December 9, 2011
Dr. Ravindra Shah
Dr. Ravindra M. Shah, Director of International Relations, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy degree from Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, on November 12, 2011, at the University’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary Celebration.
The chairman of Chung Shan Medical University, Dr. Chou Ju-Chuan, recognized Dr. Shah’s “significant contribution and achievement in education and research through international academic exchanges.”
The University of British Columbia and Chung Shan Medical University share a long-term commitment of international relations where Dr. Shah has played an instrumental role facilitating international exchanges between the two institutions.
For close to 27 years Dr. Shah has provided leadership to UBC Dentistry’s international relations program for students. This very successful and enterprising international student education program boasts 41 countries including Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea (South), Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Ukraine, USA, and Vietnam.
The international program runs year round. Each year, over 100 students from these various countries come to UBC Dentistry at different times of the year for one week to three months, and gain experience in the undergraduate or graduate programs. Dr. Shah is the mentor-host for all the visiting international students, guiding them in organizing their academic pursuits as well as social and cultural programs. Through this program, UBC Dentistry has attracted numerous graduate students to the Faculty.
Bringing international students to UBC is only half the story of Dr. Shah’s international relations: He also organizes UBC dental students’ academic visits to a total of 20 countries: Belize, Brazil, China, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea (South), Laos, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Taiwan, Uganda, United Kingdom, USA, and Vietnam.
In Dr. Shah’s words given during his honorary degree acceptance speech at Chung Shan Medical University, he sees himself “as a catalyst to connect our institutions and people in this science and technology inspired rapidly globalizing society.”
