Students at TWU RIchmond.
There are several signs of growth at Trinity Western University (TWU) this spring – reflected by a surge in growth and a new site in Richmond, a major new building on the Langley campus and an ongoing focus on the international scene, especially Asia.
Lansdowne Centre
Trinity Western University recently opened a second site in Richmond. TWU’s main campus is in Langley, and it developed an extension campus in Richmond five years ago.
Richmond News described the opening:
This expansion is to accommodate the increase in enrolment the school has experienced since the 2015 launch of its first location on Minoru Boulevard.
The 20,000-square-foot site, on the second floor of Lansdowne Centre at Alderbridge Way and No. 3 Road, will be specifically for international students completing their Bachelor of Arts in leadership. Meanwhile, TWU’s Minoru location will still act as an administrative hub and have undergraduate and graduate programs in arts and business for students.
Enrolment numbers have risen from 125 students in 2015 to 700 this academic year.
“Focused on the disciplines of business and leadership at the undergraduate and graduate levels, TWU has become a strong presence in Richmond,” said Phil Laird, vice-provost of TWU Global in a statement.
“As we continue to grow through the development pathways and programs to serve local and international students, TWU Richmond will continue its focus on global engagement and the development of leaders for the 21st century.”
TWU’s new hub will have 11 classrooms, a learning centre, project rooms, a courtyard and faculty offices.
A TWU release described how the two Richmond centres will operate:
TWU Richmond continues to operate its Minoru location in addition to the new Lansdowne location. The Minoru campus is only a 10 minute walk from Lansdowne Centre, serves as the administrative hub and offers the university-level preparatory language programs, BA in Leadership degree completion, Master of Arts in Leadership, and Master of Business Administration programs.
The new site at Lansdowne Centre was designed specifically to serve the needs of international undergraduate students completing their BA in Leadership degree.
TWU Richmond will host an open house at the new site April 24.
Robert G. Kuhn Building
The Robert G. Kuhn Building is expected to open in the summer of 2021.
There are signs of growth in Langley as well. Trinity Western held a ground-breaking ceremony February 14 which they describe as a “monumental project at the entrance of our Langley campus.” The Robert G. Kuhn Building will house the School of Business and TWU Global.
An article in the Langley Advance Times said:
The building has been a vision for several years and we could not be more thrilled to start construction, said Aklilu Mulat, senior vice president of business administration and chief financial officer.
“We are grateful to our donors for wholeheartedly believing in Trinity Western University’s mission. Our current season of growth and this new addition to our campus would not have been possible without their continued support. We are excited about our future as we actively engage in education as a global institution.” . . .
The cost of the project is $35 million and will be ready for staff and faculty to move in August of 2021.
The building’s name honours the legacy of Bob Kuhn, who completed his term as president of TWU last year.
Global/Asian presence
TWU and Tianjin University of Finance and Economics hosted the opening ceremony for the new cohorts of the Great Wall MBA program in Tianjin, China. TWU photo
Trinity Western has devoted a considerable amount of attention to Asia. Since Mark Husbands took over as president of the university last July, for example, there have been several stories about outreach in China, and its influence on the university:
- October 21: President Husbands in awe of China progress
- October 24: TWU president Mark Husbands strengthens government relations in China
- October 26: TWU overwhelmed by welcome in Tianjin
- November 8: Trinity Western University and Tianjin University of Finance and Economics host opening ceremony for Great Wall MBA cohorts
- February 20, 2020: Trinity Western University opens second Richmond site to accommodate a six-fold enrolment growth since 2015
The October 21 report began with these words:
Dr. Mark Husbands, who commenced his role as Trinity Western University’s fifth president on July 1, 2019, has chosen China as his first destination of international travel in his role as TWU President. He is interested in understanding China, its people, its history, its remarkable development, and the diverse TWU relationships in China.
TWU alumni in China raised $54,000 to fight the COVID-19 virus. TWU Alumni photo
The delegation includes Dr. Philip Laird, Vice Provost, Dr. Sonya Grypma, Associate Provost, Dr. David Squires, Dean of the School of Arts Media and Culture, Mr. Geoffrey Feng, Executive Director of TWU GLOBAL, and Mrs. Becky Husbands.
Welcomed by a host of successful TWU alumni now working in China, Dr. Husbands came face-to-face with the impact TWU is making all around the world.
As well, a February 19 release from the TWU Alumni Association said that in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak TWU alumni in China have raised about $54,000 (Canadian), enough to purchase 10,000 high quality facial masks and 1200 pairs of protective goggles for healthcare workers on the ground.
Trinity Western is growing for a number of reasons; clearly much of that growth follows from the university’s Asian/Chinese connections and that will be reflected particularly in Richmond.