Speak Up for You -
Course Design, Quality of Teaching, & Everything about Academic Governance
I am a first-year student in the Master of Arts in Environment and Management. I am a husband, a father, a student, and a volunteer. Starting from Jan 2023, I am a registered social worker (full class) under BCCSW.
I came from Hong Kong and am honored to study on the traditional lands of the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Lekwungen (Songhees) ancestors and families who have lived here for thousands of years
I had been a family social worker for over 20 years. I am proficient in standing up for my service users in the midst of dynamic human relationships. After I moved to Canada, I continue my passion to help in local volunteer work.
Since March 2022, I have heard concerns about the University courses from my friends in different graduate programs. These concerns can be good things as they help the system to improve itself. But my friends' worries are whether they are being heard.
I am glad that Royal Roads University (RRU) is established with Academic Council, which is responsible for developing educational policies and reviewing all programs. The system is there and all we need to do is to find a representative to speak for us. That is why I am here to run for the graduate student representative of the Academic Council.
Before I came to Canada, I studied at two different universities, both being among the top 100 on the QS World University Rankings. I have also acted as a course designer, fieldwork supervisor, tutor, and guest speaker in three other post-secondary institutions. All these experiences equipped me with knowledge and perspectives for improving RRU’s academic governance. In addition to the “what-to-do” (governance), I have ample experience in the “how-to-do” (management). For the past 15 years, I had worked extensively in the nonprofit sector, especially in quality assurance. In early 2000, the Hong Kong Government imposed a comprehensive set of Service Quality Standards on all subvented nonprofits. Being a senior practitioner in the middle management of a large nonprofit, I was responsible to implement, review, and revise the policies and procedures to ensure that quality service was delivered. The challenge is how to prioritize our plan with limited resources to cater to the increasing demand of the community.
So what can a student representative do in Academic Council? Firstly, timely communication with his constituency is of paramount importance. We don't want to elect someone who does things on his own and never shows up.
The second thing is to highlight issues that matter to the graduate students. Information in itself carries little value without perspective. I believe in collective wisdom from our graduate students. What the representative should do is to be transparent and inclusive, so that he can collaborate with the graduate student community on significant issues.
Thirdly, the student representative should ensure that RRU collects the stakeholders’ feedback and takes the corresponding action to improve the academic system, including admission, award, and curriculum design. My aspiration is not to fix one problem at a time, but to improve RRU’s quality of academic governance through monitoring and reviewing its policies, procedures, and priorities, and to actualize RRU’s educational values and goals through the Academic Council.
I am convinced that, with proper management and governance, RRU can evolve into a post-secondary institution as outstanding as other top universities in the world.
Living in Victoria relies heavily on online services, from checking the bus schedule to hunting for a job. However, it is surprising to find that many Victorians are not able to navigate the internet from their computer or mobile phone. The digital divide creates extra barriers and precludes them from accessing these necessary services. While I am unfamiliar with the local community, my computer knowledge can be a bridge. As a savvy computer user, I decided to use this universal knowledge to help those in need. Since July 2022, I joined a local nonprofit, Victoria Literacy Connection, and provided computer literacy tutorials to the disadvantaged in the community.
Apart from computer literacy, I am interested in urban agriculture as it promotes biodiversity and enhances individual well-being. In Victoria, I am surprised that there are various kinds of urban agricultural practices, including community gardens and orchards. I and my wife helped LifeCycles to harvest apples which were then delivered to food bank and provided the needy families with fresh produce other than the canned food.
If you are also interested to volunteering, come and join me.
In 2017, an 82-year-old farmer lost his working partner and could not transport 500 kg of lettuce to the wholesale market in Hong Kong. I committed myself to help the aged farmer and designed various strategies for online promotion. Kam Pok Farm, as I named it, gradually became a well-known community farm in which hundreds of visitors from every district of Hong Kong pick and pay for the agricultural products in the farm during harvests. I also volunteered myself as a tour guide to introduce the farming practice of the aged farmer to home-schoolers, high school students, and the general public. In addition, I kept regular contact with the local media and, as a result, Kam Pok Farm was featured in TV, newspapers, magazine, and a book chapter for the past years. In 2020, Kam Pok Farm was reported by City Farmer of British Columbia, Canada, in its website, leading to its connection to the worldwide city farm community (http://cityfarmer.info/hong-kong-kam-pok-farm/, visited on 15 November 2020)
"Michael is a natural leader who sincerely cares for people and strives for collective progress in any given circumstance. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to be in the same class as him and to observe his astute character from close quarters. I am sure Michael will be a great asset to the Academic Council team and will take the opportunity to contribute to the best of his capabilities. I wish him all the success in his future endeavors."
Jofri Issac
(MEM OC 2022)
Oluwakemi Kassim
(MEM OC 2022 )
"Michael is a superb student and, more importantly, a human with amazing qualities. He is always open to help at any time, listening carefully, and taking action if is needed. His unique skills, such as leadership, accountability, and team player, make him a valuable asset in any team. He is someone who truly can represent others."
Susana Morales Jimenez
(MEM OC 2022)
"I’m glad Michael will have the opportunity to participate in the elections. He is an inspiration for our cohorts. Since the beginning, Michael has demonstrated leadership skills. He is a good listener, hard work person, charismatic as a classmate, and always willing to support others."
Gabriela Ellis Hernandez
(MEM OC 2022)
"Michael has a unique personality; he is a caring and supportive leader. He is committed to helping others and contributing to the cohort’s progress. I am sure he can significantly contribute to this opportunity to represent our student community."
Nelly Jimenez Morales
(MEM OC 2022)
"Michael is a role model in our cohort. He is not only supportive and caring, but always brings new opportunities for his peers and beyond."
John Poon
(MEM OC 2022)
I am glad to see thousands of people attended the Powwow at Royal Athletic Park on National Truth and Reconciliation Day
I like visiting farms. My family attended a Fair recently in an Orchard which was enriched with live music, game booth, art workshop, pop-up stores. Very enjoyable!
I and my wife worked as Election Officials for the Government in the recent Election. Here is the Voting Station in City Hall where I spent 2 whole days for advance voting.
I am not a big fan of ice skating. But during the hot summer days, why not give it a try? It is really "cool" in Oak Bay Recreation Centre!
"That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part."
Thomas Jefferson
"The act of voting is one opportunity for us to remember that our whole way of life is predicated on the capacity of ordinary people to judge carefully and well."
Alan Keyes
Photo: Wikipedia. Text: maine.gov.
