In the heavily populated and culturally diverse country of India, providing equal access to basic education to all children is a major challenge. Across the subcontinent, 90 per cent of India's estimated 40 million children aged four-16 years with physical and mental disabilities are out of school. On February 27, the government of India took a significant step forward in the movement to include more disabled children in the regular education system when it launched a new curriculum model entitled "A Whole School Approach to Inclusion," published by Education World.

One of the two researchers who developed the new curriculum was Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice President of Academic Development from the University of Prince Edward Island. She defines inclusive education as "every child learning together in his/her neighbourhood school. All children are welcomed in the school and all children learn together in the regular classroom."

Dr. Timmons travelled to New Delhi to attend the launch of "A Whole School Approach to Inclusion," which took place during a major international conference called North-South Dialogue III: Towards a Global Alliance that began on February 27 and runs until March 4.

"This curriculum took five years to develop. It provides guidelines for teachers to work with families and instructional strategies that focus on developing a classroom that welcomes all children," says Dr. Timmons.

Dr. Timmons has been working for the past five years as Lead Consultant for Training with the National Resource Centre for Inclusion, India (NRCI). The National Resource Centre for Inclusion has been supported through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Roeher Institute, Toronto. She has carried out her extensive research and curriculum development work in cooperation with Dr. Mithu Alur, Principal Coordinator, India, of the NRCI. Dr. Timmons' study of inclusive education in India has involved 3,000 children in 53 schools. The result is a detailed Code of Practice manual that outlines the important steps that must be taken by staff, children, families, and heads of schools to make it possible for disabled children to be accepted and to be successful. The document also includes numerous case studies that describe successful inclusive education practices in India.

A historic landmark in the evolution for disabled people in India took place in 1995 when the Persons with Disability Act was passed to promote the integration of disabled children into normal schools. Since then, the National Resource Centre for Inclusion has been committed to creating "the how of inclusion." The methodology framework researched and developed by Dr. Timmons and her colleagues is an important first step in accomplishing that mission.

In addition to her work as Vice President Academic Development at the University of Prince Edward Island, Dr, Timmons carries out research in family literacy and knowledge translation. She is presently working on a program to learn more about Aboriginal children's perceptions of health and education.

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A third-year business student at the University of Prince Edward Island was recognized recently by the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation. The Foundation awarded Matthew O'Halloran a top-level in-course scholarship valued at $10,000 over two years. Only 100 Tier 1 awards are given out each year across the country.

"These excellence awards are both an investment in the future of our country and a way of recognizing some exceptional Canadians. The Foundation's millennium excellence award laureates come from many different backgrounds and have lots of different interests, yet they all share an ability to inspire those around them through their achievements, their leadership and their dedication," said Gand#233;rard Veilleux, chairman of the Foundation's Board of Directors.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation is a private and independent organization created by an act of Parliament in 1998. It encourages Canadian students to strive for excellence in their post-secondary studies.

William E. "Bill" Andrew, a 1973 Engineering graduate of UPEI, was installed on March 6 as the University's seventh Chancellor. He is President of Penn West Petroleum Ltd., the fifth largest independent oil and gas company in Canada. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

A native of Milton, PEI, he now resides in Calgary but he and his wife, Denise have many continuing attachments to Prince Edward Island. They have a home in Stanley Bridge and, together with Bill's brothers, Brian and Rollin, they co-own Meridian Farms in Milton where they stable standardbred horses. Andrew also runs a successful horse breeding ranch in Alberta.

Bill Andrew has been active in many community and philanthropic initiatives. He has been a trustee of the Grace Women's Health Centre, President of the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association, a director of Standardbred Canada, and a fundraising leader for Alberta Children's Hospital, United Way of Calgary, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and Woods Home-EXIT Program.

The new Chancellor is a founder of the Calgary group Friends of UPEI, which supports 14 students annually with scholarships to study at UPEI. He and his wife have also created a new scholarship endowment at UPEI for students in Education and Engineering.

William Andrew takes over from well-known philanthropist and journalist, Norman Webster C.M., B.A., M.A., D.C.L. who served as Chancellor from 1996 to 2004. Previous chancellors were:

The Honourable Thane A. Campbell, C.C., M.A., LL.D.- May 14, 1970

Gustave Gingras, C.C., M.D., F.R.S.A., LL.D., F.R.C.P.(c)- May 12, 1974

David Macdonald Stewart, C.M., C.St.J., K.L.J., F.R.S.A., F.H.S.(c), Hon. LL.D., Hon. D.B.A.

- October 1, 1982

The Honourable Gordon L. Bennett, O.C., B.Sc., M.Sc., LL.D., D.C.L.- March 9, 1985

Doris H. Anderson, O.C., B.A., LL.D.- October 24, 1992

The University of Prince Edward Island and Holland College have teamed up again this year to host Labour Market Expo 2005, a career fair that gives youth an opportunity to get the latest information on career trends, employment opportunities, and educational choices. The Expo will take place at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre at UPEI on March 16-17, from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on both days.

Labour Market Expo 2005 is funded by the Canada/Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement. In partnership with UPEI and Holland College, this event is being hosted to help students and graduates who are looking for employment, as well as career, entrepreneurial, and labour market information. Youth have the opportunity to meet with employers to find out career trends and future job possibilities. Students will have an opportunity to network with exhibitors in their fields of interest and find out about educational options that are available to them.

The Expo provides employers with a unique approach to recruit full-time, part-time and summer employees. It provides access to students and youth with various educational backgrounds. The exhibitors can also network with colleagues and exchange ideas.

Labour Market Expo is free of charge to exhibitors and to anyone who attends. Free transportation will be provided on both March 16 and 17. A bus will be departing Holland College, Summerside at 12:00 pm to the Prince Edward Hotel and returning at 3:30 pm. A van will depart from the Souris Holland College Centre at 12:00 pm to the Prince Edward Hotel and return at 3:00pm, and a shuttle bus will run between the Atlantic Hospitality Institute and Holland College Charlottetown Centre to the UPEI Sports Centre from 1:00pm until 4:30pm. In addition, free parking is available in the MacLauchlan Arena parking lot at UPEI.

Individuals or institutions interested in taking part in this event should contact Stephanie Mossman at 902-566-0792 or by email smossman@upei.ca, or visit www.upei.ca/lme

John Ibbitson, one of Canada's foremost writers on political affairs, will give a public lecture at UPEI on March 30 entitled, "Regional Challenges in a Six-City Canada." Ibbitson has been a political columnist for The Globe and Mail since 1999. He is recognized for setting the standard for political analysis across the country.

Ibbitson joined The Globe and Mail after a decade of writing on municipal and provincial issues for Southam newspapers. He has been a columnist for The Citizen and The National Post. Since August 2002 he has been the Washington Bureau Chief for The Globe and Mail. He is also the acclaimed author of two books on Ontario politics: Promised Land: Inside the Mike Harris Revolution (1997, Prentice Hall) and Loyal No More: Ontario's Struggle for a Separate Destiny (HarperCollins 2001.) John Ibbitson's newest political work, to be published this year, focuses on what the next Canada is going to look like, and how we are going to get there.

The "Regional Challenges in a Six-City Canada" lecture takes place on Wednesday, March 30, 7:00 to 9:00 pm in Lecture Theatre A at the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI. There is no charge and everyone is welcome. For further information call 566-0307.

The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) has, again, received Full Accreditation status. The American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA-COE) recently voted unanimously to give AVC the highly-esteemed seven years of Full Accreditation. The College has been fully successful in each of their reviews since it was first eligible for accreditation in 1990 with the graduation of their first class of veterinarians.

"Attaining the maximum accreditation of seven years is a testament to the excellence of AVC's programs and people. UPEI's Veterinary College is on par with the best Vet Schools in the world," says Wade MacLauchlan, President of UPEI.

Part of the accreditation process included a visit by a team made up representatives from the AVMA, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, COE , PEI Veterinary Medical Association, and two guest observers. Visiting last September, the team verified the College's self study report by visiting physical facilities including the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and interviewing faculty, students, College and UPEI administrators.

"Full Accreditation fuels our international reputation. It helps us to continue to recruit and retain top quality people. The review recognized the quality of our faculty, staff and students, and their ability to work together," says Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of AVC. He says the strength of the College is due in part to the respect and support AVC receives from UPEI and the larger Island and regional communities. "They are absolutely essential to our success."

The AVMA-COE is the accrediting body for veterinary colleges in North America, and have accredited educational veterinary institutions in Europe as well as Australia, and New Zealand. The youngest of Canada's four veterinary colleges, AVC provides undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education in the field of veterinary medicine; conducts research to promote animal health, productivity and welfare, and to protect human and environmental health; and provides services for the management of the health and well-being of animals.

AVC has two Canada Research Chairs, in clinical pharmacogenetics and shellfish, a privately-funded Research Chair in animal welfare, and an industry-funded Research Chair in swine health. The College is also home to the Lobster Science Centre, Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, Population Health Research Group and Atlantic Centre for Comparative Biomedical Research. AVC has established the only North American OIE Reference Lab for Infectious Salmon Anaemia and is the regional node of the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, with responsibility for monitoring the West Nile virus. The Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre continues to provide funding for projects that contribute to animal health and welfare.

UPEI was one of 78 colleges and universities across Canada celebrating National Co-operative Education Week from March 21-25. A highlight of the week was the selection of Co-op Students of the Year, one in Computer Science and one in Business. The University has announced that Lindy Bryanton and Anne Shaw are this year's award winners.

Lindy Bryanton comes from Kensington. She studied civil engineering at McGill University before joining the Co-op Education Program at UPEI where she is an honours student in Computer Science. She has completed four work terms with companies such as Deltaware in Charlottetown and Gognos Inc., a data access and modeling company in Ottawa.

"Lindy is a great ambassador for our Co-operative Education Program," says Wayne Cutcliffe, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Information Technology. "She excels academically, in her computer science studies, as well as in the workplace. Her enthusiasm is infectious, even when handling heavy workloads. These qualities are recognized by her Co-op employers who speak very highly of her accomplishments, and how easily she integrates with their employees."

Anne Shaw is an honours Business Administration student from Bloomfield. She has completed her Co-op work terms in the Rebates Division of the Canada Revenue Agency where she was commended for her high level of integrity, cooperation, and professionalism. The fact that she is fluently bilingual was also a strong asset. "Anne is a very deserving student and we congratulate her on her achievements," says Business Co-op Coordinator, Don MacCormac. "This award exemplifies the high quality of work our Co-op students are capable of conducting during their work terms."

Co-operative education is proving itself as a valuable tool for employers looking for bright, enthusiastic students who will meet their future staffing needs. A recent study of students and employers by the University of Victoria revealed that approximately 60 per cent of graduating Co-op students will accept a position with an employer with whom they completed a Co-op work term.

"Co-operative Education has a proven track record in Canada and internationally," says Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE) President, Sonya Horsburgh. "Co-operative education programs provide students with alternating study and paid work semesters, allowing them to accumulate experience in the workplace while obtaining their education. Through their Co-op work terms, students become aware of the range of new qualifications today's workplace requires, can develop their innate potential, and will acquire essential employability skills."

A study conducted by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission has found that students who graduate with the Co-op option are more successful in securing employment in their fields, and they do so more quickly than other students. Co-op graduates have less student debt, and they are paid at a higher level. UPEI now offers Co-operative education programs in Computer Science, Business, and Physics. Co-op students have successfully completed work terms with a range of PEI businesses and government departments. In addition, they have taken advantage of work term opportunities in other parts of Canada, as well as in international locations such as Scotland, Ireland, and New Zealand.

When the annual UPEI donor report is published in April it will provide details of more than 40 new student scholarships, bursaries, and awards created by supporters of the Building a Legacy Campaign. Generous families, individuals, and organizations have given close to $1 million to the University to assist academically gifted students and those who are in financial need.

In addition to these new awards, a growing number of existing scholarships are being strengthened and increased through the commitment of donors from all walks of life. The Rhynes family of Charlottetown recently did just that. The family has endowed the Susanah "Irene" Rhynes Memorial Scholarship. Established in memory of Irene Rhynes by her nephew, and UPEI alumnus, John R. Rhynes, it is open to full-time BA students who have an interest in history, poetry, or international studies. Thanks to additional support from John and his parents, Alex and Agnes Rhynes, UPEI has been able to increase the award to at least $1,000 per year, and ensure that it will be available to deserving students in perpetuity.

"When families come together to honour a loved one, UPEI takes the time to work through their options to Build a Legacy that will do justice to the memory and life's work of the person they are honouring. The Rhynes family is doing a wonderful service to the community by teaching the next generation about giving," says Kevin Lewis, Chief Development Officer at UPEI.

Irene Rhynes was born in Frenchfort in 1924. A serious illness prevented her from pursuing her own formal schooling but she greatly valued university education and was delighted when her niece and nephew graduated from UPEI. She passed away in January, 1989 at the age of 64. The Irene Rhynes Memorial Award established by her family will be granted every year at the Deans' Honours and Awards Ceremony.

A team of students from the UPEI School of Business has carried off second prize in EXCALIBUR, the Canadian University Tournament in Human Resources. Students from 17 universities competed over two days recently to determine the top three teams in Canada. Conducted by the Human Resource Association of Quebec, EXCALIBUR, evaluates the students' knowledge of HR concepts, as well as their ability to present before a panel of executives and professors.

UPEI team members Sherilyn Acorn, Cornwall, Patrick Crossman, Summerside, and Stefanie Moore, Crapaud, each won $750 for their efforts. Daniel Perry, Stratford, was spare and will be a member of next year's team.

"They were up against students from the larger universities in Canada, such as, Ryerson, McGill, and Alberta which offer extensive studies in Human Resource Management, said Professor Don MacCormac who coached the team. To come in second among such competition reflects positively on our students and the education they receive at UPEI. This experience will further develop their confidence, and prepare them for a rewarding career."

"I am very proud to have been on the UPEI team; the three of us each have our strong points and we fed off each other in the true definition and spirit of a solid team," says Patrick Crossman.

In timed exercises, the team solved problems in case studies of firms with HR issues. This year the major case was based on PEI and#150; the Transcontinental plant in Borden.

"I am thrilled to congratulate, once more, a student team from the School of Business on achieving this highly-regarded prize in such a competitive national tournament, states Roberta MacDonald, Dean of the School of Business. These students showcase themselves, the School, and UPEI on the national stage."

Teams from the School of Business have participated in six EXCALIBUR competitions, and have been winners on three of those occasions, carrying off first place in 2000 and in 2002, and second place this year.

"We are very pleased that UPEI continues to develop Human Resources specialists for the future," says Wayne McMillan, president of HRA and a corporate sponsor of the UPEI team.

Island high school students entering the Bachelor of Arts program at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) this fall will have access to a new award. Through an endowment of $50,000, this perpetual award has been created as a tribute to the memory of Doris MacPherson Caseley, formerly of Kelvin Grove.

Her family believes that assisting someone to obtain an education is an ideal way to honour their mother who always stressed its importance. She inherited the high value she placed on education from her paternal grandmother, a school teacher in the 1880s when rural female teachers were a rarity. Doris MacPherson Caseley passed away in August 2004.

"Creating an award in our mother's name recognizes her beautiful character and her conviction that young people should be encouraged to reach their full potential," says Doris MacPherson Caseley's daughter, Sheila Caseley.

Dr. Richard Kurial, Dean of Arts at UPEI, is delighted with the new scholarship. "To have a legacy that captures and expresses a life-long commitment to learning, and the joys inherent therein, is truly a great gift. We at UPEI are very grateful for this wonderful scholarship."

The first Doris MacPherson Caseley Memorial Scholarship of $2,500 will be awarded in June 2005 to a PEI high school student entering the Bachelor of Arts program at UPEI with sound academic standing and financial need. Applications are available through guidance counsellors or the UPEI Registrar's Office at 566-0358. The deadline is April 30, 2005.