V. 16 I. 6 – Jun 2016

Carleton Partners with Indian Institutions to Provide Academic, Research Opportunities

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Ottawa Business Journal via Academica

[CIEC Academic Member] Carleton University’s Canada-India Centre has partnered with Indian institutions to develop improved programming for working in India and strengthening innovation and trade between Canada and India. A partnership with the International School of Management Excellence will allow the institutions to explore academic and research collaboration opportunities in the business and management fields, while a partnership with the Bombay Stock Exchange Institute will allow the CICE to offer new certificate programs on the Indian business innovation system and Indian investment opportunities.

Canada Needs to Create More “Globally Competent” Graduates

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe & Mail via Academica

“Business leaders want to hire graduates with international skills and perspectives, who are comfortable working across languages and cultures,” says Universities Canada President Paul Davidson. Yet challenges remain for the more than 80% of Canadian universities who have “internationalization” as part of their strategic plans. Recent data shows that only 3% of Canadian university students study abroad, and the article details some of the efforts that Canadian schools are making to help boost these participation rates.

Indian Colleges Can Get Foreign Tie-ups but Must Send Students Abroad

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Hindustan Times

Indian universities and colleges will be allowed to collaborate with foreign institutions but they must let students study abroad for at least one semester of their postgraduate course and two semesters for an undergraduate degree.

These are part of changed guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC), which are viewed as the government’s push to broaden the scope and quality of education in the country as well as encourage healthy competition.

Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani announced on Wednesday the changes made by the country’s higher education regulator.

“This step has been taken … to increase synergy between Indian and foreign academic institutions to offer students additional choices, improve curriculum and the delivery of knowledge and educational content,” she said.

The degree from such a twinning arrangement will be issued by the Indian institution but the certificate will mention the name of the foreign institute, Irani said. A joint degree is still not permitted in India.

Previous rules barred Indian institutions from directly applying for a tie-up with a foreign university. But foreign institutes from abroad could seek permission from the UGC for academic collaborations.

The rule fell flat as no foreign institute ever approached the UGC for such tie-ups. Also, there was no provision for students to study abroad for a few semesters.

For the full article, visit the Hindustan Times.

New Study Examines ON Employers’ Views on International Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: York University via Academica

Employers in Ontario might be more willing to hire international students if they are confident about the support governments and universities might offer them, according to a new study by researchers at York University. Titled “International students as ideal immigrants: Ontario employers’ perspective,” the report notes that confusion around immigration and work regulations can be a significant barrier to employers when it comes to hiring international students and graduates. The report also found that while employers had a high level of confidence in international students’ hard skills, they were concerned about a lack of communication skills and extracurricular engagement. The report offers a series of recommendations that governments and institutions might follow to address these concerns and others.

New Data Reveals Major Slowdown in Canadian Growth

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The PIE News

New international student intake growth in Canada is slowing, standing at 4.5% in 2015 – less than half the year-over-year growth rates reported in 2014 and earlier. The figures mean that universities can no longer be complacent when it comes to attracting international students, according to the Illuminate Consulting Group, which compiled the figures.

For the full article, please visit The PIE.

How Do Universities Ensure Proper Ethics in International Partnerships?

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Inside Higher Ed via Academica

Universities will sometimes compromise on principles like academic freedom, gender equity, and freedom of speech when establishing campuses in other countries, writes Elizabeth Redden for Inside Higher Ed. The author highlights some of the takeaways from a recent conference on the subject, which brought experts together to discuss some of the ways that schools can structure their partnership agreements to better protect their institutions’ values internationally. As one US higher ed leader notes, there is always the “challenge of bringing liberal education to societies and environments which are difficult, where it’s not familiar, where you’re not used to doing this type of education and where you might have creeping authoritarianism.”

KontentEdge Introduces Innovative Design & Development Strategy

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

kontent

A learning consultancy, KontentEdge is constantly evolving new e-Learning techniques , digitization of content and vocational training in order to perform robust analysis with respect to perception, need, expectation, and specifications as provided by clients. KontentEdge is skilled in developing assessments and courses materials, designing course outlines and curricula, digitizing content (eBook markup), developing storyboards, creating interactive and adaptive e-Learning videos. KontentEdge‘s team members have vast industry experience – technical as well as in content development. Some team members have been trainers in the past and that makes them proficient in identifying the need of the learning/training audience along with the correct methodology to develop instructions for training.

To learn more about KontentEdge, visit www.kontentedge.com.

Canada Looks To Overseas Students To Rejuvenate Ageing Population

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Times Higher Education

Mohamed Lachemi is the kind of immigrant Canada wants. “I came to Canada as an international student exactly 30 years ago,” he tells Times Higher Education. “Canada attracted me not just to study but to stay.” He is now the vice-chancellor of industry-focused Ryerson University in downtown Toronto and, in line with federal plans, wants to become “more aggressive” in attracting international students to his institution. Ryerson aims to double its numbers over the next three to five years.

In Canada, official policy, as well as political rhetoric, is… welcoming. In 2014 the country set out plans to attract 450,000 international students by 2022, roughly double the numbers in 2011.

For the full article, please visit Times Higher Education.

Canada Risks a Damaged Reputation Due To Student Visa Fraud

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Times Higher Education via Academica

Canada has the “softest” approach to screening for student visa fraud, according to a recent study of four countries that are popular destinations for international students. Ellie Bothwell of Times Higher Education reports that according to the study, Canada’s provincially led system for awarding degrees “can allow more room for corruption” and has allegedly “damaged” the country’s international reputation. Report author Rachael Merola argues that Canada must take a more proactive approach to dealing with student visa fraud if it wishes to remain a top destination for students.

Study-Abroad Students Motivated Primarily by Career Goals

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: ICEF Monitor via Academica

A new survey shows that employability and career goals are major contributors to a student’s decision to study abroad, reports the ICEF Monitor. However, the survey also notes a growing openness toward other forms of education beyond university, and a willingness to remain in a home country if domestic programs improve. The report concludes that competition for attracting international students is continuing to grow worldwide, and warns stakeholders about the dangers of relying on “gut feelings” instead of reliable data when pursuing international enrolment strategies.

Business-PSE Partnerships Are Critical for Canada’s Prosperity

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe & Mail via Academica

Partnerships between PSE and business are essential for making Canada a more competitive and prosperous country, according to Conference Board of Canada CEO Daniel Muzyka. A recent Conference Board study shows that such partnerships provide businesses with greater access to world-class expertise and resources, which boosts their capacity for innovation and fosters economic growth. NSERC Vice-President of Research Partnerships Bettina Hamelin adds that these partnerships often include local communities and address a host of challenges ranging from food security to quantum technology. “The list is long,” she adds, “and the challenges may be local, provincial, national or global.” The article concludes by discussing specific examples of PSE-business partnerships and how industry, higher education, and local communities have benefitted from them.