Source: Dalhousie University
Growing up in Yamuna Nagar, India, Amrit Pal Singh was an “all-rounder”: he achieved good grades, played on competitive baseball teams and helped his father manage their farm and air-conditioning business. But it’s when he arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to study at Dalhousie University that he says he was able to really distinguish himself. Majoring in international business in the Faculty of Management, Singh built a network of support; classmates, professors, employers and the vibrant Sikh community, all of whom helped him excel, academically, professionally and personally.
Building leaders through business education
Singh’s journey is similar to other students in the Faculty. He began his undergraduate journey with the Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) Co-op programme, a four-year degree accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. With seven majors to choose from: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Managing People and Organisations, Marketing, and Supply Chain and Logistics Management, and three paid work terms, students enter the workforce with a competitive edge on other graduates.
The faculty also offers a Bachelor of Management (BMgmt) degree, AACSB- and CEWIL Canada-accredited as well, for students looking for a more flexible curriculum, and who do not want to pursue courses that involve a lot of math. Unlike the more traditional and structured BComm Co-op, the BMgmt is designed for students who imagine themselves fusing business with other passions, whether that is running an art gallery, writing environmental policy, managing a community theatre, or working in a library system. The majors offered in this degree are Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Leadership and Organisation, Managing Data and Information, Public Sector Management, and Environment, Sustainability and Society.
In both degrees you learn from Canada’s leading experts, people who know both the theories of business, management and leadership and the realities of today’s job market. But the real highlight is the chance to put that learning into practice.
Both programmes offer local, national, and international paid work terms, with the BComm Coop degree standing out as one of the few in Canada where these placements are mandatory. Past students have found work in places like accounting and public policy firms, banks and financial institutions, a wide range of businesses, as well as in government and non-profit organizations.
“There is always one person in the family who has to take the risk and move out of their comfort zone.”
At Dalhousie, academics are only part of the journey; personal growth is just as important. Each undergraduate student benefits from one-on-one guidance offered by a dedicated team of specialists committed to supporting academic, professional, and personal success. For international students, Dalhousie’s International Centre offers resources that make the transition smoother, from immigration advising to cultural activities. “When you’re a new student, and you don’t know anything and you don’t speak the language well, the International Centre welcomes you, tells you how to get your SIM, where to get your groceries, and your bus pass from,” says Singh. “It’s a very helpful resource for any international student at Dal to join societies. You find people who are from your same culture, maybe not exactly the same, but who share the same language.”
Striking a balance between academics and personal growth shaped Singh’s time at Dalhousie. His hard work earned him the Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies and his co-op placement with McCain Foods in New Brunswick later led to a full-time role in their Supply Chain Leadership Development Programme. “Dalhousie University has provided me with a lot of resources, whether it’s the international centre or the Sikh students society,” says Singh. “When you get to engage with people and attend networking nights, and the professors are such esteemed people who have connections, you get step by step closer to your goals.”
For anyone hoping to follow in his footsteps, Singh offers one piece of advice: that nothing comes unearned. “You have to own every opportunity, and nothing comes with luck, you have to make your own luck,” he shares. “There is always one person in the family who has to take the risk and move out of their comfort zone. Take the initiative, assess the risk, and play the odds. What’s the worst that will happen? You’ll lose? That’s not a loss, that’s a lesson.”
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