Pioneering SFU-ZU program yields its first grad
Mark Chua, 604.710.0384, mkychua@gmail.com
Vivian, Chu, 778.782.7112, cschina@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
Note: Chua is a Burnaby resident
Although he is just 22 years old, Simon Fraser University graduand Mark Chua can add “trailblazer” to his list of curriculum vitae credentials. The newly minted software developer at Vancouver’s Reva Solutions is still stunned by his achievements as the first graduate of the SFU-ZU dual degree program (DDP) in computing science.
“It was grueling because the program was going through growing pains and kept updating its requirements. But it’s neat to be a pioneer,” says Chua, who maintained a 4.00-plus (highest is 4.33) cumulative grade-point average (CGPA).
Fresh out of high school and 18 years old, Chua was the first of nine students to enrol in the program, which grants two bachelor degrees in computing science. One is from SFU; the other is from Zhejiang University (ZU) in Hangzhou, China.
The undergraduate program is the first at SFU to enable students to acquire two degrees concurrently while studying, living and learning Mandarin in two countries, Canada and China.
ZU-based students complete the program in four years. SFU-based students take a total of five years, learning Mandarin alongside computing science in a first year at SFU and doing their next two years at ZU, where some courses are delivered in Mandarin. They complete their final two years at SFU.
Born in Manila, Philippines, Chua completed the program in only three-and-a-half years. His graduation from the International School of Manila’s International Baccalaureate high school program immediately earned him a year’s worth of lower-division university credits. That enabled him to take upper division courses at ZU and complete his degree requirements early.
“Mark’s ability to study upper division courses almost entirely in Mandarin in a challenging subject such as computing science was an amazing feat, especially given his youth,” says SFU DDP coordinator Vivian Chu.
Chua concedes with a smile that his Chinese classmates at ZU were a great help, given that he still has a lot of work to do before achieving fluency in Mandarin.
—30— (electronic photo file available)
Mimi Yap
Congratulations! You're the best!