By George Hong
The JR Shaw School of Business currently has 4,900 students registered and is expected to increase to 6,200 students throughout this school year. To accommodate this student body, NAIT offers classes during the day, in the evenings and remotely online. Students entering the program all take the same 10 courses over the first two semesters, which will help them decide on their specialization, from among Accounting, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Human Resources Management, Management and Marketing.
JR Shaw School of Business Dean Dennis Sheppard
The School of Business welcomed Dean Dennis Sheppard on Sept. 4 of this year. Dean Sheppard is honoured to lead the School of Business and acknowledges that “NAIT has a phenomenal reputation in the post secondary system as a result of its responsiveness to industry with relevant, hands on training and education.”
Sheppard brings 25 years of postsecondary education experience with him and he believes that “NAIT has a great reputation not only in the system but within our industry and community.”
Fourth year Bachelor of Business Administration student Sydney Vanstone
NAIT Nugget: What point in the program are you?
Sydney Vanstone: “I’m in the fourth and final year of Bachelors of Business Administration with a Human Resources specialization and I graduate in December!”
NN: What is the class you enjoyed the most and why?
SV: “I enjoyed Negotiation and Conflict Resolution the most. That class was more about personal development than just a lecture. We practiced real world scenarios, which improved the overall learning experience.”
NN: What advice would you give a new business student?
SV: “Joining clubs is a great way to have an outlet while in school. I love the variety of clubs available at NAIT, but if you don’t find one for you, just start a new club! You can apply your newly acquired skills and knowledge which is beneficial if you don’t have industry experience.”
NN: Why did you choose NAIT’s business program over other options available in Edmonton?
SV: “I chose NAIT for three main reasons. For starters, they have manageable class sizes where I don’t feel like just a number. Secondly, I appreciate the direct connection to industry decision-makers and providing a network after graduation. Finally, I realized that NAIT has relevant courses that prepare me for the actual job, which sets me up for immediate success which I couldn’t say about the other schools.”
Fourth year Bachelor of Business Administration student Daniel von Veelen
NAIT Nugget: What point in the program are you?
Daniel van Veelen: “I’m currently in the first semester of my fourth year. I chose Marketing due to its interaction with humanity. Marketing requires a level of efficiency in a highly-subjective area while consistently using facts, data, and statistics.”
NN: What is the class you enjoyed the most and why?
DV: “I enjoyed Market Research because I learned how to properly conduct business research using a part of my brain that was previously unexplored. I also liked Promotional Campaign Planning because the instructor put me in scenarios I’ve never experienced. The material, in conjunction with the team environment in my class, pushed us to a place of intense tension which yielded amazing and rewarding results.”
NN: What advice would you give a new business student?
DV: “Try stuff. Simple as that. Getting involved helps you find friends, meet industry people and learn about yourself. Possibly the most important part is building your network. Take risks, be positive and take advantage of the one-on-one experience with your instructors.”
NN: Why did you choose NAIT’s business program over other options available in Edmonton?
DV: “I’ll be honest, tuition prices played a big part in my decision. Also, I’m a practical person who wanted something that directly trained me to jump into my field and NAIT met all my educational needs!”