International students make Moncton home
2012-06-25 16:04:52

Recent graduates Weiwei Zou (‘11) and Yazhe “Vera” Jing (‘12) travelled from China to Canada to study at Mount Allison. After completing their Commerce degrees, both landed jobs in Moncton, NB and have decided to call Canada home on a longer-term basis.

“Working in Canada after graduation was always in my plan," says Jing. “After studying and living in this country for four years, I would like to experience more. The most important thing is I now have the ideal job that I wanted.”

Jing has joined the Leadership Development Program at Fairmont Raffles Hotel International, Global Reservation Center in Moncton, which will prepare her for a leadership role in reservations at a Fairmont hotel.

Zou, who began working with accounting firm KPMG in Moncton last year, says the people are the best part about living in New Brunswick.

“You can chat casually with just about anyone and ask for help or directions when you need it. As long as you are willing to communicate, you will easily find a home here,” says Zou.

More than 10 per cent of Mount Allison’s 2,600-student population is international, coming from approximately 50 different countries around the world. The International Centre, located at the heart of campus in the Wallace McCain Student Centre, provides international students with unique support from application to arrival and throughout their four years.

“University is a big transition for all students, but especially for those coming from other countries,” says Ron Byrne, vice-president, international and student affairs. “The small, safe, and supportive Mount Allison community really embraces students from all countries and cultures and ensures that they have the best overall experience possible.”

A new program, The Graduation Preparation Series, has been designed to help senior-level international students plan and prepare for their final year at Mount Allison, as well as to prepare them for their life as a new graduate in a professional working environment. The program has been jointly funded by an international alumnus and by provincial government support.

Jing was one of the first graduates from this program, which includes training sessions and a paid internship on campus. She says the program is very beneficial for international students and even helped her directly get her job.

“The program provides all the ‘must know’ information for international students, such as the visa, work permit, and immigration application. It also gave me the chance to really think about what I'm good at, what I need to work on, and what I want to do in the future,” says Jing.

Zou excelled at Mount Allison. She was awarded several “highest GPA” awards in Commerce and also won the Maple Leaf Foods Case Competition with her student team. She says it was a combination of her academics and extracurriculars that really prepared her for the workforce.

“I learned teamwork and analytical skills through class presentations and case competitions, but I also gained important experience through campus jobs, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities, which have equipped me with strong interpersonal skills, including cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity,” says Zou.

But it is Mount Allison’s small campus and close-knit community that really made the difference for Zou.

“Mount Allison was a great place to learn. The safe, close-knit feel of Mount A and the Sackville community made it a great place to live. I loved the spectacularly beautiful campus, the welcoming campus residences, and the friendships that will last a lifetime,” she says.

Jing says although the transition to a new culture and language was difficult, the Mount Allison community made it a lot easier.

“I feel like everybody is tied together. There are always opportunities to meet up with friends and every professor knows you and actually calls you by name in their class or around campus,” says Jing. “It gives a unique sense of belonging and security that a large city couldn’t provide.”

With four years of education at Mount Allison behind her and a year in the workforce, Zou encourages international students to focus on more than just academics while at Mount Allison.

“Start your life at Mount Allison with the sprit and courage to challenge yourself, and to make friends with people from all over the world.”

Jing agrees.

“I believe the most important thing for international students is gaining different life experiences, not necessarily the 4.3 GPA. I tried so many new things and made many new friends in my first year. It was definitely the most happy time in my life.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Weiwei Zou (left) with President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Campbell at Convocation and Yazhe “Vera” Jing (right).