Media releases

• Goodman School of Business receives international accolades for UN co-op program

  Tuesday, March 30, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 30 March 2021 – R0039

  A partnership between Brock University’s Goodman School of Business and the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) has earned the School a prestigious award.

  The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has recognized the partnership as part of their Innovations That Inspire initiative. The collaboration, Local Roots, Global Reach, allows students the opportunity to gain a global business perspective while addressing community issues during a co-op work term with a United Nations agency.

  Goodman is the only Canadian business school recognized this year out of 24 initiatives from around the world.

  “The Goodman School of Business has embraced the call to create positive societal impact and it is our privilege to recognize Local Roots, Global Reach among the 2021 Innovations That Inspire initiatives,” said Caryn Beck-Dudley, AACSB President and CEO.

  The program consists of a paid internship at a United Nations agency outside of Canada that is open to all Goodman undergraduate and graduate co-op students. Goodman students can work in any country that has a UN agency for an eight-month economic development work term.

  The partnership was motivated by Goodman’s desire to provide learning opportunities that focused on sustainable development, local economic growth and impacting society in meaningful ways beyond the boardroom, said Goodman Dean Andrew Gaudes.

  “I believe our school is truly contributing to a global need and that in itself is an award,” said Gaudes. “To be recognized by AACSB, a respected organization which has accredited more than 900 business schools worldwide, provides a grace note on an already beautiful piece of work.”

  Recent grad Ahmed Jawa (BBA ’20) got to experience the impact of this partnership first-hand. During his work term with the United Nations Development Program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he evaluated the success of landmine removal projects, introduced silk production back to local farmers and promoted the rapid growth of modernized industrial projects.

  The work he did not only made a significant difference in Cambodia, but also changed him as a person.

  “The experience will grow you personally more than you can think,” said Jawa, who now works as a Business Consultant at IBM. “You are never going to get a chance to work on projects that are this big and this valuable, not just for economic growth but also for the people. The societal impact changes you.”

  As placements with UN organizations are typically unpaid internships, Goodman students are paid for their work through a collaboration with Brock’s Co-op Education office and support from Goodman made possible by a legacy gift from the Goodman Family Foundation.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

  – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases

• Brock Centre for Sport Capacity hosting safe sport forum

  Monday, March 29, 2021 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 29 March 2021 – R0038

  Brock University’s Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) is hosting a virtual forum later this spring focused on dealing with abuse and harassment in Canadian sport.

  Athletes First: The Promotion of Safe Sport in Canada, is a virtual, athlete-centred national forum taking place from June 16 to 18. It is being supported by Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

  The harassment and abuse of athletes by coaches, and the lack of administrative action in these instances, has been highlighted in recent cases in the media and the courts. In response, Canadian academics and sport stakeholders have been working to develop policy that addresses maltreatment broadly and comprehensively.

  “The long-term negative ramifications of maltreatment in sport is a significant issue for athletes and leaders that needs further discussion, discourse and action at all levels,” says CSC and Associate Professor of Sport Management Julie Stevens.­ “That’s where we come in.”

  The CSC is a Brock research centre that facilitates research, student engagement, community outreach and practical support to sport organizations.

  “We are looking forward to hosting an event that will ensure athlete voices and experiences flow throughout the entire forum,” says Stevens. “We hope to bring together athletes, coaches, sport professionals, volunteers and academics from the Niagara region and across Canada for productive dialogue.”

  The three-day event will include panels and breakout sessions hosted by researchers from Brock and the University of Toronto, as well as collaborators from AthletesCAN and Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Four main themes will be explored including:

  • athlete advocacy
  • governance and policy development
  • legal ramifications
  • coaching education

  One of the hot topics to be covered is the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). The adoption and integration of the UCCMS into organizational policies and procedures will become a condition of all federally funded, national-level sport organizations on Thursday, April 1.

  “The fact that the UCCMS addresses maltreatment broadly and comprehensively is so important,” say Assistant Professor of Sport Management Michele Donnelly. “This means we are not only going to be operating with the legal thresholds for harassment and abuse, but are able to recognize and address all of the behaviours and actions that are so problematic in sport.”

  The UCCMS further defines ‘all types of conduct that inflict physical or psychological harm by a person against another person, within the sport community.’ Donnelly interprets this as the “recognition of the potential for maltreatment in all relationships within sport organizations, not only that of coach-athlete.”

  “Some facets of sport have a long history of trying to normalize questionable or racist behaviours towards athletes as ‘accepted training practices’ or as a part of ‘sport culture or legacy,’” says Donnelly. “What remains to be seen is if there are going to be challenges with the consistent implementation and enforcement of the Code nationally and then provincially/territorially and locally.”

  This, along with forum discussions on athlete advocacy and leadership development, research on harassment and abuse policy in Canadian sport and legal implications of Safe Sport will emphasize that the promotion of safe sport is a matter of urgency.

  Sport Law expert and retired Associate Professor of Sport Management, Hilary Findlay will lead the panel on legal issues. She is known for playing a significant role in system-wide sport initiatives, including the initial investigation into the creation of a dispute resolution centre for Canadian sport.

  “I’m looking forward to facilitating in-depth discussion on issues of equity and fairness, safety and risk management, contractual rights and obligations, regulatory use and misuse,” says Findlay. “These aforementioned elements are all part of the fabric of a strong and healthy sport system or one of risk and weakness. From this perspective, sport is a reflection of the broader society as a whole reflecting back onto us our values and challenges.”

  Rounding out the comprehensive forum, Assistant Professor of Sport Management and Co-Chair of the Athletes First Forum, Michael Van Bussel will share his research on Relational Risk Management as part the coach education and development breakout session.

  “Ultimately, Relational Risk Management provides sport management practitioners with a framework to build constructive relationships between athletes, coaches and administrators,” says Van Bussel. “I have developed several tools to help protect athletes, foster communication, and implement policy and I’m happy to be able to share them in the context of promoting safe sport in Canada.”

  Registration for the Athletes First: The Promotion of Safe Sport in Canada forum is now open. For more information, schedule details and announcements on panelists, visit the Centre for Sport Capacity website.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970 

  – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases