![[Photo] Indira V Samarasekera](images/President.jpg "[Photo] Indira V Samarasekera")
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome to the University of Alberta!
A wealth of exciting options and opportunities await you here at the University of Alberta, regardless of which faculty you are enrolled, or whether you are a new or returning student. From our Community Service-Learning program, which links academic coursework with community-based learning, to our more than 100 formal study abroad agreements in more than 35 countries, we have an exciting range of opportunities for you to pursue.
You need experience, skills and knowledge to make your mark on the world—we want to help you achieve your goals. You will be learning from teachers, researchers and scholars, many of whom are global leaders in their fields. And all within the top teaching and research facilities in the world.
Our newest facilities, the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences and the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, are state-of-the-art buildings designed to foster interdisciplinary approaches to discovery. Students, like you, can work side-by-side with other students and researchers from different fields in pursuit of a common goal. Sit down and have a conversation in one of the many common areas or have a look in windows to see what others are doing. What you see or hear might just spark your imagination and lead to an innovative and intriguing new idea.
I am convinced that the great achievements in art, science, medicine—really, in every field of human endeavour—occur when our learning is driven by our imagination and passion. Every one of you has the power to create change. I hope that your experiences at the U of A will inspire you to use your talents to leave the world a better place than we found it. Our alumni include a Nobel Laureate, a Prime Minister, Chief Justices, and Premiers—and many more individuals who have made a difference in every sphere of life.
We are here to help you develop your creativity and find success, so I challenge you to follow your passion. Forge your own path—see where it takes you.
Yours sincerely,
Indira V Samarasekera, O.C.
President and Vice-Chancellor
