PURDY CRAWFORD CHAIR IN ABORIGINAL BUSINESS STUDIES

Brian SmithNational General Manager

Purdy Crawford ChairAboriginal Business Studies

brian_smith@cbu.ca

CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY

• Highest final year “excellent” student satisfaction in NS – Maclean’s Magazine

• Most affordable university tuition in Nova Scotia• High level of satisfaction with quality of teaching

received compared to other NS universities (CUSC 2011)

• 10,000 CBU grads living in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality

WHAT MAKES CBU SPECIAL?

• More than 35 years of developing relationships built on trust.

• Graduated more than 500 Aboriginal students.

• Last year 62% of Aboriginal students pursued an MBA (ComEcDev). (33/53)

• The MBA (CED) – Only degree of its type in the country, offered internationally as well.

HISTORY OF ABORIGINAL BUSINESS EDUCATION

• Research• Curriculum• Recruitment• Mentorship

PURDY CRAWFORD CHAIR IN ABORIGINAL BUSINESS

STUDIES

• What are the current Best Practices?• What are the Key Success Factors?• What barriers and obstacles are Aboriginal

businesses and students currently facing?• Research will help us to develop models that will

help others achieve success!

RESEARCH

• How many text books focus on Aboriginal business?

• How many case studies focus on Aboriginal business?

• Aboriginal students benefit

• Non-Aboriginal students benefit

• Aboriginal case writing contest

CURRICULUM

• National recruitment of Aboriginal students to any post-secondary business program• Efforts are NOT CBU focused.• Career fairs, presentations on why students might want to study

business.• What can you do with a degree in business? Etc.

• Encourage HS students to attend business programs & Undergrads to pursue MBA

RECRUITMENT

• Links Aboriginal high school students with Aboriginal business mentors

• Explores business concepts through social media and smartphone technology

• Facilitates collaborative and interactive learning through in-person gatherings

• Attracts Aboriginal high school students to the study of business

IN.BUSINESS

• Application process• Letters of reference• Selected by scoring system• Sign contracts• Parental consent• Placed in groups & matched with mentors

STUDENTS

• Aboriginal, relatively young, business background

• Sign contracts• Resource binders

• Cultural resources • Practical resources (ex. conflict resolution)• Sample challenges

MENTORS

• 2 conferences (bookend virtual interaction)• team building activities• campus tour & experience (ex. dining hall)• motivational speakers• training in social media (including etiquette)• cultural components

CONFERENCES

• Smartphones provided to participants• Interaction between mentors & students• Lessens feeling of isolation & reality of physical distance• Use BBM, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter

• Bi-weekly challenges facilitated by mentors • ex. stock market simulation

SOCIAL MEDIA & CHALLENGES

SOCIAL MEDIA & CHALLENGES

SOCIAL MEDIA & CHALLENGES

SUCCESS OF THE

PROGRAMFeedback received via exit surveys (year two):

• 94% of respondents say they gained valuable experience through this mentorship program• “They helped me get excited about business.”

• 100% of respondents would recommend this program to a fellow student• “I want other students to have the same great experience I

did.”

SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM

* The drop in applications after year one is attributed to a revised application process that required letters of recommendation be included.

Applicants Participants Program Graduates

Grade 12s Pursuing Post-Secondary

Chose Business

Year 1 216 30 21 6 4 2

Year 2 130* 30 26 12 10 6

Year 3 106* 30 Program ongoing

Total 452 (many have applied

multiple times)

58 (some participated

both years)

39 (Some completed two

years)18 14 8

Did they go on to study business?• 39 are graduates of the program

• 8 completing 2 years• 18 of these were in grade 12• 14 are attending post-secondary institutions• 8 of these 14 are studying business

SUCCESS OF THE

PROGRAM

CONNECT WITH US

Web & Blogs: www.cbu.ca/crawford

YouTube: Purdy Crawford Chair

Twitter: @CBU_Aboriginal@marybdoucette

Facebook:Canadian Aboriginal Business Network