Media releases

• Dual-degree opportunities part of enhanced Brock-Portsmouth partnership

  Thursday, May 01, 2025 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE – MAY 1, 2025 – R0055

  A new international agreement between Brock University in Canada and the University of Portsmouth in England is opening a world of opportunity for students and strengthening key research connections.

  The institutions came together this week to formalize a new chapter in their long-standing partnership, reaffirming their shared commitment to internationalization, academic excellence and global impact.

  Signed at Brock’s main campus on Wednesday, April 30, the agreement will see Brock and Portsmouth expand their partnership to include dual-degree offerings across various Faculties. The connection also opens the door for future research and graduate studies collaborations.

  The agreement’s first dual-degree programs will focus on sports science and management as well as computer science — areas in which both institutions demonstrate excellence. The programs are in development with the goal of welcoming their first cohort in September 2026.

  Completing three years at their home university and one year at the partner institution, students will graduate with degrees from both Brock and Portsmouth, giving them distinct academic and professional advantages as they enter the local and global job markets.

  “This partnership is one of many ways Brock is equipping students with the tools necessary to reshape the world and reimagine the future,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg. “With international experience at two world-class institutions, graduates will gain the skills and global perspective needed to excel in competitive fields and create meaningful change at home and abroad.”

  The new offerings will add to Brock’s roster of dual-degree options, which also includes a program connecting the Goodman School of Business to five leading business schools in Europe.

  “Being immersed in two academic systems spurs adaptability, enhances critical thinking and fosters a deep appreciation for both cultural and disciplinary diversity — all qualities that will see our graduates shine in their careers,” said Arja Vainio-Mattila, Brock’s Provost and Vice-President, Academic. “We’re thrilled to partner with University of Portsmouth to further enhance our rich learning opportunities while advancing efforts to bring the world to Brock and Brock to the world.”

  These new academic collaborations will give students the opportunity to grow their global networks while accessing unique facilities, such as Brock’s Functional Inclusive Training Centre  and Portsmouth’s Ravelin Sports Centre.

  “We are delighted to be partnering with Brock University, an institution that shares our commitment to academic excellence, innovation and real-world impact,” said Professor Graham Galbraith CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth. “This partnership will create new global opportunities for our students and staff and will strengthen Portsmouth’s international profile.”

  Chris Chang, Portsmouth’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Student Life), said international collaboration is “at the heart of what we do at Portsmouth.”

  “This partnership will provide our students with access to exceptional learning experiences in Canada and will allow our academics to work closely with leading researchers at Brock in fields such as health, sports science and computer science.”

  The agreement reflects Brock’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its impact and growing connections across Canada and around the world through research collaborations, knowledge mobilization, academic partnerships and exchanges. To learn more about Brock’s international partnerships, visit brocku.ca/international

   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

   *Sarah Ackles, Communications Specialist, Brock University [email protected] or 289-241-5483

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock experts available to comment on Trump’s path to a third presidential term

  Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | By Brock University

  EXPERT ADVISORY – April 29, 2025 – R0054

  With U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent launch of official “Trump 2028” merchandise, Brock University experts point to historical and recent examples of leaders who have flouted or reinterpreted laws to justify staying in office beyond term limits.

  Although the U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibits a third term for any president, Associate Professor of Political Science Pascal Lupien says this will only present an obstacle if Trump cannot gain enough popular support.

  “In Latin America, nearly every country enshrines term limits in their constitutions, but it’s quite common for presidents to remain in office despite these provisions,” he says.

  Lupien points to current sitting presidents in Venezuela, Nicaragua and El Salvador who are still in power beyond the constitutional term limits, which he credits to political manoeuvring and questionable legal tactics.

  “These include stacking the high courts with people who are more loyal to the president than to the constitution and neutering the Congress/legislature, both of which Trump has done to a certain extent,” Lupien says. “It also includes getting a significant segment of the public on board. Politicizing and taking direct control of the army is another crucial step for a leader who wishes to remain in power against the constitution.”

  Lupien further notes that the general public seems unprepared to believe that democracy could be thwarted in the U.S., “naively assuming that this kind of erosion can only occur in the Global South.” But since January 2021 and over the first months of President Trump’s second term, he says institutions have shown to be “fluid and weakened.”

  Associate Professor of Political Science Stefan Dolgert says would-be authoritarians in Italy, France, Spain and Germany in the 1920s and 1930s all engaged in “provocative actions.”  

  “The dangerous implications were not immediately perceived at the time, sometimes because of how outlandish their behaviour appeared,” he says. “Canadians and Americans need to understand that seemingly ludicrous actions by authoritarian rulers are an established path to actual despotism.”

  Dolgert adds that the launch of new “third term” apparel follows a trend visible over Trump’s political career.

  “He initially floats ideas that are flagrantly unconstitutional, then claims to have only been joking when these comments provoke legitimate outrage,” says Dolgert. “He then acts like he has been victimized by this public shaming before doubling down on the initial idea, now no longer in jest.”

  Dolgert predicts that “as with other moves Trump has made in the past 100 days, he will try to find a legal loophole” to justify a change to the Constitution and will be willing to test the case on a flimsy premise.

  Even if that fails, other dangers remain, Dolgert says.

  Seeking a third term is likely to result in massive protests and resistance from many Americans, he says, which Trump may “use as a pretext for imposing martial law and outright tyranny.”

  Still, Lupien notes a key difference between the American system and some of the Latin American nations where power has been held beyond term limits.

  “In most of Latin America, loyalty to the president, at least when the president is on the right of the spectrum, is deeply engrained in military institutions, but in the U.S., officers and soldiers swear to defend the constitution, not to obey the president,” he says. “Enlisted members do swear to obey lawful orders from the president and officers, but within the framework of the constitution and the law.”

  While Lupien believes the military obligation to refuse to follow illegal orders might be beneficial, he warns that the tide of popular opinion should not be underestimated.

  “The power of a constitution depends on the willingness of people to uphold it,” Lupien says.

  Associate Professors of Political Science Pascal Lupien and Stefan Dolgert are available for media interviews on this topic.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  *Sarah Ackles, Communications Specialist, Brock University [email protected] or 289-241-5483

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  Categories: Media releases