Whistler, BC — A rising star, innovators, and two lifetime leaders in the international education sector were honoured last night for their work at the 13th annual BCCIE International Education Awards. Hosted by the BC Council for International Education (BCCIE), the awards recognize outstanding achievement in the field of international education in British Columbia.

Winners represent a diverse cross-section of practitioners whose work has helped position BC as a leader in attracting and supporting international students and in delivering innovative global partnerships.

The awards coincide with BC’s first International Education Week which has brought together more than 400 educators, administrators, and diplomatic figures from across BC, Canada, and internationally, to Whistler, BC.

2022 BCCIE International Education Awards winners:

Outstanding Program in International Education Award
Royal Roads University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and ITESO, the Jesuit University of Guadalajara, for their ongoing academic partnership that includes collaboration between students and professors at both institutions as well as new modes of international learning. Eugene Thomlinson, Director, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at RRU, and Alfredo Brambila, Coordinator, Hospitality and Tourism Program at ITESO, received the award on behalf of their institutions.

Rising Star in International Education Award
Qin Xue, International Student Advisor, UBC Okanagan, for her work supporting and advocating for international students at UBC Okanagan as well as developing intercultural initiatives and implementing advising practices that respond to the needs of UBCO students.

Excellence in International Education Marketing Award
Capilano University Marketing & Digital Experience and Centre for International Experience for its “Where Learning Leads to Impact” campaign which was designed to demonstrate the university’s engagement and response to global issues and the opportunities that can be created by engaged, practice-based learning. Chris Bottrill, Director, International, and Carley Fitzpatrick, Marketing and Communications Specialist, received the award on behalf of CapU.

International Education Distinguished Leadership Award
Gordon Shuster, Director of International Education, Okanagan College, for his commitment as an international educator including developing, managing, and operating the international education department at Okanagan College, and whose determined leadership has had a lasting effect on BC’s international education sector.

International Education Lifetime Achievement Award
Donna Hooker, President, M Square Media, for her participation, leadership, and dedication to international student services and domestic internationalization including creating an expanded international education operation at Vancouver Community College, overseeing Capilano University’s Centre for International Experience, and most recently forging public-private-partnerships across Canada with M Square Media.

Quote:

Randall Martin, Executive Director, BC Council for International Education

“For more than a decade BCCIE’s International Education Awards have honoured the hard work and talent of our colleagues in the international education sector. We are thrilled to recognize the outstanding work of this year’s winners who continually go above and beyond in furthering international education initiatives in BC, Canada, and across the world.”