Distance no barrier for learners. (Training & Education).Dedication, determination, willingness and sacrifices are key elements to realizing goals. Bruce Caldwell Bruce Caldwell (February 8, 1906 - February 15, 1959) is a former outfielder and first baseman for the Cleveland Indians and Brooklyn Dodgers as well as an American football running back in the NFL for the New York Giants , manager of the production centre at Ontario Power Generation Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is a public company whose shares are wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. It is responsible for approximately 70% of the electricity generation in the province of Ontario, Canada [1]. , set a goal to get his masters of business administration (MBA MBA abbr. Master of Business Administration Noun 1. MBA - a master's degree in business Master in Business, Master in Business Administration ) and after four years of persevering per·se·vere intr.v. per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing, per·se·veres To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement. over odds stacked against him, he along with three others from northwestern Ontario Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. achieved that dream last year. Having a full-time job, juggling a family life, meeting timelines and requirements and dealing with unexpected pitfalls, Caldwell took to the podium last June at Laurentian University Laurentian University, main campus at Sudbury, Ont., Canada; bilingual, coeducational; founded 1960. Among its faculties are those in astronomy, commerce, computer science, education, engineering, law, mathematics, music, native studies, nursing, physics, and social in Sudbury to receive his degree. Caldwell, who resides in Thunder Bay Thunder Bay, city (1991 pop. 113,946), SW Ont., Canada, on Thunder Bay inlet of Lake Superior. The city was created in 1970 by the amalgamation of the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur and two adjoining townships. , discovered Lakehead University Lakehead University, at Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada; founded 1946 as Lakehead Technical Institute. It achieved university status in 1965. Lakehead has faculties of arts and science, business, education, engineering, forestry, library and information studies, nursing, had no MBA program so he pursued it through distance learning from Laurentian University. "There was no other route to get my masters of business administration and distance education seemed like an interesting way to learn," says Caldwell. "When you are an engineer you have two career paths; you either stay in the technical field or you go into management, and I knew management was the direction I wanted to go," says Caldwell. "I knew a MBA would be a nice thing to have on my resume for that reason." "Besides getting the degree, the best part was the relationships I formed with the people in Thunder Bay who were also taking the program with me," says Caldwell. "I was blessed by being involved with some sharp people, and we helped each other along the way." Caldwell liked the learning method and valued the technology involved. "I saw that the technology would be useful in my professional life." Distance education has been growing for many years and is gaining strength with every graduate. "There is no question distance education is here to stay," says Debra Betty, vice-president of Contact North in Sudbury for the northeast region. "It is an enhancement process to any learning and is available to anyone in small communities." The biggest trend in distance education right now is enrolment popularity. Contact North is looking at a 43 per cent increase for just its fall 2003 daytime classes. "It is a significant and dramatic increase over last year's 1.27 per cent increase," says Betty. Distance education is gaining in popularity among post-secondary institutions. "I think more institutions are looking to increase their catchment areas and they know they can do it through the Contact North network," says Betty. "With distance education the institutions are not limited by a catchment area." Laurentian University is celebrating 30 years of distance education service. "It really brings the classroom to the learner," says Bettina Brockerhoff-Macdonald, program manager in the Centre of Continuing Education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). at Laurentian University. "It gives people the flexibility to keep working and update their education." Currently there are 1,387 part-time students and 1,445 full-time students enrolled with distance education programs at Laurentian. |
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