On the evening of March 31, OUSA hosted its annual Partners in Higher Education Dinner at the Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto. Guests included students, faculty, administrators, bureaucrats, politicians, political staff, researchers, and many other partners from inside and outside the higher education sector.
We began this event as a small breakfast to bring our partners together and discuss issues of importance to post-secondary education. Six years later it has evolved into a unique and important event in the sector, attracting over 150 people each year.
During the dinner, attendees had the pleasure of hearing from influential figures in Ontario’s higher education system, starting with the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training Colleges and Universities. After addressing the guests, and stressing OUSA’s strong partnership with the government, the Minister stayed to present the plaques to this year’s recipients of the OUSA Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Dr. Joy Mighty and Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes, the current and past Presidents of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, respectively, gave the keynote address on issues in teaching and learning. Julia and Joy have recently published a book entitled Taking Stock: Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, which is certain to have a profound impact on the teaching and learning world. Rather than simply lecture the attendees, they incorporated a group discussion, which was very well received.
This sixth annual Partners Dinner also marked OUSA’s 15th year of incorporation. Three of OUSA’s most distinguished alumni – Leslie Church, Rick Martin, and Avvey Peters – were granted honourary memberships to mark the occasion.
OUSA would like to thank all our partners for attending, and send a specific thank you to our keynote speakers and event sponsors, without whom the dinner would not be possible.
2010 Partners Dinner sponsors: the Council of Ontario Universities, Wilfrid Laurier University, Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union, the Brock University Students’ Union, the College Student Alliance, the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, and the Federation of Students at the University of Waterloo.
Alexi White
Executive Director
