Uncategorized

More Students Are Looking To Head North

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Washington Post

The number of international students coming to Canada doubled in the past decade. But in the last year, a number of events globally have added to its appeal for some students. The Brexit vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, and the U.S. election, seem to have been factors.

For the full article, visit the Washington Post.

International Students’ Choice of Residence After Graduation Hinges on Concept of Home

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: UBC via Academica

A new study from the University of British Columbia shows that ideas of home are a major factor in where international university students decide to live after graduation. “A lot of research focuses on where international students go to study, but few focus on where they go after graduation,” says study author Cary Wu, a PhD candidate in UBC’s department of sociology and an international student from China. “Our study shows that migration plans for international students are far more complex than this binary of stay or return.” Wu analyzed data from interviews with more than 200 international students from more than 50 countries who attended UBC from 2006 to 2013, and found that 16% of those surveyed said that they planned to stay in Canada, citing emotional attachments, interpersonal relationships, family, or political unrest.

High School for International Students at UNBC a Possibility

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Prince George Citizen via Academica

The University of Northern British Columbia is considering establishing an international high school on its campus. The Prince George Citizen reports that if the institution goes forward with the plan, a school with capacity for 50 to 100 high school students could be piloted as soon as September 2018.  The long-term intention would be to prepare students for postsecondary education in Canada. “They’ll be more at home, they’ll be more familiar with the place, so the transition to the university would be better,” explained UNBC Provost Dan Ryan, who added that increasing the university’s international student population would help Canadian students gain a global perspective.

Applications to Canadian Unis Spike in Wake of Trump

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Associated Press via Academica

The surge in website traffic and enrolment inquiries that occurred at Canadian universities following the election of Donald Trump in November 2016 is now translating into applications. Applications to the University of Toronto from American students have reportedly jumped 70% compared to this time last year, while several other Canadian schools have seen increases of 20% or more. US applications to McMaster University are up 34% since this time last year. Officials at some US colleges tell the AP that the election will undoubtedly affect their international enrolment patterns. “I think everybody in international education is a little uneasy, in part because some of the rhetoric in the campaign frightened people overseas,” said Stephen Dunnett, vice provost for international education at the University at Buffalo. “It’s going to be perhaps a little bit rocky for a couple of years.

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.

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…

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.”

With Declining Domestic Enrolment, Ottawa’s PSE Institutions Recruit More International Students

CIEC Author

Source: CBC via Academica

Ottawa’s PSE institutions are seeing ever-larger numbers of international students this fall, reports CBC. As of last week, the University of Ottawa had 1,350 new international students registered, its largest number so far. uOttawa’s Acting Manager of Media Relations Néomie Duval said that the school is focusing on international recruitment to offset a decreasing domestic student population in Canada. Algonquin College’s Doug Wotherspoon, VP of International, Communication, and Strategic Priorities, agreed with the approach, adding that “if you have rising costs, you have to have growth for you to survive. So obviously when your domestic numbers are going down you want to supplement that and keep growing, so international is the place to look for that.”

CCAE Announces Winners of Annual Prix d’Excellence

CIEC Author

Source: CCAE via Academica

The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) has announced the winners of its annual Prix d’Excellence, which recognizes Canada’s postsecondary institutions for excellence across 24 categories, including marketing, development, and student recruitment.  This year, uAlberta led the group with seven awards, followed by uCalgary and MUN with five awards each. uToronto, uSask, UBC, and Trent each received four nods, with uWaterloo, UoGuelph, Sheridan, Queen’s, McMaster, and McGill each garnering three. 15 other PSE institutions across Canada received one or two awards.

New Canadian Additions to This Year’s Financial Times World MBA Rankings

CIEC Author

Source: Financial Times via Academica | January 27, 2015

The Financial Times has released this year’s rankings of the top MBA programs in the world, with 6 Canadian universities making the top 100. The Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto is the top-ranking Canadian business school, but dropped 3 places from last year to come in at 53rd. Second place in Canada goes to UBC’s Sauder School of Business (81), with the University of Alberta’s School of Business and Queen’s University’s School of Business tying for third in Canada and 86th overall. Both uAlberta and Queen’s re-entered the rankings this year. [CIEC Academic Member] Western University’s Ivey Business School (97) and McGill University’s Desautels School of Management (100) round out the remaining Canadian schools that appeared in the top 100. Harvard Business School topped the list this year, followed by London Business School in second. The rankings are based on surveys of business schools and alumni, including criteria such as the career progression of alumni, “idea generation,” and the diversity of students and faculty.

Useful Links Regarding Entering Canada & Obtaining a VISA

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Please refer to the following information and useful links regarding entering Canada & obtaining a VISA – Courtesy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada:
Participants will need a valid passport or an appropriate travel document to enter Canada.
Citizens of the United States
US citizens should visit the Department of Homeland Security website for a list of acceptable documents to re-enter the US.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp
Information on visiting Canada:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp
Do you need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada (see for list of countries):
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
Visiting Canada – Important information for visa exempt travellers (including US Citizens):
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visa-exempt.asp
Where to send your application for a (TRV):
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp
Video Tutorial on completing the Temporary Resident Visa Application Form (IMM 5257)
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/multimedia/video/imm5257/imm5257.asp
Visa Offices outside of Canada:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions.asp
Visa application processing times:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/temp/visitors.asp
* In order to avoid disappointments, applicants should submit their application as soon as possible.

Canada-India Education Forum at CBIE’s Annual Conference: Call for Proposals

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

On November 18, CIEC will host the Canada-India Education Forum at CBIE’s annual International Education Conference in Ottawa. The theme of the 2014 Canada-India Education’ Forum is an “exchange of ideas” to further the interests of those already involved in or contemplating involvement in the dynamic Canada India education corridor.  To explore opportunities in this burgeoning sector by building awareness and creating a collaborative approach by sharing each others’ experiences and using the opportunity to highlight your academic programs (and accomplishments) to peers.  Receive effective marketing tips and network with stakeholders active in both markets and benefit from existing synergies.

In keeping with past CIEC events such as our flagship annual Synergy Education Conference (organized since 2007), which have featured 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.  These 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 areas such as Student Advising; Working with Agents; Exchange programs; Internship/International co-op’s and Recruitment & Admissions.  For a glimpse of past events, please visit CIEC’s events page.

Topics that may be of interest to you as you develop your arguments while keeping the overarching theme in mind are:

  • Immigration – visa issues/delays arising in particular visa offices
  • Marketing Canada as a favorable destination to Indian students
  • Admission process – tips & obstacles for attracting top Indian students to Canada
  • Recruitment strategies. Use of Agents? Which fairs to attend?
  • Avoiding ‘problems’ faced by competitor countries such as racism/ discrimination
  • Diversity training for faculty & staff as they prepare for large numbers of Indian students on campus
  • Student retention & the College-University transfer system.  Is it broken, perfect or simply needs some work?

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’.  We would also like to ask that you refrain from purposeful advertising while at the same time feel free to mention your institution name or affiliation.

Finally, please indicate the length of your presentation | workshop (45, 60 or 90 minutes) 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 newcomers or geared toward experienced professionals.
  3. Present a clear argument & articulate your position (for or against).

Please send us a 50 word (mini) session description by Apr 1, 2014 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 a discounted Registration fee.

Indian IT companies set to be hit as Canada tightens visa norms for foreign workers

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

Source: Globe and Mail via Indian Economic Business News

Canada has joined the US in tightening the visa regime for foreign workers, a move that could be detrimental for Indian IT service companies with operations in that country. Seen by experts as a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to the recent controversy surrounding iGate and Canadian bank Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the move is set to increase the time and costs associated with procuring a temporary work permit. The Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (ALMO) programme, a fast-track immigration programme to secure a temporary work permit in two weeks, has also been suspended. Indian companies will now have to revert to the Labour Market Opinion (LMO), a time-consuming process, compared with H1B visa regime in the US. A LMO is an authorisation that a recruiter has to obtain from the Canadian state, if a job has to be offered to an Indian. Moreover, the employer has to prove that it had advertised for the position across Canada, but was unable to find a qualified Canadian to do the job. The latter is what makes it time-consuming. Moreover, a new fee will be imposed on employers when they apply for an LMO. In addition, the Canadian Government also intends to increase work permit fee from the present $150. However, it has not specified the quantum of the rise. In its third change, Canada has also disallowed a rule allowing companies to pay temporary foreign workers 15 per cent less than prevailing wages for high-skilled positions, and five per cent less for low-skilled ones.

Welcome to Canada!

Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

“Welcome to CIEC’s Student Portal. It has been designed to assist with the growing numbers of student interested in studying in Canada. Through this portal, you can enjoy a network of shared knowledge between Canadian institutions and prospective students  and to use the forum to engage in live discussion with students like you.

You will be introduced to the universities and colleges of Canada, as well as its culture, geography, and testimonials. We can help you with day-to-day concerns like banking, employment, and accommodation.

The CIEC Student Portal is a constantly evolving and improving and we welcome your feedback. Please let us know of any information or resources you would like to be made available.”