Articles by author: Brock University

• New Brock plan will cover tuition for international PhD students

  Thursday, February 08, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 8 February 2018 – R00028

  Moving to further deepen its robust research scene by attracting more global scholars, Brock University is increasing international doctoral fellowships to match the tuition costs for international students who are enrolled in a PhD program.

  The announcement comes just weeks after Brock said it will freeze tuition for international students in research-based master’s and PhD programs. The new initiatives take effect May 1.

  Officials say the moves are part of a strategy to broaden the scope of world-class research at Brock while creating an enriched campus experience that better prepares all students to succeed in a global career landscape.

  “Our own recruitment efforts tell us that some of the best young minds in various countries would love to pursue their graduate studies at a North American institution,” said Diane Dupont, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies at Brock.

  “It is known that students who earn graduate degrees often settle in the country where they studied, so attracting the best and brightest represents a great intellectual gain for Niagara.”

  Jamie Mandigo, Brock’s Vice-Provost for Enrolment Management and International, said a large proportion of overseas doctoral students are attracted by the options they have to advance their careers with world-renowned researchers and in state-of-the-art facilities such as Brock’s Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex.

  “Increasing the number of exceptional young scholars who attend Brock is not just an investment in their own careers, it’s an investment in the strength of the University, the Niagara region, and the country,” said Mandigo.

  “Bringing the next generation of researchers onto our campus to pursue their doctoral studies not only reflects our ongoing commitment to cutting-edge research, but also to the scientific pursuit of ideas and knowledge that crisscross international boundaries and borders.”

  Brock currently has 27 international students enrolled in doctoral studies and would like to see this number increase in all Faculties that offer PhD programs.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

  Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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  Categories: Media releases

• New Brock research examines how impacts of sporting events are measured

  Wednesday, February 07, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 7 February 2018 – R00027

  The Jerry McGuire-inspired phrase “show me the money” may have been a hit on the big screen, but determining if and how sporting events benefit communities in real life goes beyond calculating the financial bottom line.

  New Brock University research says communities’ perceptions of the ways these events impact their social life and physical environment give policy makers and organizers a more complete picture of whether or not to host them.

  “While economic-impact studies can be considered a valuable tool for evaluating the overall potential of an event, it should not be a leading determinant in the overall decision-making process,” says the latest policy brief by the Niagara Community Observatory (NCO), which was released Wednesday, Feb. 7.

  “With a trend towards ensuring positive social impacts in a community and limited negative environmental impacts, it is increasingly important that those responsible for deciding on event support add more evaluation tools to their ‘toolbox,’” according to the brief, produced by Brock’s Centre for Sport Capacity.

  The brief presented a case study of the 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the national women’s curling championship held in February 2017 at the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines.

  Sport Management master’s student Chris Charlebois collected data from surveys that asked attendees to agree or disagree with 22 positive and 18 negative statements about the tournament’s economic, social and environmental impacts.

  Examples of statements included:

  • increased community development investments
  • improved image of St. Catharines
  • increased hardship for finding parking
  • increased the amount of litter and waste

  Charlebois and co-author Julie Stevens, Associate Professor of Sport Management and Director of the Centre for Sport Capacity, calculated the results of the 251 completed surveys.

  They found social factors were highest for perceived positive impact.

  “Perceptions are important for politicians and other decision makers,” says the policy brief, titled “More than Money: Leveraging the Benefits of Sport Hosting in Niagara.”

  “Local residents who believe an event will boost the image of their city provide more cultural opportunities, increase interaction among citizens, or promote healthier living will often be more inclined to support investments into the attraction of sport events.”

  Stevens says it’s important to factor in what she calls the “people legacy” of an event.

  “When you have individuals engaged in your community through a sporting event, there is a tendency for people to feel more satisfied with their everyday living in a region and to be more willing to engage again in the future, especially when that experience makes them feel included and part of the community,” she says.

  Although major events such as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts receive a lot of attention, Stevens says the “bread and butter for the Niagara region when it comes to sport tourism is everyday community sport club or association tournaments that are hosted every week of the year.”

  “It’s those clubs and associations that are primarily run by volunteers that truly need the support and the help. An event-hosting strategy needs to target them just as much as the big events,” she says.

  The report recommends a regional group be formed to develop a sport-hosting strategy that spans the region’s 12 municipalities, and that those involved in sport tourism “collectively define and effectively track sport event outcomes.”

  The brief also summarizes the economic impact of local, national and international sport events on the Niagara economy.

  “This brief is a conversation starter,” says NCO Director Charles Conteh. “It’s about re-thinking our measurement of the impact of sport. It’s a paradigm shift; we’re going to challenge and shift how we understand, appreciate, measure and evaluate the impact of sport in our community.”

  Wednesday’s launch of the policy brief comes at a pivotal time, with Niagara region set to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games. In Canada, sport tourism is said to be the fastest-growing segment of the tourism industry.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases