Conestoga’s School of Business received recognition at the PIEoneer Awards celebrating innovation and achievement in global education.
Conestoga was recognized with the Highly Commended designation in the 2024 PIEoneer Awards.
This was the first time the college submitted nominations to the international competition hosted by the UK-based organization PIE, a leading voice in the international sector, and Conestoga was the only Canadian institution that received recognition when the awards were announced at a gala held in London on September 13.
Conestoga was awarded the Highly Commended designation in the Business School of the Year category, following winner Colorado State University.
Michelle Grimes, executive dean of the School of Business, is incredibly proud of the college being recognized on the international stage at the 2024 PIEoneer Awards.
“This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff in supporting quality, industry-focused business education and a student-centred learning environment. We are honoured to have been nominated and selected for this honourable mention among many deserving global business schools.”
Business has been a leading area of study for international students for many years, and the award category highlights the exceptional and innovative work business schools are doing to serve these students.
Conestoga’s nomination emphasized the School of Business’ commitment to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) as a key driver of innovation. The school became a signatory in 2020 and increased its level of involvement in 2023 by becoming a champion school and integrating sustainability concepts into more than 70 per cent of programming.
Significant investments were also made in accessible educational practices, exemplified in a commitment to open educational resources (OER) to ensure students have access to high-quality educational resources for free; teaching case research and pedagogy to engage students in learning focused on real-world examples from around the world; and active participation in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
In 2023, six business faculty members participated in COIL projects connecting students across international partner institutions, facilitating internationalization and empowering students to develop cross-cultural competencies and a global mindset. More than 300 Conestoga students collaborated virtually with students from around the world.
Conestoga was also nominated for the Employability International Impact Award in the annual PIEoneer Awards.
Conestoga’s School of Business is one of Ontario’s best, providing numerous options, opportunities and pathways for students to complete, specialize or expand their business education, either full-time or part-time. The college’s career-ready graduates have the skills and knowledge to address real-world needs and make a difference in today’s rapidly changing business world.