1. UCW takes second place at 2025 national MBA Games
University Canada West kicked off 2025 by hosting the 37th national MBA Games in Vancouver from January 3 to 5 and earned an impressive second-place finish among more than 300 students from 14 universities. The competition—Canada’s largest MBA event—featured academic, athletic and spirit challenges and focused on the theme “Digital Equity: Closing the Chasm,” highlighting innovative student solutions to the digital divide. Participants collectively raised $29,320 for Canada Learning Code, while UCW, entering as the reigning champion, delivered strong performances across all events. McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business placed first and will host the 2026 Games. UCW’s appearance followed its historic dual wins of the national and BC MBA Games in the previous year, and organizers praised the passion, preparation and leadership demonstrated throughout the weekend.
2. New grants launched in partnership with the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association
University Canada West, in partnership with the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Foundation, introduced two new full-tuition grants designed to support members of the hockey community and promote educational access. The Gino Odjick Grant, named in honour of the late Canucks legend, offered up to $40,600 in tuition for a hockey player in an organized league, with preference for applicants with Indigenous status, while the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Foundation Grant provided the same level of support for eligible Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association members or their relatives. The grants aimed to celebrate Indigenous heritage, strengthen community ties and expand pathways to long-term personal and professional achievement. UCW President Dr. Bashir Makhoul noted that the partnership reflected the university’s commitment to fostering future leaders through community-focused educational opportunities.
3. Inaugural delegation attends Northwest Model UN Conference
University Canada West sent its inaugural delegation to the Northwest Model UN Conference in Portland, Oregon, earlier this year. In the lead up, they hosted the first-ever Model United Nations Conference on December 8, where students acted as diplomats representing UNESCO member states to debate the elimination of racial discrimination, hatred and hate crimes. Participants delivered speeches, negotiated, formed alliances and drafted and voted on resolutions, guided by chairs Fiorella Vargas of UBC and UCW’s Alejandra Bonilla. Awards were presented to top performers, including Best Delegate Jorge Morr, Outstanding Delegates José Luis Rosales Gonzalez and Mariana Magaña Lama, Honourable Mentions Malak Assad and Om Bahadur Bhandari Chhetri, and Best Position Paper recipient Jash Khatri.
4. Indigenous Action Committee created
University Canada West formed an Indigenous Action Committee to strengthen collaboration with Indigenous communities and advance the university’s commitments to Truth and Reconciliation, cultural respect and support for Indigenous students. Comprising UCW representatives, Indigenous faculty and advisors, Squamish Nation Councillor Deborah Baker and Nlaka’pamux citizen Troy Abromaitis, the committee aimed to exchange ideas, provide feedback and develop recommendations to enhance Indigenous student experiences and educational outcomes. The group focused on creating initiatives grounded in respect, reciprocity and Indigenous ways of knowing, with UCW leadership emphasizing the committee’s role in building a more inclusive and culturally sensitive academic environment.
5. MBA Specializations launch
University Canada West announced the launch of new MBA specializations—Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Leadership, Supply Chain Management, and Business Analytics—beginning in the Summer 2025 Term, following approval from BC’s Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. The specializations were designed to align with labour-market needs and equip students with targeted, career-ready expertise, while students retained the option to pursue a general MBA with electives across six areas. Available in both Hybrid and Online modes, the new pathways applied only to incoming Summer 2025 students, whereas earlier cohorts continued with their original degree plans but could take certain specialization electives. UCW also introduced a cohort model for the MBA program to strengthen collaboration, community and student success through structured, peer-supported progression.
6. UCW ranks first in 2024 for most Scopus-indexed publications among private institutions
University Canada West ranked first among Canada’s private institutions in 2024 for the highest number of Scopus-indexed publications, achieving a total of 109 works according to data shared by the Canadian Science Policy Centre. The study, conducted by UCW Associate Professor Dr. Hamed Taherdoost, analyzed contributions across disciplines, authors, citations and publishers using the global Scopus database. UCW leadership celebrated the accomplishment as evidence of the university’s growing research-informed academic culture, while national publication trends showed Social Sciences leading output among private institutions, followed by Computer Science and Arts & Humanities.
7. UCW names new department chairs and first associate dean
University Canada West announced new interim department chairs for 2025 across its academic divisions, including Dr. Nam Le for Arts, Communication and Social Sciences; Dr. Pooja Lekhi for Quantitative Studies; Dr. Brent Ramsay for Marketing, Strategy & Entrepreneurship; and Dr. Diljot Soin for Leadership and People Management (LMP), with several vice chairs appointed to support each unit. The university expressed gratitude to outgoing chairs—Dr. Michele Vincenti, Dr. Larry Earnhart, Dr. Gelareh Farhadian and George Drazenovic—for their service. Following his term as LPM Chair, Dr. Vincenti was later named UCW’s first Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, tasked with advancing graduate programs, supporting administrative functions, strengthening external partnerships and enhancing structures and policies for the MBA program and related initiatives.
8. Caps fly high as Spring 2025 grads take the stage
University Canada West celebrated the graduation of more than 4,400 students during its Spring 2025 Convocation, held May 27–30 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for graduates of the MBA, BCom, BABC and Associate of Arts programs. President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bashir Makhoul congratulated students on their achievements, while MBA graduate Cris de los Santos Andalis, serving as valedictorian, reflected on the courage and growth that shaped their academic journeys. Honorary Doctorates were awarded to community advocate Dr. William P.J. McCarthy and conservationist Dr. George C. Reifel. The ceremony also recognized outstanding faculty with Teaching and Learning Awards including Dr. Hamed Taherdoost, Victor Ba Nyar Naing and Dr. Mohsen Saeedi. Dr. Makhoul encouraged graduates to embrace new opportunities and view success as a continual process of learning and development.
9. Dr. Michele Vincenti represents UCW at the European Parliament
Dr. Michele Vincenti, UCW’s Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, represented the university at the 19th Conference of Italian Researchers in the World at the European Parliament in Brussels on May 23, 2025. The conference, organized by the Texas Scientific Italian Community and Université Libre de Bruxelles, gathered European institutions, international academics, and policymakers to discuss research, innovation, and global talent mobility. Dr. Vincenti presented his work on AI-assisted Spirituality, exploring how artificial intelligence can support leadership development through spiritual practices such as the Ignatian Exercises and Lectio Divina, prompting discussions on ethical leadership and the human limits of AI. His participation highlighted UCW’s international engagement and emphasis on integrating ethics and spirituality into modern leadership education.
10. Two professors ranked among top 2% of cited scientists worldwide
Two University Canada West (UCW) faculty members, Associate Professors Dr. Hamed Taherdoost and Dr. Jafar Heydari, have been recognized among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists. Dr. Taherdoost, a leader in AI and Image Processing, has published over 350 papers and ranks 587th globally in his field, while also serving as UCW’s Chair of Research and Scholarly Activities Committee and Director of R&D at Q Minded | Quark Minded Technology Inc. Dr. Heydari, an expert in Operations Research, has maintained top-2% recognition for five consecutive years, ranking 193rd globally in his subfield, with research focused on supply chain coordination, green supply chains, and game theory applications. UCW President Dr. Bashir Makhoul praised their achievements, highlighting the global impact of their research and the value it brings to students and the broader academic community.
11. Lord Blunkett speaks of “equipping for jobs of tomorrow” during UCW visit
The Rt Hon. Lord David Blunkett visited University Canada West on June 17, delivering a lecture on “Education as Central to Democratic Engagement,” where he emphasized the role of education in fostering critical thinking, independence, and civic participation. Drawing on his own experience as a blind student, Lord Blunkett highlighted the importance of lifelong learning and “equipping for jobs of tomorrow,” encouraging students to leverage technology and global opportunities. That evening, he participated in a panel on “Democracy and Sovereignty in an Age of Disruption,” discussing evolving democratic values, shifting concepts of sovereignty, and AI’s impact. Lord Blunkett, a former UK Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament, continues to influence education, social justice, and public policy through his work in the House of Lords.
12. BCom Specializations announced
University Canada West is launching Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) specializations in Accounting, Marketing and Technology Management for the Winter 2026 Term. The programs, available in both Hybrid and Online modes, aim to equip students with practical skills, critical thinking, and targeted expertise for today’s dynamic business environment. Winter 2026 will also see the introduction of a cohort structure for the BCom and Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication (BABC) programs, fostering community, collaboration, and peer support while providing a clear pathway to degree completion. Part-time students will progress at a different pace within this cohort system.
13. University Canada West Alumni Grant supports lifelong learning
University Canada West launched a new Alumni Grant on July 15, 2025, offering a $2,000 award to support graduates returning for further education. The grant, aimed at alumni who had graduated since July 2017, provided financial assistance for those enrolling in a new Bachelor or Master program—BCom, BABC, or MBA—starting in the Fall 2025 Term. UCW President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bashir Makhoul highlighted that the grant reflected the university’s commitment to lifelong learning, career advancement and empowering alumni to expand their skills and pursue new opportunities.
14. UCW welcomes inaugural Fulbright Canada Research Chair
University Canada West welcomed its inaugural Fulbright Canada Research Chair, Dr. Ally Zhou, on August 1, 2025. Dr. Zhou, Director of Professional and Cultural Education and Professor of TESOL at Florida Gulf Coast University, conducted research, delivered guest lectures, collaborated with faculty and engaged with the UCW community. Her work focused on effective and ethical uses of AI by multilingual ESL graduate writers through genre-based pedagogy, aiming to enhance writing proficiency and develop pedagogical frameworks for diverse learners. UCW President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Bashir Makhoul noted that her appointment reflected the university’s commitment to cross-border academic collaboration, while Dr. Zhou emphasized advancing innovative teaching practices and fostering ethical AI integration in education. The Fulbright Canada Research Chair position was established following UCW’s 2023 partnership with Fulbright Canada to promote mutual understanding and international educational exchange.
15. Dr. Stacie Chappell joins UCW as Dean, School of Management and Business
University Canada West (UCW) announced the addition Dr. Stacie Chappell to its leadership team. Dr. Chappell joined UCW on September 15, 2025, as Dean of the School of Management and Business, bringing 30 years of experience as a leadership scholar, organizational development practitioner, and executive educator. She joined Dr. Sandra Song, appointed Dean of the School of Arts, Science and Technology in October 2024, whose extensive background includes strategic planning, policy development and international academic collaboration. Together with Dr. Mazi Shirvani, Vice-President, Academic, the two Deans aim to shape a cohesive academic vision for UCW. Dr. Chappell’s research focuses on leadership effectiveness, innovative teaching, and experiential learning, while Dr. Song brings expertise in sociology, public policy and global academic partnerships. Their combined experience is expected to strengthen UCW’s academic programs, foster collaboration, and prepare students for future professional challenges.
16. UCW achieves strong finish 2025 BC MBA Games
University Canada West (UCW) celebrated a strong showing at the 2025 BC MBA Games, securing an impressive overall third-place finish among top business schools in British Columbia. The annual competition challenges MBA students across academics, athletics and community spirit events, and UCW excelled in all areas. The team earned 3rd place in Dodgeball, 2nd in Canoe Racing and 2nd overall in the Sports category, while in Spirit events, UCW achieved 2nd place in Spirit Trailer, Mystery Spirit Challenge, Campaign Presentation and Fundraising while finishing 2nd overall in the Spirit category. Academically, the team placed 3rd in the Take-Home Case, securing 3rd in the Case category. “Placing on the podium across so many categories demonstrates the talent and dedication of our students and the strength of UCW’s MBA community,” said Urvish Subodh, Program Head, MBA Competitions Program.
17. Grads take centre stage at Fall 2025 Convocation
UCW’s Fall 2025 Convocation brought together 3,400 graduates, family and friends for four days of celebration, highlighting leadership, resilience and academic excellence. The ceremonies introduced the inaugural UCW Alumni Awards, honoured outstanding faculty, presented two Honorary Doctorates and marked the conclusion of Chancellor Mitchell Gropper’s distinguished service. Valedictorian Olatunji Awelenje was celebrated for his exceptional achievements, while Alumni Award winners Anju Varghese and Xavier Varghese were recognized for their resilience and emerging leadership. With Honorary Doctorates for Dr. Gary Thandi and Dr. Margaret Mubanda, the convocation underscored UCW’s commitment to innovation, compassion and service—values reflected across its graduates, faculty and alumni.
