BSIS: Reflections 10 years on

A casual look at LinkedIn this weekend sent me for quite a stroll down memory lane. My alma mater the University of Kent, is closing its Brussels campus (known as BSIS - the Brussels School of International Studies) after 25 years. The decision, apparently driven by rising costs and recruitment pressures, seems to have taken BSIS staff and students by surprise. My LinkedIn feed was full of alumni voicing their shock and disappointment. There appears to have been little to no communication or consultation, and no plan in place for students with years ahead of them in their degree programs. 

Having spent one year each at the University of Kent’s main campus in Canterbury and Brussels, I perhaps have a unique perspective into life at these locations. I never did come across any other student doing the dual campus degree that I was. I got the impression throughout my time there that it was not a popular choice. For example, I remember both campus administrations being unsure who should supervise my dissertation or even when the deadline was. The logistics of my unique situation never seemed quite hammered out.

BSIS always felt a bit ... quirky. It had a smaller program offering focused on international studies and politics as the name suggests, and the degrees were generally one year long. There were far less teaching staff, many of whom could be best described as ‘colourful’ personalities. Several had been there for years building the programs from the ground up and, I believe, felt a deep sense of ownership and loyalty. The school was based out of an office building. If we wanted a library, we had to go across the street to the Dutch VUB. Strong administrative personalities certainly gave the impression of a satellite campus with a lot of autonomy. Whether this was freely given, or just taken without apology, was less clear. Perhaps this played into the decision to close it down. It will be interesting to see if other reasons for the closure eventually come to light.

The one thing this smaller community certainly had was a closeness, a passion; something that seems to keep a hold on former students and staff long after they leave. For some of the names and faces I saw popping up on my LinkedIn feed, the adage of ‘once a BSIS-er, always a BSIS-er’ rings true. 

But perhaps that was the draw. A slice of British education with a European flair. Meant to do things differently, see things differently. The draw of studying from both perspectives was certainly what drew me to the university. In a post Brexit world, I would have thought the idea would be even more attractive.  

I have fond memories of those first two years in Europe. I didn’t notice any mention of the dual location program I took on the main website so I have no idea if it was still being offered prior to this closure announcement. Being at Canterbury and Brussels opened doors for me I didn’t even know I wanted to look at. It is sad to think that future students will no longer get that unique opportunity. 

Thinking back to those two wonderful days I spent floating for hours in warm pools. First three photos are from the Sky Lagoon, the rest, as you’ll be able to see, are from the aptly named Blue Lagoon. #reykjavik #iceland #skylagoon #bluelagoon #geothermal #birthdaytrip #solotravel (at Reykjavík, Iceland)

Equal parts memoir of a Canadian turned Icelandic First Lady, feminist Icelandic history, and critical analysis of what gender equality looks like and how it can be improved even further. #currentlyreading #bookworm #bookstagram #nonfiction #femaleauthor #genderequality #iceland

Reykjavik is such a colourful city. And the street art is incredible! #reykjavik #iceland #streetart #graffiti #birthdaytrip #solotravel (at Reykjavík, Iceland)

33. Featuring a snow storm in BC and cancelled flight, northern lights, lagoons, and fermented shark. #anotheryeararoundthesun #birthdaytrip #reykjavik #iceland #solotravel (at Reykjavík, Iceland)

Obligatory fiction read for the year. I actually quite enjoyed it so will probably end up reading her other books too. Suspenseful, unsettling and quickly hooks you. This was recently announced as an entry on #CanadaReads. #currentlyreading #fiction #bookworm #bookstagram #gothichorror #canadianauthor

“What the world buys and eats is becoming more and more the same. Consider the facts: the source of much of the world’s food - seeds - is mostly in the control of just four corporations; half of all the world’s cheeses are produced with bacteria or enzymes manufactured by a single company; one in four beers drunk around the world is the product of one brewer; from the USA to China, most global pork production is based around the genetics of a single breed of pig; and, perhaps most famously, although there are more than 1,500 different varieties of banana, global trade is dominated by just one, the Cavendish, a cloned fruit grown in monocultures so vast their scale can only be comprehended from the view of a aeroplane or by satellite. This level of uniformity, from the genetics of the world’s most widely consumed crops, wheat, rice and maize, right through to the meals they become, has never been experienced before. The human diet has undergone more change in the last 150 years (roughly six generations) than in the entire previous one million years (around 40,000 generations).” #currentlyreading #bookworm #bookstagram #nonfiction #supportlocallibraries #foodwriting

A small taste of Brussels in Vancouver: found a Belgian-style brewery. It was worth the trek out to Burnaby. #belgianbeer #dageraadbrewing #beerflight #rainysundayactivities (at Dageraad Brewing)

My favourite family tradition is where we all get books for Christmas and then retreat to different areas of the house to read them all afternoon. #currentlyreading #nonfiction #femaleauthor #bookworm #bookstagram #linguistics #cultish

A Gentleman in Moscow is a clever look at Russian history through the eyes of one man, sentenced in 1922 to spend his life under house arrest in Moscow’s Metropol Hotel. Easy read and quite enjoyable. #currentlyreading #fiction #bookworm #bookstagram #supportlocallibraries

#itsbeginningtolookalotlikechristmas #canyonlights #capilanosuspensionbridge (at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park)

Forest strolls on a long weekend. #takeahike #lighthousepark #westvancouver (at Lighthouse Park)

Reconciliation Through Sport ... Or Maybe Not

In December 2021, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) signed an agreement with səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) Nations to explore a potential Indigenous-led bid for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Four Host Nations invited the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler to participate in the exploratory discussions. The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees came on board (or ‘joined in the canoe’ as some Nation Spokespersons put it) in February 2022. 

Almost a year later - after months of engaging the Four Host Nations’ Members and the Canadian public and producing a carefully thought out hosting concept and financial estimates - the B.C. Government announced that it would not support the historic bid. The Minister cited the cost, among other reasons.

At the same time the Four Host Nations were doing this work, the B.C. Goverment agressively sought to host the 2025 Invictus Games and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The CFL also recently announced Vancouver will host the 2024 Grey Cup. Just a few days after the B.C. Government’s position essentially killed the Olympic bid from moving any further, it passed legislation for a new hotel/short term accommodation tax. The purpose? To help cover costs of hosting FIFA. 

Denied the opportunity to take the lead role in an Olympic Games, Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam were not equal partners in bringing these other sporting events to their territories. Per the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #91 they should be.

“We call upon the officials and host countries of international sporting events such as the Olympics, Pan Am, and Commonwealth games to ensure that Indigenous peoples’ territorial protocols are respected, and local Indigenous communities are engaged in all aspects of planning and participating in such events."  

This quote from Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, a Squamish Nation Spokesperson, sums it up perfectly.

"We didn't come to the table asking for a blank cheque. We were [told] this ain't the right time. When will be the right time for Indigenous peoples to be at the forefront in this so-called spirit of reconciliation?"

The first day back at work after a vacation. #mondaymood

Bilbao is now on my favourite cities list. Absolutely lovely; cannot wait to return. #bilbao #spain #espana #solotravel (at Bilbao)

I’ll never understand modern art but the museum building is absolutely amazing. #guggenheim #frankgehry #bilbao #spain #espana #solotravel (at Guggenheim Bilbao)

Explored Pamplona in the fall to avoid July’s Festival of San Fermin and running of the bulls. A rather lovely city with the old walls still surrounding it. #pamplona #plazadetoros #spain #espana #solotravel (at Pamplona)