Bas Brusche - MA in Professional Communication (MAPC)
As a diplomat in Angola, Africa, I knew the importance of superior communication skills to further my professional career. But to acquire these skills and further my education in the field, I needed the right program. A basic search on the Internet led me to RRU’s site.
Not only did Royal Roads have an excellent master’s program, they also offered a residency on campus each year of the degree. RRU starts you with the three-week residency, so you immediately know who your professors and fellow students are. You soon create a bond, more intimate and personal than working exclusively online. I was also impressed with the small, online module class sizes.
When working online there are five to 10 people working together, so it never felt like it was a massive group.
I completed my master’s in communication in November 2006. The educational journey was such a positive one, that I chose to immigrate to Canada. It’s been a life-changing experience. I have worked many communications jobs, but I always missed an academic qualification in communications. Today, as Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games’ (VANOC) manager of protocol, my master’s degree has been invaluable. It’s taught me how the Canadian media, communications and political systems work.
One of my tasks has been to provide information on the 2010 Games to foreign dignitaries, including such government representatives as ambassadors, consuls and high commissions. I am now deliberating about what to put into a newsletter for this group. The way I structure my presentations, craft my messages, and choose communication channels has been inspired by what I learned at RRU.
If I had any reservations about attending RRU, it was first and foremost that I was a foreigner. Thankfully my fears were unwarranted. I felt extremely comfortable working with RRU professors and as part of a cohort. The professors are very dedicated. They really understand the difficulties related to teaching and learning online and they did a great job of helping us overcome them. They are truly interested in seeing you succeed in the course and the degree program.
During both my residencies, professors welcomed feedback and input from students. The faculty was quick to adapt a course to accommodate suggestions if they improved content or the sequence of learning modules.
Few universities are able or willing to do that.
I was also concerned about keeping up with the study load while holding down a busy, full time job. But this was just another fear based on preconceived notions, as I actually looked forward to being online and studying with my peers. Despite the time commitment I had to make, my wife so enjoyed hearing about my experiences that she also enrolled at RRU.
Looking back, if I had any regrets it would be that I would have taken more walks while in residency at RRU. I’m a bird watcher and RRU is adjacent to a bird reserve, so when I would unwind I would go bird watching. Esquimalt Lagoon is a beautiful spot, with lots of waterfowl.
