June 3 – 8, 2017
The third annual IC-IMPACTS Summer Institute will be a week long program. This year, the program will be held in Vancouver and Cranbrook in the southeastern region of British Columbia.
vancouver
Montreal Knocks Off Paris As World’s Top City for Students
Source: Montreal Gazette via Academica
Montreal has beaten out London, Berlin, Boston, and Tokyo as the world’s best city for students, according to rankings compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds. The Montreal Gazette reports that Montreal’s desirability, affordability, and positive reviews from students propelled it from seventh place in 2016 to first place 2017. Montreal’s ranking was reportedly influenced heavily by the experience of students who have studied there. “A lot of people want to study in London, but those who have studied in London don’t necessarily have as positive an experience as they do in other places,” said Ben Sowter, head of research for QS. Other Canadian cities on the list included Vancouver (10th) and Toronto (11th). Ottawa received a first-place ranking in a category based on student perceptions.
SFU Opens Downtown Vancouver Residence, Social Innovation Hub
Source: Simon Fraser University via Academica
Simon Fraser University [CIEC Academic Member] has opened the Charles Chang Innovation Centre, a new graduate student residence and innovation facility located in downtown Vancouver. The building is named after alumnus Charles Chang, who donated $10M to establish the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship earlier this year. The new facility boasts 52 furnished rooms and can house 68 graduate students. It also features a social innovation and technology hub designed to connect students and community members who are looking to collaborate on new solutions to social challenges. “This exciting new building expands SFU’s presence in downtown Vancouver, and strengthens our commitment to be Canada’s engaged university,” said SFU President Andrew Petter.
SFU Diwali Gala
Business of Education 2016: Call for Proposals
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:- 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.
- Presentation should have a good mix of obvious practical applications and identify whether it is suitable for newcomersor geared toward experienced professionals.
- 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…
Nonstop Delhi-Vancouver Flights to Start This Year
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.
Emerging Business Opportunities with India
March 15, 2016 – India is emerging. Set to be the most populous country by 2025, India presents a generational businesses opportunity. From R&D, to infrastructure development, and IT, the world’s largest democracy is growing at a rapid pace.
uCanWest Signs on With Global University Systems
Source: uCanWest via Academica
Vancouver-based private institution University Canada West has joined Global University Systems (GUS), an international network of PSE institutions, affiliates, and partners. The affiliation has been approved by British Columbia’s Ministry of Advanced Education. GUS will assist uCanWest in expanding its course portfolio and developing its academic profile. University President Arthur Coren said, “this is a very positive development for uCanWest and a new chapter in its evolution. We are excited to have joined the GUS group and confident that it will enable the university to achieve its full potential.”
Victoria Launches Initiative to Recruit International Students
Source: Times-Colonist via Academica
The Greater Victoria Development Agency (GVDA) has launched a new campaign to help attract international students to Vancouver Island. The initiative, called Education Victoria, has been created in partnership with Camosun College, Royal Roads University, the University of Victoria, and Tourism Victoria. GVDA’s Dallas Gislason said that attracting international students as potential residents will be key in a region that is expecting to face a labour shortage over the next 10 years, and added that international students can provide a significant boost to the economy. Moreover, Gislason said, international students offer “diverse perspectives … which deepen the learning experience for all students.”
Vancouver Firm Converts Luxury Hotels into International Student Residences
Source: The Province via Academica | February 4, 2015
A company called CIBT Education Group has purchased a 17-storey luxury hotel in downtown Vancouver with the intention of renovating it into housing for international students. The conversion is just one of several that the company is undertaking: it has 3 similar projects in development with 9 more in the planning stages throughout Vancouver and Richmond. CIBT CEO Toby Chu said that the need for international student housing in Greater Vancouver is desperate given Vancouver’s low vacancy rate. According to figures from 2011, approximately 100,000 foreign students live in the Greater Vancouver area. The renovated Viva Suites hotel will offer 200 beds, a fitness centre, an electronic library, a TV lounge, and a free shuttle service to area institutions. The company will also provide an airport pickup and shuttle service, a hot meal service, IT support, social activities, and academic counselling. Rent will range from $900 to $2,500 per month.
CapilanoU Releases First Academic Plan
Source: CapilanoU News Release via Academica | Sept 8, 2014
Capilano University [CIEC Academic Member] has released its first Academic Plan, highlighting the strengths of the university and opportunities to excel. The Academic Plan will serve as a starting point for the 2015-18 Strategic Plan, to be developed in the coming months. The document outlines potential pathways for institutional renewal and represents the “collective will of our community to embrace change and participate in growth.” The Academic Plan consists of sections detailing CapilanoU’s vision for academic principles, academic programming, academic support, and moving forward, with an appendix that addresses possibilities for the upcoming Strategic Plan. “The Academic Plan is the first step in reimagining Cap’s future. The strategic planning process that follows will continue to be collaborative and lead to the collective transformation of learning, teaching, and academic work at Capilano University,” stated Rick Gale, CapilanoU VP Academic and Provost.
CIEC Presents… The ‘Business of Education’ Dinner in Vancouver, BC
On June 6, CIEC will host a landmark dinner event in Vancouver, BC at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel. CIEC’s Canada West Chapter’s must-attend event will feature a “who’s who” of education including illustrious speakers such as:
- Hon. Minister Amrik Virk, BC Minister of Advanced Education
- Hon. Minister Peter Fassbender, BC Minister of Education
- Hon. Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors
- Devinder Shory, MP Calgary Northeast
- Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, PC, Chair, Canada India Education Council
- Prof. Niloufer Adil, CIEC’s Academic Advisor & Past Secretary-India’s University Grants Commission (UGC)
- Dr. Alan Davis, President-Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Dr. Robert Kuhn, President & Chancellor, Trinity Western University
- Prof. Andrew Petter, President- Simon Fraser University
- Dr. Lane Trotter, President & CEO, Langara College
Learn about BC’s new education quality assurance standards (EQA) and examine the confluence of ‘business’ with education. How do we measure ‘ROI’? BC is committed to increasing international students by 50% by 2016.
Register or view Agenda / Speaker Profiles / Sponsorship Options
International students enjoy new learning experiences at local high schools
Source: Vancouver Sun
Henry Luan came to Vancouver from China in 2011 looking for a western high school experience, and a chance to go to university in Canada.
The Grade 10 student is among thousands of international students who have arrived in the Lower Mainland during the past decade. But many face an immediate and significant challenge — they speak little or no English, which makes it a struggle for them to communicate and fit in.
Many of these students have trouble with course material and often graduate late from high school. The language barrier also makes it harder to get into university, leading to more stress and pressure.
“When I first came here, I was trying to talk to people, but they didn’t understand what I was saying. It was awkward and I felt so bad,” says Luan.
Even after two years at University Hill Secondary School, he still has difficulties today. “You know you [understand] a lot more than you can actually express, and it is frustrating,” he said.
Joanne Park is a Grade 11 student at Earl Marriott Secondary School in Surrey. But if she had remained in Korea, she would already be in Grade 12.
In order to earn enough credits and learn English, Park has had to push her graduation off a year. Still, she is uncertain if this decision will give her a better chance of getting into university. It is even more frustrating because all of her friends will be graduating this year.
There is help available to such students within the school system.
If international students’ English-language skills are inadequate for regular English courses, they are put into English as a Second Language/English Language Learners (ESL/ELL) classes.
In B.C., students need at least 80 course credits to graduate from high school. That creates a problem because students cannot earn credits from ESL classes.
On top of that, in order to graduate, students must also have credits for English 10, 11, and 12, as well as provincial exam marks for English 10 and 12.
“Everyone wants to graduate on time, so they rush through our ELL programs,” explains Gleneagle Secondary’s head counsellor Bindy Johal.
She sees many international students drop English 10 because of failing marks, but that makes graduating on time even harder.
Some try to earn these credits in other ways, such as taking online courses.
Johal doesn’t believe that is a good idea. Online courses lack the “face-to-face” element that is important when learning English, she said.
Iqbal Gill, a counselor at University Hill Secondary, said it is expensive for international students to study in Canada, and parents are unwilling to accept that their children will not graduate on time.
Gill said that students are being sent to Vancouver at younger ages to have more time to learn language skills. But this can be a double-edged sword, since it is harder for younger children to be away from parents, she says.
“There are times when I see (young international students) struggling, and it would be really nice if they could be with their families,” said Gill.
Another challenge is that international students’ proficiency in English also affects their mark in other classes. They understand the concepts behind math and science courses, but the language barrier brings their marks down. This also pulls down their admission average for universities.
Park has had to retake Biology 11 after failing last semester because she did not understand many questions.
International students who want to enter university must also meet specific English requirements. Not only do they have to complete English proficiency entrance exams, they need a minimum grade in their English classes. For example, the University of B.C. sets its admission minimum at 70 per cent for English 11 or 12 courses, while at Simon Fraser University the minimum is 60 per cent.
The ESL courses and outside tutoring that many international students sign up for also take away from time that could be spent on other subjects.
Luan, who is interested in computer sciences, could not take the electives he wanted during his first year because he was enrolled in four ESL classes.
Due to the intense focus on improving their English, many international students also miss out on extra-curricular activities, something that universities look for in admissions.
Park said that because of tutoring sessions, she no longer has time for volunteering or sports.
Faced with these pressures, counsellors say students need to accept that it is going to take extra time to learn the language.
Students should not be pressurized to rush their education, and are welcome to stay longer than usual in high school, said Johal.
Youmy Han is a Grade 12 student at Gleneagle Secondary School