When Brandon Hastings enrolled in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Entrepreneurial Leadership, he said he wanted to gain a “realistic understanding of what makes the world tick,” as well as develop some “hands-on” skills that would help prepare him for work in the real-world.

“I think the Entrepreneurial Leadership program delivered that and more,” said Hastings. “You can see why just by looking at the breadth of areas that the required courses cover. In fact, being in a business class at Kwantlen tends to be like working in a well-managed company — goals are clear, the work is challenging and you are forced to grow. The key difference is that your instructor's bottom-line is your future success as opposed to the company's profits. I think this approach is what puts the ‘polytechnic’ in Kwantlen Polytechnic University."

Today, Hastings is thrilled to be studying law at the University of British Columbia and says without the support of Kwantlen donors throughout his business degree program, he would not be where he is now.

“I can say with near-certainty that I wouldn't have been able to go to law school without their support,” he said. “For one thing, not having to maintain employment during the school year enabled me to focus on, and excel in, my studies. GPA is a large part of being accepted to study law. Second, without their help, it would have been most difficult to financially justify the decision to continue with higher education. I can't thank the Kwantlen donors enough. When you give money to Kwantlen students, you are contributing, in my view, to one of the most unique, effective and socially-beneficial undergraduate learning environments available.”

Kwantlen's Melville School of Business is the second largest business school in Western Canada — consisting of over 150 business faculty, and 3,500 students annually who are enrolled in one of the 16 available program options. Awarded the prestigious international accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), Kwantlen's Melville School of Business meets the rigorous educational standards established by ACBSP and stands as one of the few internationally accredited business schools in B.C.