Some KSA clubs to check out this semester
From building a personal brand to broadening horizons with cross-cultural knowledge, these clubs have a lot to offer KPU students
Kodiak Cheung, president of The Japan Club (left) and Alexander Camilleri, president of the KPU Business Association (right). (Submitted)
Currently, there are 16 active clubs listed as supported and funded by the Kwantlen Student Association, and they are a great way for students to connect with their community. Clubs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University have access to funds and KSA spaces to hold events for their club members and engage other students.
The KSA is hosting a Clubs Day on Oct. 4 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Spruce Atrium at the Surrey campus, but two other clubs have additional things planned for the fall semester.
KPU Marketing Association (KPUMA)
KPUMA focuses on developing marketing and business skills for students, and provides networking opportunities and workshops. The club has over 200 members and has been a part of the KPU community for more than a decade, having been established in 2012.
“Our main mission is to provide students at KPU an experience that is more valuable beyond what students learn in class,” club president Alexander Camilleri says.
KPUMA hosts workshops with industry professionals, which help students network and make connections by meeting new people within the industry. The club has a private LinkedIn group for easing interaction between students and industry professionals, along with a Facebook and Instagram group. They also have a monthly newsletter which goes out to all members.
“Primarily we have industry professionals from marketing … but there can be some overlap. That’s the great thing about business,” he says.
Members also gain hands-on experience by managing club events and implementing what they learn in class, says Camilleri. Membership is open to all KPU students, but the club’s focus remains on business.
“For students who want to get into a career in marketing, our club is a great option because it’s going to introduce you to other people who are like-minded. You’ll gain a lot of value. Employers like to see that students are involved at the school,” he says.
The club also partnered with the KPU Alumni Association to help connect current students with alumni who are industry professionals and inviting them to host workshops. Camilleri says that having a strong marketing club enhances the university’s reputation and shows a student’s “passion for business and marketing.”
Since the pandemic started, events and workshops have been online through Zoom with industry professionals, with at least two per semester, such as consulting business professionals who guided students on building a personal brand, marketing executives, and KPU alumni entrepreneurs.
“We started building a new team of directors since our previous ones have graduated, so we are starting a new team [who] is eager to have in-person events,” Camilleri says.
KPUMA is planning their first in-person marketing mixer this semester where students can connect with employers and industry experts since the pandemic started.
“We have a student discount for KPU students [to] the BC Lions game on Sept. 24 that we will be launching soon, students will be able to get cheap tickets to the game, $20 for a ticket,” he says.
They are also organizing a club members only photo session to help students get a desired professional look to their LinkedIn profile and other social media accounts. A workshop on how to build a LinkedIn profile will be held in October as well.
The Japan Club
The Japan Club was created in 2019, and focuses on promoting and exploring Japanese culture through campus events related to Japan. It also acts as a bridge between Japanese international students, exchange, and domestic students at KPU.
“[We] try to provide a safe space for both domestic and Japanese students … a place where they’re able to exchange culture with one another,” club president Kodiak Cheung says. “We tried to develop international friendship between Canadian and Japanese exchange students.”
He says the club supports all aspects of Japanese culture, including dance, language, music, and media aspects. They explore current Japanese trends, and provide opportunities for students to work or volunteer with the Japanese communities in British Columbia.
“This is through the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, as well as Tokyo University … and through the Club-House Nikka-Centre, a volunteer organization where I teach English to people in Japan and in-turn I learned Japanese from people living here in B.C.,” Cheung says.
Club members mostly interact on its Discord server, but it also has a Facebook and an Instagram group. Membership is open to any KPU student who is interested in any aspect of Japanese culture, Cheung says.
The club is mostly offering online events this semester, including bi-weekly movie nights where movies are related to Japanese culture belonging to a specific genre chosen by the Cheung and other members can vote on the movie. The club is also planning a Christmas giveaway.
All members are encouraged to suggest ideas for events which are tailored to the members’ preferences as the club is “adaptable to members’ interests,” Cheung says. Members also have access to various cultural events, including the annual Nikkei Matsuri, which helps them engage in Japanese culture through language, media, food, and music.
“[The club] helps the KPU community because those interested in studying Japanese culture in general get to become friends with one another. I became friends with other club members, and other members of different universities as a result. I think by having this club … it allows the interaction,” Cheung says.
“The best part about this is people use [the club] in multiple ways. Some people use it to actively participate in Japanese culture to study for upcoming Japanese language tests … or communicate with one another, or share their love for Japanese culture.”
How to start your own club
Students who share a common interest that isn’t expressed yet on campus can start their own club. An accepted application will require applicants to attend a training session. A club must also fulfill several conditions to be considered active, which include holding at least one meeting per semester and maintaining membership above 10 members. The KSA has a guide available on their website.
