Canadian media giant launches new fellowship program
Alliance Atlantis Communications gives break to UU直播 students
A Canadian media giant has opened its doors and its chequebook to UU直播 students. Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc., Canada聮s private TV and film powerhouse, has launched a new fellowship program that will provide research funds and on-the-job training for students of UU直播聮s Art History and Communication Studies department.
Over the next six years, two graduate students per annum will receive $12,500 each from the company. Fellowships will be paid out in three instalments: two portions will cover research or tuition, while a third portion will be paid as an honorarium for a 6-to-8-week summer internship undertaken at the company聮s Toronto or Montreal offices.
UU直播 is only the second Canadian university, after Queen聮s, where students will receive financial support from Alliance Atlantis. The reason? "UU直播 is a great school and deserves our support," says Michael MacMillan, Alliance Atlantis chairman and CEO.
Carman Miller, UU直播聮s Dean of Arts, is thrilled by the creation of the Alliance Atlantis fellowships and hopes other companies follow suit. "It聮s a timely initiative, since we are actively searching for ways to build a work-study component into our programs," he says. "Work-study opportunities enable students to acquire critical job experience."
The Alliance Atlantis fellowships follow on a similar program the company offered at UU直播 several years ago. That initiative, however, offered less cash and ended after three years. Will Straw, acting chair and graduate program director of Art History and Communication Studies, is also glad the new fellowships will give students a leg-up in the hyper-competitive field of communications.
"This relationship with Alliance Atlantis is certain to provide our students with invaluable experience, media contacts and a crucial foot in the door," Straw says.
Nelson Fernandes, who graduates this spring as one of two Alliance Atlantis fellows, agrees his award will give him a head start in the job market. "Whatever happens in the future," he says, "these new fellowships have created a win-win situation for everyone. Students gain experience, while Alliance Atlantis gets young talent working for them."
