The 2010-2011 academic year saw an exceptionally active World Literature Program in support of scholarly and student-oriented activities. The Program co-sponsored a Medieval Studies conference with the University of British Columbia and it co-sponsored the Modernist Studies Association Annual Meeting with the University of Victoria. We also worked with the Vancouver International Writers Festival and the Indian Summer Cultural Festival to bring world renowned writers to campus for public conferences and talks with our students. Perhaps our most significant sponsorship was as host for American Comparative Literature Association 2011 Annual Meeting. The event was highly successful and provided the Program with a great deal of public exposure and professional prestige.

The 2011-12 academic year promises to be a key year of consolidation for the Program. It has earned a reputation for offering exciting, compelling classroom experiences, tripling its enrollment in just over two years to almost one hundred majors and minors. Among our goals this year is to build on our strengths without neglecting to explore new ways to provide our growing student body with the best education we can.

One of our principal strengths is student-oriented activities. We shall continue inviting prominent writers to campus to give students an idea of world literature’s thriving role in the cultural world. One of our most successful student initiatives, the student-run literary-cultural magazine, The Lyre, will publish its second and third issues in the upcoming year. Students will continue to gain writing, editing, graphic design and publishing experience through this work. We are also exploring work-study experiences with members of the Surrey community.

In the classroom, we shall explore the possibilities for experiential learning and other ways of integrating classroom and work experiences. We shall implement an extended minor in World Literature and continue to pursue joint majors with other units that have proven popular with our students such as History and International Studies. We shall also continue to offer joint courses with other units such as Latin American Studies and the Asia-Canada Program.

In sum, World Literature is gaining a reputation as a vibrant, forward-looking program thanks to the dynamic vision and energies of its students and faculty. Self-starters who are interested in literature, different cultures, lively discussion and developing writing skills are invited to join us!

Ken Seigneurie
Director
World Literature Program