poems which earned him the role of Canada's Poet Laureate, Steffler's story-telling and language are masterful, and are fully in evidence when he reads in his compelling voice.

This evening also features one of Canada's premier short fiction writers, Richard Cumyn. A list of his early jobs suggests rich fodder for fiction: able seaman on a Coast Guard ship, uranium prospector, researcher for Prime Minister Trudeau, and short-order cook at the Connaught rifle range west of his native Ottawa. After teaching high school in Ontario for nearly a decade, he became a full-time writer in 1991.

Cumyn's sixth and latest story collection, The Young in Their Country, reveals what author Steve Heighton calls his 'tough-minded and large-hearted' language and sensibility. Cumyn's characters are at once familiar and eerily distinct, their relationships a tender blend of heartbreak and affection. His new stories show why his work has been included in the prestigious Journey Prize Anthology and shortlisted for a National Magazine Award.

Steffler's and Cumyn's readings are hosted by the UPEI English Department, with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts. A book signing and reception will follow the reading. Admission is free.

The UPEI Department of Music presents its Super Bowl weekend 'Faculty Recital Spectacular' on Saturday, February 5 at 7:30 pm at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall. This annual recital will feature most of UPEI's performance faculty performing as soloists and chamber musicians.

Professor Frances Gray is featured prominently throughout as she will perform Ginastera's Argentinian Dances and will collaborate with tubaist Gregory Irvine performing Mendelssohn's Song Without Words and soprano Sung-Ha Shin Bouey performing from the classical repertoire.

Classical guitar player Jim Dickson, who thrilled last year's audience, may do so again with his interpretation of Vals Venesolano No. 3 by the Spanish composer Antonio Lauro. Dale Sorensen, trombone and Jacqueline Sorensen-Young, piano, will perform Pergolesi's Sinfonia. UPEI percussionist Dave Shephard will perform Reverie by Gordon Stout on the marimba.

It is anticipated that a newly formed ensemble, The UPEI Aboriginal Singers Collective, may perform as well.

The mix of traditional and contemporary concert fare is apt to appeal to the avid concert goer. Tickets are available at the door.

Today, the University of Prince Edward Island submitted an unfair labour practice complaint against the UPEI Faculty Association (FA) to the Labour Relations Board of the PEI Department of Community Services, Seniors, and Labour. It states that the Association is subverting the negotiation process by not bargaining in good faith. The University is concerned that FA negotiators have deliberately taken positions that could lead to a breakdown in negotiations, by creating an artificial impasse, failing to bargain, and failing to bring a mandate to negotiate to the table. The University is also concerned that UPEI's position is being misrepresented by the FA to its membership.

The University has held regular meetings with the FA negotiating committee since initial proposals were exchanged by the parties in early August 2010. The Faculty Association asked for conciliation on January 31.With progress being made on a number of items important to both sides, this action was seen as premature by UPEI.

The University remains committed to reaching a negotiated settlement; however it stresses that, in order for this to happen, genuine negotiations must take place.

'Recent actions of the FA have led the University to believe that the Association is breaching its obligation to sincerely attempt to reach a collective agreement,' says VP Finance and Facilities, Gary Bradshaw. 'In order to reach a successful settlement, it is essential that both teams follow accepted process, and willingness to negotiate is part of that responsibility. The filing of an unfair labour practice complaint to the PEI Labour Relations Board is regrettable but necessary.'

UPEI's priority is to protect the interests of the entire University community, including its students. It remains committed to discussions leading to a negotiated agreement with the Faculty Association, as it has done successfully with other bargaining units on campus.

The University of Prince Edward Island has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) today with three Kenyan universities: the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

The MOUs are the first step in establishing formal exchange programs and collaborative research/study opportunities between UPEI and the three African institutions.

'UPEI has had a long-standing relationship with Kenya, with many students and faculty being engaged in that country," said Dr. Tim Goddard, Dean of Education and Lead Dean-International. 'With these MOUs, we are now able to extend our relationship to include scholarly exchanges, joint research projects, and other initiatives which will partner both students and faculty from UPEI and these three important Kenyan universities.'

His Excellency Simon Nabukwesi, the Kenyan High Commissioner, who visited UPEI twice in the fall of 2010, was instrumental in organizing today's visit and bringing the three Vice-Chancellors of the Kenyan universities to PEI to sign the agreements with UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor, Wade MacLauchlan.

Nabukwesi said, 'After many meetings and talks with our friends at UPEI, I am very pleased to see this signing come to fruition. These relationships will be mutually beneficial for Canadian and Kenyan students, faculty, and researchers for years to come.'

UPEI has long had a partnership with Farmers Helping Farmers, a local NGO on PEI, and has developed strong links to a number of Kenyan communities. Students and faculty from the Atlantic Veterinary College have been involved in a number of initiatives including the establishment of a very successful dairy operation, student teachers from the Specialization in International Education program have been completing their final practicum in Kenyan schools for over ten years, and students from the School of Nursing and the Department of Family and Nutritional Science work in hospitals and community health centres.

After the signing, the Kenyan delegation of Vice-Chancellor George Magoha, University of Nairobi; Vice-Chancellor Olive Mugenda, Kenyatta University; and Vice-Chancellor Mabel Imbuga, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology met with UPEI students, staff, and faculty to explore potential program collaborations.

About the Kenyan Universities

The University of Nairobi (UoN) has a great variety of disciplines within its wide array of academic programs. These disciplines include: Humanities and Social Sciences; Natural and Mathematical Sciences; Engineering and the Built environment; Arts and Design; Computing and Informatics; Law and Business Studies; Medicine and Health Sciences; Agriculture and Food sciences; Veterinary and Animal Sciences; and Education.

Kenyatta University (KU) offers academic programs under the following Schools: Education, Pure and Applied Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Graduate School, Economics, Environmental Studies, Applied Human Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts, Agriculture and Entrepreneurship, Engineering and Technology, and Law.

The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has academic programs cutting across various disciplines including Engineering, Science, Agriculture, Information Technology, Applied Science, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Business.

Webster Centre staff invites the campus community to receive free hugs on Tuesday, February 8 when they revive a campaign started two years ago.

The 'FREE HUGS Campaign' is a social movement that began in Australia and involves individuals giving hugs to strangers in public places. The hugs are meant to be random acts of kindness to make others feel better. The Webster Centre joined the campaign in 2009 when they offered free hugs to students, staff, and faculty as shown in this Youtube video.

This year's event will take placeTuesday, February 8, 2011 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, outdoors at the centre of campus, and near the W. A. Murphy Student Centre, Kelley Memorial Building, and Main Building.

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has appointed Dr. Ann Howatt to the Sectoral Commission on Culture, Communication and Information.

Dr. Howatt is a research fellow of the Institute of Island Studies and a lecturer in the Environmental Studies program at the University of Prince Edward Island. Both an educator and conservator of cultural property, she has taught and lectured at several universities in Canada and internationally in cultural conservation, and in the fields of visual media, environmental representation, and technology.

Over the past year, Dr. Howatt has been participating as a member of an inter-university specialist advisory panel, commissioned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The panel is tasked to identify and test a methodology for mapping socio-cultural landscape values in Canada. With colleagues at UPEI and the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, she contributed to submissions to the PEI Commission on Land Use and Rural Development.

Also, she researched and co-authored Charting A Course: The PEI Heritage Study, a comprehensive study and series of recommendations for the Province of Prince Edward Island's management of its natural and cultural heritage resources.

Released by provincial department of Innovation and Advanced Learning.

A new educational partnership will preserve UPEI's status as Prince Edward Island's only university while allowing the Province of Prince Edward Island to host the Homburg Group Global Education Project's continuing plans for real estate focused university education to the province, says Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning.

'The memorandum of understanding signed today commits government to working with Homburg and the University of Prince Edward Island in order to bring world-class, university accredited real estate education to the Island,' said the minister.

Homburg will establish a real estate university, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with academic partners around the world. The Homburg Institute, an institute for research and corporate information, will host the summer schools of Homburg University, Switzerland, on Prince Edward Island.
UPEI and Homburg will work together to develop po ssible avenues of cooperation including: exchanges of students and academic staff; joint conferences, training and seminars; and collaboration on research, consulting and program development.

Jim Randall, Vice President Academic at UPEI, said that, 'The University has established an international reputation for high quality research and academic programming. With this agreement, we look forward to working with the Homburg Group and the province to establish collaborative research and study opportunities in the area of real estate that will be of benefit to Islanders.'

The memorandum of understanding is valid for a period of five years. Future partnerships and ventures between UPEI and Homburg will be governed by their own agreements.

'Homburg is launching a unique global educational institution, with simultaneous development in Zurich, a world financial centre, and Prince Edward Island, the birthplace of Confederation. Along with an international network of academi c partnerships, Homburg can provide the world's best learning opportunities to students as it leverages its 42 years of experience in real estate to build academic excellence,' says Richard Homburg, Executive Chairman of the Homburg Group of Companies.

The new arrangement will not require changes to the University Act.

'This memorandum recognizes the central role the University of Prince Edward Island has played and will continue to play in higher education on the Island. At the same time, we are opening the door to students from around the world and establishing an important centre of research and study in the real estate industry,' said Minister Campbell. 'I congratulate both parties for their vision and for their willingness to cooperate.'

Catherine Fournier, a second year student enrolled in the Business Co-operative Education program at UPEI, is keen to contribute to the success of Wiebel Aerospace over the next few months. Fournier is completing her final work term in the co-op program as the Marketing Coordinator for the emerging aerospace company. Wiebel specializes in the manufacturing of precision machined components for aircraft landing gear and flight controls and currently employs 29 people at their facility in Summerside.

Fournier is responsible for assisting the company find new customers and new avenues of business. She will also work on bringing a fresh look to Wiebel's existing website and create some new marketing materials for the company. Fournier began her work term at Wiebel on January 17, 2011, where she will be employed for 16 weeks.

'We thought the Marketing Coordinator position would be an ideal experience for a UPEI Business Co-op student and we will certainly benefit from Catherine's fresh insights and enthusiasm,' said Charleen Hanlan, Customer Service Manager at Wiebel Aerospace. Hanlan added, 'The funding has allowed Wiebel to dedicate resources to a priority project within the company. Our experience with the UPEI Business Co-op program has been a win-win opportunity.'

Wiebel is one of numerous private sector businesses benefitting from funding made available through the Business and Science co-op programs at UPEI. The project, funded by Skills PEI through the Canada-PEI Labour Market Agreement, has developed quality work terms for students in the private sector. The funds are used in the form of wage incentives - up to 50 per cent of a co-op student's hourly wage - for approved private sector businesses on PEI. Employers are eligible to receive this assistance for up to 16 weeks.

Co-operative education offers an integrated educational program, combining academic studies with practical work experiences outside the university environment. The programs are founded on the principle that students apply theoretical knowledge from course studies and return to the classroom with related professional experience. At UPEI, ‘co-op' is available for students enrolled in Business, Physics, and Computer Science. Students complete four 12-16 week work terms during the May-August, September- December, and January-April periods.

Anyone interested in more information can contact Jessica Gillis, Project Coordinator of the Private Sector Business and Science Co-op Development Program, at (902) 894-2830 or jpgillis@upei.ca.

From Atlantic University Sport

UPEI Panthers swimmer Kaylynne Parkes was named the inaugural recipient of the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award for the sport of swimming at the recent 2011 Subway AUS Swimming Championship luncheon held at Dalhousie University.

The Atlantic University Sport Student-Athlete and Community Service Award has been among the major awards handed out for other AUS sports in recent years, and recognizes achievement in athletics, academics and community involvement. This year marks the first time the award has been included in the post-season compliment of awards for all sports, and Parkes is the first recipient from AUS swimming.

"With so many of our AUS student-athletes excelling in the classroom, in their respective sports and in the community, it is appropriate that we honour these individuals in all of our sports," said Phil Currie, Executive Director of Atlantic University Sport. "Kaylynne is a great ambassador for her sport, UPEI and Atlantic University Sport and we are proud to be able to recognize her with this inaugural award."

Parkes, a fourth-year student at the University of Prince Edward Island, is a native of Mississauga, ON, and is currently completing a Dietetic Internship. She has achieved Dean's List status at UPEI in each of the past three years and has also been recognized as a CIS academic all-Canadian.

Over the past year, Kaylynne has been fortunate enough to have had many volunteer opportunities, including the chance to travel to Kenya for three months to volunteer with local women's groups and five different elementary and high schools. While in Kenya, she worked with the schools to improve their school gardens and consequently their school lunch programs, making the meals served to students more nutritious. She also worked with women's groups to educate the women on methods to improve family nutrition and improve complementary feeding practices.

Since returning home, Kaylynne has been able to use her experience to educate community members about food security issues and their link to agriculture through sharing her experiences with various groups through formal presentations, from students and faculty on campus, to various church groups, and a variety of other community organizations.

Kaylynne also volunteers with school breakfast programs in Charlottetown, with the Prince Edward Island canoe/kayak program and within the UPEI Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences.

Parkes will be the AUS nominee for the CIS Student-Athlete Community Service Award later this month at the 2011 CIS Championship, February 24-26 at the University of Calgary.

Parkes along with fellow graduating UPEI student-athletes, Mikhala Brinklow-Mcknight and Carrie Mills, were also recognized with a gift from the host organizing committee at the luncheon.