Plans are underway to launch the world鈥檚 first master鈥檚 degree in business administration in Indigenous Reconciliation at the University of Victoria鈥檚 Peter B. Gustavson School of Business.

The new program was revealed as part of an $8.4-million funding announcement made by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction July 8.

It鈥檚 being developed in collaboration with the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and will draw funding from Indspire, an Indigenous charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and M茅tis peoples.

鈥淭he MBA in Indigenous reconciliation is a powerful example of the critically important programming that is achievable when we follow the Hul鈥檘umi鈥檔um teaching Ts鈥檌ts鈥檜watul鈥� tseep (to help each other or working together),鈥� UVic鈥檚 first vice-president Indigenous, Qwul鈥檚ih鈥檡ah鈥檓aht Robina Thomas said in a press release.

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Offering a program of its kind is part of UVic鈥檚 ongoing commitment and actions on truth, respect and reconciliation, and developing new pathways for Indigenous students to higher education.

Those interested in the program will be selected by the association and the province. Cohorts will also be intentionally designed to include both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students 鈥� drawing qualified candidates from across several sectors including government, social-service and non-profit.

鈥淩econciliation is a lens for everyone to look through,鈥� said Brent Mainprize, teaching professor at the school of business. 鈥淭his program brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals to learn from each other about their cultures and build a shared understanding of and commitment to reconciliation that can be designed in the classroom and immediately put into action in students鈥� organizations and communities.鈥�

The first enrolment of students is set to begin in spring next year.

austin.westphal@saanichnews.com
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