Feature Article

 

Arrive Inspired. Leave Prepared.

The Donald School of Business supports students, business success and downtown Red Deer.

RDC’s Donald School of Business will enhance the focus on student and local business needs when it relocates downtown in September 2011. “The College has an obligation to meet the learning needs of all central Albertans,” says RDC President Joel Ward, “and to make a strong statement that we mean business.”

The Donald School of Business offers both credit and non-credit business programs that range from degree completion to one-day workshops.

In addition to the J.B. Quinn Centre for Corporate Training, Continuing Education business programming will also be offered at the Millennium Centre Campus, in the heart of Red Deer’s business core. RDC is developing a range of new offerings to meet the needs of central Alberta businesses. “Lunch & Learn” and “Just After Business” seminars, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and increased work experience learning opportunities are just a few of the opportunities being developed.

In the neighbourhood

“There are many advantages to a downtown location,” says Joanne Packham, Dean, Donald School of Business and Human Services. By locating the Donald School downtown, the College is signaling the desire to broaden its relationship with the community. “We will not only focus our attention on for-profit business,” she says, “but we will also deepen our relationship with the non-profit sector.” Students will have opportunities to make greater connections with business and community organizations in the downtown core – becoming accustomed and playing an actual role in the daily ins and outs of the Red Deer working world.

RDC has always offered practical, applied projects in the business program. Plans are underway to enhance this delivery by providing students with opportunities to work directly with business on real issues the business may be experiencing. Packham is also looking at strategies to bring students together from other programs within the College to work on projects. For example, plans include linking business students with trades students in the Centre for Innovation & Manufacturing to work on projects involving businesses that want to take their design ideas to the next stage.

“We see tremendous opportunities for business students to add value through activities such as business plan writing and marketing plan development,” says Packham.

As the College population grows, this puts space on campus at a premium. The move downtown will alleviate some of the pressure. “By going downtown, the space we leave behind on campus can be re-purposed,” Packham says. “The move is a big logistical challenge, but we are addressing those challenges and people are excited to tackle them.” Over the summer, she worked with members of her team to develop a plan that includes a number of working groups.

Did you know? The City of Red Deer has a regular bus route from Sorenson Station, across the street from Millennium Centre, that runs to the main RDC campus every 30 minutes?

Real-world business learning

For students, a downtown setting offers a new delivery model towards more collaborative project-based learning. Simply put, less classroom and more real-world awareness. For the downtown, RDC’s strong support will make significant contributions to its redevelopment.

“The new space is being designed in such a way to accommodate a more active learning format,” Packham says. “This will allow us to create a learning environment that is practical and integrated, with assignments and opportunities to use the theory being taught.” In the longer term – a number of years away – RDC will consider constructing a building for the Donald School on campus or in the Riverlands Redevelopment Area. 

Focus on entrepreneurs

President Ward is keen to welcome entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneur-in-Residence program will feature Jack and Joan Donald as the first entrepreneurs in residence. “The Donalds will make themselves available and we’ve a number of community leaders lined up – VPs of banks, stock brokers and local business owners. All will come in to share their leadership experiences.” 

Leadership experience builds credibility, and Ward sees value in proving that RDC can provide leaders to work in those industries.

Did you know? In October 2007, RDC announced the naming of the College’s first school in recognition of Jack and Joan Donald’s ongoing and generous support of RDC.

To find out more or to get involved, contact Joanne Packham at 403.357.3692 or joanne.packham@rdc.ab.ca.

Photo (L to R): Jack Donald and Joan Donald