Author: Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

India: New Study Abroad Regulations to Improve HE Quality

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: University World News

New regulations to allow Indian universities to collaborate with universities and colleges overseas and enable Indian students to gain credits for study abroad semesters were announced by India’s Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani recently. The measures are aimed at bringing world-class education to Indian students, as well as improving higher education curricula, through increased interaction with overseas universities.

For the full complete article, please visit University World News.

Languages Canada Calls for Pan-Canadian Approach to International Ed

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: ICEF Monitor

A recent survey from Languages Canada reveals that Canada witnessed a decline in English Language Teaching enrolments in 2015. According to the research, the number of students studying English in Canada was reduced from 137,416 in 2014 to 133,910 in 2015. These results represent an overall drop of 6.31% over the four years from 2012 to 2015. “International researchers have remarked that the global language travel sector growth is slowing down. This year’s annual survey report confirms the predictions,” said Languages Canada Executive Director Gonzalo Peralta. “However, it is clear now that Canada’s language education sector is not simply slowing in growth, it is underperforming. Not only have we failed to keep pace, we have actually shrunk.”

Is Millennial Skepticism Toward University in Sync with Reality?

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Ottawa Citizen via Academica

Millennials and senior experts might disagree on the value of a university education, suggests a recent article in the Ottawa Citizen. David Cook, a 21 year-old who recently quit a job stocking grocery shelves, told the Citizen that he is skeptical about whether the alleged “one-size-fits-all” model of university education can support students in finding out what they truly want to do with their lives. Yet retired University of Toronto economics professor David Foot argues that the increasing proportion of young people with postsecondary credentials has in fact made a bachelor’s degree “the new high school degree.”

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.

MSVU and Venor Partner to Keep International Grads in NS

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Mount Saint Vincent University via Academica

Mount Saint Vincent University has partnered with Venor in an effort to help international student graduates find employers and opportunities to start their careers in Nova Scotia. The partnership marks the latest step in the Nova Scotia Scholars Program, which provides personalized career plans that include career building, networking, work experience, and immigration support for participants. “The Mount is committed to assisting international students who choose to remain in the province,” said Paula Barry Mercer, Associate Vice President of Student Experience at MSVU. “Keeping more graduates in Nova Scotia is an important step in helping to ensure the future prosperity of our province.”

Canada Must Work Quickly to Address Barriers for International Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: University Affairs via Academica

Canada needs to act fast in order to gain the economic benefits associated with international students, writes Kareem El-Assal for University Affairs. Some barriers currently in place in Canada may deter prospective international students and steer them in another country’s direction. Obstacles such as slow student visa processing times, inadequate settlement and integration services, and difficulty attaining permanent residency are among issues potentially hindering Canada’s ability to recruit international talent. While the government has implemented a number of strategies to combat these issues, El-Essal says that further immediate action is required to ensure the successful recruitment and retention of future skilled workers to Canada.

ON Suspends Fast-Track Residence Program for International Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Globe & Mail via Academica

Ontario has announced that it will temporarily close its fast-track residency program for international students due to a backlog of thousands of applicants, reports Simona Chiose for the Globe and Mail. Chiose notes that the closure lends further evidence that Canada’s recent strategies around Express Entry have made immigration into the country more difficult for certain groups. The closure will specifically affect the provincial nominee program for master’s and doctoral grads who earned credentials from an Ontario university. The province is estimated to be currently working its way through 7,000 applicants, nearly half of whom are expected to be recent graduates.

Canadian Higher Ed Places 5th in QS System Strength Rankings 2016

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: QS Top Universities via Academica

Quacquarelli Symonds has released its new Higher Education System Strength Rankings, and Canada’s system has ranked fifth overall. QS describes the new rankings as “an assessment of overall system strength and flagship university performance, alongside factors relating to access and funding.” The United States led the overall rankings, followed by the UK, Germany, and Australia. While Canada ranked fourth overall in the “Access” category, it ranked ninth in the “Economic” and “System” categories.

International Medical Residents Struggle with Culture Shock

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: National Post via Academica

Graduates of foreign medical schools often face a significant clash of cultures when they pursue two-year family medicine residencies in Canada, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary. The report notes that while Canada relies heavily on international medical graduates, many of these graduates may struggle with unfamiliar cultural experiences, such as being taught by female instructors, working with the mentally ill, and having difficulty with the nuances of English. “In some countries, males look after males and females look after females,” said Olga Szafran, associate research director in the University of Alberta’s family-medicine department and the study’s lead author, “but we can’t be selective in the kind of patients that our physicians end up treating.”

Canada Must Better Prepare Grads for Globalized Careers

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Vancouver Sun via Academica

“Today, our graduates are competing with their peers all over the world for the jobs of tomorrow,” writes Christa Ovenell, director and principal of Fraser International College, and Canada’s students will need to thrive in a globalized workforce if they wish to remain relevant in a 21st-century economy. Instead of trying to provide massive numbers of domestic students with international experience via study abroad, Ovenell suggests that Canada should focus more on attracting international students to a greater number of Canadian institutions. Despite the growing number of international students studying in Canada, Ovenell concludes, “those international students are densely concentrated at only a handful of institutions, resulting in a deficit of experience for the vast majority of our domestic students.”

Canadian Government Signals Renewed Openness to International Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: University Affairs

According to Amit Chakma, president of [CIEC Academic Member] Western University and chair of the federal government’s Advisory Panel on Canada’s International Education Strategy, the Canadian government has recently shown positive signs towards international students hoping to study in Canada. By reviewing the steps these students must take to achieve permanent residency, in addition to changes made to citizenship requirements, Canada aims to make it easier for these students to pursue an education and work in the country after graduating.

For the full article, please visit University Affairs.

Millennials Learn Differently, Rank Canada Best Country in the World

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Inside Higher Ed and U.S. News & World Report via Academica

The changes in the way that young people learn is “forcing the educational system to adapt to the learners, and not vice versa,” writes Sophia Sanchez for Inside Higher Ed. The author argues that such change means that educators need to better understand how members of the Millennial generation differ from those who came before. Among their attributes, reports Sanchez, are shorter attention spans, a preference for collaborative learning, and a drive for instant gratification. To help address these changes, Sanchez recommends that educators establish clear learning outcomes, deliver knowledge in small doses, and use a mix of different teaching methods. A recent survey from the US News & World Report’s “Best Countries” platform has also shown that Millennials (aged 18 to 35) from around the globe view Canada as the best country in the world.

Importance of Becoming “Global Citizens” Through Study Abroad

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: University Business Magazine via Academica

Study abroad is invaluable for “helping prepare our students to become global citizens,” writes college president John Roush, which is why Roush encourages “parents of college students in general to be supportive of their sons and daughters who seek to embark on similar experiences at whatever institution they attend.” Roush notes that as the world grows ever smaller, today’s PSE students will need to foster a greater understanding of how work is conducted on the global stage. The author concludes that study abroad experiences “will prepare young women and men to engage with others despite distance, language, and culture in whatever profession they choose, even if they never live or work abroad.”

Business of Education 2016: Call for Proposals

Business of Education 2016: Call for Proposals

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

In keeping with past CIEC events which have tended to attract thought leaders from leading Colleges and Universities, we invite you to participate and add to the ongoing dialogue between academics of both countries. In order to expand this ‘dynamic and burgeoning’ corridor, we need to constantly share ideas on new initiatives and best practices. Sessions are intended to encourage frank and candid discussion and allow  sharing of experiences and an understanding on what works (and what doesn’t) via a medium of workshops, presentations and panel discussions in a multitude areas.

Attendees at previous CIEC conferences have tended to be senior level administrators and academics from both countries and your presentation should take that into consideration. You can make a safe assumption that they have a basic knowledge of and | or are already involved in the ‘Canada-India education corridor’. This session could be a great opportunity to highlight / showcase your academic programs and/or get feedback from your peers in the audience.

Finally, please indicate the length of your presentation/workshop (20 or 30 minutes each) and specify if you require AV and/or other technical equipment. A laptop, projector & screen will be made available.

Potential Criteria for Choosing Presentations: 
  1. Clearly outline the context for the presentation, the target audience it wishes to address and should have a direct relevance to current issues relating to the theme/title of your presentation.
  2. Presentation should have a good mix of obvious practical applications and identify whether it is suitable for newcomersor geared toward experienced professionals.
  3. Present a clear argument & articulate your position (for or against & have moderator sum up the ‘round table’).

Please send us a 50 word (mini) session description to [email protected] by May 31, 2016 along with your session title and names of co-presenters (if any)  and we will follow up/notify you if we have questions.  All (co) presenters and panelists will receive discounted registration fee at the member rate.

Look back at Business of Education 2014 & view the Event Agenda…

Synergy 2016: Call for Proposals

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

In keeping with past ‘Synergy’ events (organized since 2007) which have tended to attract thought leaders from leading Colleges and Universities, we invite you to participate and add to the ongoing dialogue between academics of both countries. In order to expand this ‘dynamic and burgeoning’ corridor, we need to constantly share ideas on new initiatives and best practices. Sessions at ‘Synergy’ are intended to encourage frank and candid discussion and allow  sharing of experiences and an understanding on what works (and what doesn’t) via a medium of workshops, presentations and panel discussions in a multitude areas.

Attendees at past ‘Synergy’ Conferences have tended to be senior level administrators and academics from both countries and your presentation should take that into consideration. You can make a safe assumption that they have a basic knowledge of and | or are already involved in the ‘Canada-India education corridor’. This session could be a great opportunity to highlight / showcase your academic programs and/or get feedback from your peers in the audience.

Finally, please indicate the length of your presentation/workshop (20 or 30 minutes each) and specify if you require AV and/or other technical equipment. A laptop, projector & screen will be made available.

Potential Criteria for Choosing Presentations: 
  1. Clearly outline the context for the presentation, the target audience it wishes to address and should have a direct relevance to current issues relating to the theme/title of your presentation.
  2. Presentation should have a good mix of obvious practical applications and identify whether it is suitable for newcomersor geared toward experienced professionals.
  3. Present a clear argument & articulate your position (for or against & have moderator sum up the ‘round table’).

Please send us a 50 word (mini) session description to [email protected] by May 31, 2016 along with your session title and names of co-presenters (if any)  and we will follow up/notify you if we have questions.  All (co) presenters and panelists will receive discounted registration fee at the member rate.

Look back at Synergy 2015 & view the Event Agenda…

Nonstop Delhi-Vancouver Flights to Start This Year

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The PIE News

Educators in British Columbia predict a new Air Canada flight between Delhi and Vancouver starting this autumn will benefit academic partnerships and hope it will entice more Indian students to the province.

To view the full article, please visit The PIE News.

College Faculty Adapting Their Teaching for Foreign Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education via Academica

As postsecondary institutions become increasingly internationalized, colleges are noticing that their faculty members must also adapt to meet the cultural and pedagogical needs of their new classrooms, writes Karin Fischer for the Chronicle of Higher Education. The article discusses a number of faculty methods for better reaching international students, such as posting lecture slides online, ending lectures early to allow for questions, and providing translations of classroom slides or syllabi. “There are many different ways that students learn, no matter where they are from,” says Association of International Education Administrators Executive Director Darla Deardorff, who adds that “changing our strategies doesn’t mean we are … making our courses any less rigorous.”

Georgian, Lakehead sign MOU with Simcoe School Board to Recruit, Support International Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Orillia Packet via Academica

Georgian College and Lakehead University have partnered with the Simcoe County District School Board to recruit and support international students. The groups have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding that will guide collaborative efforts to attract international students and support their transition through the different phases of schooling. Lakehead’s Orillia Campus Principal Kim Fedderson says that this approach “creates a pathway for students to move from primary and secondary school, through to college and university… When we’re recruiting in China, India, Brazil, Malaysia, people are asking for that.”

PEI to Include International Students in Mentorship Program

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: CBC via Academica

PEI has announced that it will expand its mentorship program for recent graduates to include applications from international students, giving them better access to the PEI workforce. Skills PEI contributes up to 50% of wage costs for the first year of employment for postsecondary graduates who are enrolled in the mentorship program. “Hopefully they join the companies, help the company grow, and they will stay here on Prince Edward Island,” said Richard Brown, PEI’s Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning, “the company grows, the economy grows, it’s good for Prince Edward Island.”

UOIT Signs MOU with Chandigarh University

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: University of Ontario Institute of Technology via Academica

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chandigarh University, a private institution in northwestern India. UOIT has outlined a number of areas of potential co-operation between the two institutions, including short-term faculty mobility opportunities to CU, two-way student mobility between campuses, and research and development projects. Vice President, Research, Innovation and International at UOIT Michael Owen says, “the agreement with Chandigarh University paves the way for the development of student exchanges, student internships, and new faculty research endeavours between both universities.”

Students Weigh in On International Integration

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Academica Forum

Over the past twenty years the recruitment of international students has become a key priority for many Canadian PSE institutions. Major schools have produced multi-year plans to help make themselves more international, and these plans often give priority to increasing the proportion of international students studying on their campuses. Major figures in higher ed have also warned that the recruitment of international students and the charging of higher tuition fees to this cohort can result in ethical concerns, and have called for enhanced federal guidelines to govern the enrolment of non-Canadian students in Canadian institutions. 

We asked 1,400 StudentVu panelists what they thought about the growing presence of international students on campus, the domestic student-international student relationship, the proportion of international students to domestic students, and other related issues. Our panelists reported that they believed international students had a positive impact on their postsecondary experience; many also expressed support for a school population comprised of 20-40% international students, and voiced concerns about their schools’ treatment of international students.

For the full report, please visit Academica.

Work Permit Program for International Students Needs Reform

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe & Mail

A federal government report showing that many international students are working in low-wage jobs after graduation is leading to calls to redesign Canada’s liberal employment rules for foreign graduates.

Canada is unusual among the world’s top destinations for international students in allowing graduates on a work permit to work in any field after they finish their studies. An internal report from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) found that the post-graduation work permit program (PGWP) was creating a poorly paid, underemployed work force among recent international student graduates at colleges and universities. 

For the full article, visit The Globe & Mail.

Canada Invests $2B in Innovation, Sustainable Growth for PSE

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Government of Canada News Release via Academica

Canada’s post-secondary institutions are at the forefront of excellence in science, research and innovation. They help to train the workforce of tomorrow and create the knowledge and insights needed by the private and public sectors to build a clean, sustainable economy.

The Minister of Science, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, today announced that the Government of Canada will launch the application process for a $2-billion fund that will improve research and innovation infrastructure at universities and colleges across the country.

Announced in Budget 2016, the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund will enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities. Consultation with the provinces and territories as well as work to implement the initiative as quickly as possible are already under way.

The targeted, short-term investments under the Fund will promote economic activity across Canada and help Canada’s universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.

Indian States Support Opening Up to Foreign HE Providers

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The PIE News

Ten of India’s states have so far come out in favour of enabling foreign higher education institutions to operate in the country, but any new policy must ensure that foreign providers have something to offer domestic students, they have said.

There is currently no legislative framework in place to allow foreign universities to operate in India. The 2013 Foreign Education Providers Bill has been blocked from passing on several occasions, but last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the government intends to let foreign providers operate campuses in the country.

For the full article, please visit The PIE News.

Indian Technology Institutes Open Admissions to Foreign Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: ICEF Monitor

Earlier this year, India’s Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani approved a proposal that will see an initial 10,000 new seats opened for foreign students at the country’s premier engineering institutes. This marks the first time that admission in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has been opened to overseas students.

The proposal is clear that seats for foreign students will not come at the expense of Indian applicants. Rather, the aim is to add thousands of new seats across all IITs and to have overseas students pay a significant differential fee in the range of Rs 400,000-500,000 per year (US$6,000-US$7,500), as opposed to the Rs 90,000 annual tuition (US$1,350) required of Indian students.

For the the full article, please visit ICEF Monitor.

Camosun Signs Multi-year Partnership Agreement with India’s Jain University

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Camosun College via Academica

Camosun College has signed an agreement with India’s Jain University committing the two institutions to a multi-year collaboration. A Camosun release states that the agreement will cover three main areas of co-operation: developing a nation-wide sport skills training program; delivery of Camosun’s diploma programs in Sport Management and Exercise & Wellness at Jain University; and transfer agreements to help students complete degrees, diplomas, and post-degree diplomas in Business and Sport disciplines at Camosun’s Victoria campuses. “Our partnership with Jain University signifies Camosun’s growing reputation for excellent curriculum development and education delivery in sport and business sectors,” said Camosun President Sherri Bell.

Ottawa Looks to Ease International Students’ Path to Permanent Residency

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The Globe & Mail via Academica

“International students are the best source of immigrants, in the sense that they’re educated, they’re young, they speak English or French, they know something of the country,” says Canada’s Immigration Minister John McCallum, “so we should be doing everything we can do to court them.” McCallum argues that Canada can greatly enhance the opportunities for international students to gain permanent residence by overhauling the current “Express Entry System,” a computerized program that allegedly prioritizes immigrants who are skilled workers and makes it difficult for many to gain permanent residence.

Registrars Look to Enhance Transmission of Student Data Through New International Network

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: University Affairs via Academica

Registrars are looking to enhance the ways that student transcripts and other data can be transmitted within the country and abroad, reports Becky Rynor for University Affairs. In May 2015, the Association of Registrars of Universities and Colleges of Canada signed on the country’s behalf to join the Groningen Declaration Network on Digital Student Data Portability, an initiative designed to create digital networks between academic institutions to improve the exchange of transcripts, diplomas, and applications. “It’s about making it easier for Canadians to transmit their credentials within Canada and abroad and to have them fairly recognized in a timely fashion,” said McGill University Executive Director of Enrolment Services Kathleen Massey. “We don’t want Canada to be left behind.”

India to create 20 world-class universities

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Study International via Academica

The Indian government reportedly plans to turn 20 universities into world-class institutions. Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced in February that “enabling regulatory architecture will be provided to 10 public and 10 private institutions to emerge as world-class teaching and research institutions” and that a not-for-profit Higher Education Financing Agency would be created to “leverage funds from the market” to support improvements. While the announcements were “encouraging” to Boston College Center for International Higher Education Director Philip Altbach, he dubbed the plan a “tall order” and expressed wariness due to a historical lack of success in India’s previous efforts to achieve similar goals.

Parliament Introduces Legislation to Ease Citizenship Requirements for International Students

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: ICEF Monitor via Academica

Canada has introduced legislation that is designed to make it easier for international students to gain citizenship after graduating. The legislation will reportedly repeal a number of changes made by the previous Conservative government under Bill C-24 in June 2015. Some of the new legislation’s most significant changes will be in reducing the period of physical residency required to apply for citizenship, allowing students to count time spent studying in Canada toward their residency requirement, and reviewing the Canadian Experience Class program.

International Students Bring Many Benefits, says BC Minister

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Vancouver Sun via Academica

Students who travel to Canada to get a world-class education “also bring a wide range of short- and long-term social, cultural and economic benefits,” writes BC Minister of Advanced Education Andrew Wilkinson. The article describes some of the very first international students who came to BC at the beginning of the 20th century, before discussing the benefits that today’s international students bring to Canada. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of international students, says Wilkinson, is that they pay the full cost of PSE tuition and thus subsidize not only higher education, but K-12 programming for domestic students. Further, international students who stay in Canada after graduation have been shown to fulfill an important role in closing the country’s skills gap. For these reasons and more, Wilkinson concludes, “the benefits add up and are irrefutable whichever way you study the equation.”

Canada Overhauls International Education Campaign

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: The PIE News, Study International via Academica

This week, Canada unveiled its new EduCanada branding campaign to represent the country’s global education strategy. The brand was first presented at the annual AIEA conference in Montreal, and features a new logo along with the tagline, “A world of possibilities.” The branding will reportedly appear on all printed education materials from the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as all Canadian universities that operate on an international scale. The new brand comes at the same time as Global Affairs Canada has produced a video promoting the country as one of the world’s top study abroad destinations. Increasing the global influence of Canada’s higher education sector was one of the main goals cited in the 2012 Global Affairs of the federal International Education strategy, which sought to double the number of international students in Canada to 450,000 by 2022.

Alexander College

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

alexanderAlexander College is a private post-secondary institution serving approximately 2,000 students each year. Established in 2006 under the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education, Alexander College consists of two urban campuses located in Burnaby and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Alexander College is recognized and accredited by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Degree Quality Assurance Board (DQAB), BC Education Quality Assurance (EQA) program, and is a proud participant in the BC Transfer System, organized by the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT).

Alexander College first offered University Transfer and English for Academic Purposes programs. These programs are designed to help first and second year undergraduates to achieve success in their transition to the post-secondary environment through strong student support and services. In 2006 Alexander College was approved to offer the Associate of Arts degree, followed by the Associate of Science degree in 2011.

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