Canada offers affordable education

Image via WikipediaKota Kinabalu: Canada is alternative for Sabah students planning affordable and world-class education, abroad, said State Education Exco Member Datuk Masidi Manjun.

"Normally when we think of studying overseas, it's either UK or AustraliaÉI think it's time for us to emphasise the need to find new places.

"We need to make smart decision and not just a decision where to send our children É Canada is far but education wise, it is a potential country for our students to seek knowledge.

"We need to find new environment and environment shape the way we are and the way we think. It's not just about passing grade É We should look beyond our normal thinking," he said at the Canadian Education fair 2011 in Hyatt Hotel, Tuesday.

The High Commission of Canada in Malaysia hosted the Education Fairs in the State capital in hope of attracting more Sabahans to choose Canada as their first choice of education.

Masidi stressed that students and parents must first think of financial aspect as a whole and secondly the education environmental aspect and last but not least the affordability before choosing to study abroad.

"Studying in UK or even in Australia is much expensiveÉbut Canada offers affordable education compared to other countries.

Also the good thing about studying there is that it is legal to work while you are studying," he added.

Senior Trade Commissioner of Canada High Commission in Malaysia Douglas Bingeman said Canada offers flexibility with respect to employment and immigration.

"For students interested in a job during their study it is possible to work up to 20 hours on or off-campus in most Canadian provinces.

Even for students who do not need to work this provides an excellent opportunity to experience Canada and bring back this valuable experience to Malaysia."

He added that over 600 Malaysian students chose to study in Canada every year.

"More than 70,000 Malaysians have studied in Canada since the days of the Colombo Plan, many of them from East Malaysia.

He also said that most Malaysians who studied in Canada applied for courses such as engineering, business and actuarial science, among others.

"Average annual tuition fees are approximately $13,000 (about RM40,000). Most universities in Canada are public and partly funded by the various levels of government.

"The quality of education is also very high and importantly, consistent from one institution to another.

Indeed four Canadian universities ranked in the top 100 in he last Webometric world university ranking," he said.

He further stressed that Canada remains "a safe and welcoming multi-ethnic place to live and the lifestyle is second to none", adding quality of life indicators consistently put Canada at or near the top this regard.

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Post Grad Work Permit Program Expanded

Image via WikipediaOperational Bulletin 262 – January 31, 2011
Launch of a Pilot Program to Expand the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program for International Students Graduating from Designated Private Post-Secondary Institutions in British Columbia

Summary

Effective January 31, 2011, the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) has been expanded to include international students who have completed career training programs of eight months or longer at select private educational institutions in British Columbia.

Issue

Under a two-year Pilot Program with British Columbia, the PGWPP has been expanded to include international students graduating from select British Columbia Education Quality Assurance (EQA)-designated private post-secondary institutions in programs of eight months or longer.


IMPORTANT: All work permits (WP) issued under this Pilot Program must be coded as indicated below (see Special Program Code under System Instructions) to support an effective evaluation of the Pilot.

New Pilot Parameters

This Pilot will be in effect between January 31, 2011, and January 31, 2013, inclusively and may be extended with a mutual agreement between the parties. These dates refer only to the period in which qualifying WPs can be issued and not to the duration of the WPs. The terms of the Pilot will apply only to qualifying foreign nationals who have graduated from eligible programs of study at select EQA-designated, private post-secondary institutions in the province of British Columbia (see list under Eligible Institutions).

Pilot Procedures

All of the general eligibility criteria, conditions of the WP and processing procedures for the PGWPP will continue to apply in conjunction with the following guidelines for the Pilot Program:

A) Eligible Participants

Applicants wishing to participate in this Pilot Program must meet the following additional criteria to qualify for a WP:

· Must have graduated from one of the EQA-designated private post-secondary institutions in the Province of British Columbia designated by the Province of British Columbia as eligible institutions for the purposes of this Pilot which are listed below “Eligible Institutions” during the validity period of the Pilot Program; and

· Must have completed a program of study that is at least eight months in length and received a degree, diploma or certificate upon completion. Furthermore, only career training programs will qualify for this pilot. General interest courses, or programs of study that consist primarily of English or French as Second Language instruction will not qualify.

B) Eligible Institutions

The following EQA-designated institutions have been named by the Province of British Columbia as eligible institutions under this Pilot Program:

· Degree-Granting Institutions: Alexander College; Columbia College; Fairleigh Dickinson University Vancouver; Quest University Canada; Sprott-Shaw Degree College; Trinity Western University; University Canada West; and

· Non-Degree Granting Institution: Arbutus College of Communication Arts, Business and Technology; Ashton College; Centre for Arts and Technology; Eton College; John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts; Mountain Transport Institute Ltd.; MTI Community College; Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts; Sprott-Shaw Community College; Stenberg College; Vancouver Film School.

C) Post-Graduation Work Permit Issuance

· Consult section 5.24 of Overseas Processing (OP) 12 Manual – Students.

· Use labour market opinion (LMO) exemption code C-43 in conjunction with paragraph 205(c)(ii) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations in support of the “competitiveness of Canada’s academic institutions or economy.”

· Verify the eligibility of applicants pursuant to existing procedures to ensure that they meet the requirements of the pilot and the broader PGWPP.

· Issue an open or open/restricted (depending on medical examination requirements, if applicable) WP to eligible applicants.

D) System Instructions

Special Program Code: Officers are required to use the NEW Special Program Code “ISP” (the long description is International Student Pilot Program for B.C.) in FOSS, GCMS, CAIPS, or, for inland processing, in the drop-down menu in the CPC system under “Special Programs”, for applicants meeting the requirements of the Pilot. The use of this special program code is mandatory and it will be important for statistical research, evaluation and policy development purposes.

E) Validity and Duration

A WP issued under this Pilot, like any other issued under the PGWPP, may be valid up to a maximum of three years depending on the duration of the program of study. If the program of study is two years or more, the student may be eligible for a three-year WP. Should the program of study be less than two years but at least eight months, the student may be eligible for a WP lasting for a period equal to the duration of the studies. For example, if the student graduated from an eight-month certificate program, he or she may only be eligible for a WP of an eight-month duration.

F) Program Integrity Monitoring

To remain eligible to participate in this Pilot, an institution must continue to maintain its EQA designation and comply with the guidelines of the Pilot and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its Regulations. In circumstances where an institution loses its EQA designation, the Province of British Columbia will notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the graduates of the institution in question will no longer be eligible for the Post Graduation WP as of the day the institution loses its EQA status. However, in the interest of administrative fairness, all applications received by CIC before the date of the EQA revocation, will be processed accordingly.

Note: An institution may be removed from participating in this Pilot if that institution is found to be non-compliant with the Pilot’s guidelines and/or IRPA and its Regulations.

G) Program Evaluation

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will be performed in partnership with the Province of British Columbia to determine the success of the Pilot Program.

H) Further Information

For additional information relating to the PGWPP, please refer to the CIC website atwww.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp.

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Information for students educated abroad who want to study in Canada

Image via WikipediaEvery year, thousands of students come to Canada to study in a variety of postsecondary and higher-education institutions. They acquire valuable skills and knowledge, as well as the enriching experience of living and studying in a new and different environment. When they return home, these students expect that their newly acquired skills and knowledge will be recognized for purposes of further study or for practising their chosen profession or trade.
Ensuring that the Canadian program or institution you select will meet your objectives will help you to avoid a potential loss of time and money. Before seeking admission to a Canadian university, college, school, or other type of postsecondary or higher-education institution, it is important to have answers to a number of questions:

1. Will the studies I would like to pursue at a Canadian institution allow me to reach my goals?
It is advised that you enquire with the competent authorities (e.g., professional organizations, higher-education institutions, government bodies, regulatory agencies governing professions) about the recognition of foreign studies in your country or in the country where you intend to continue your studies or to practise your profession. While no authority can guarantee acceptance of a foreign degree or credentials, it is a good idea to verify the probable value of such a credential before seeking admission to a university, college, or school (in Canada or elsewhere).
2. How do I find the program/institution that interests me?
A number of provinces and territories, as well as membership associations, maintain databases of the programs offered by their institutions. Some provinces also provide a centralized on-line registration system for prospective international students. We list all such resources at http://www.cicic.ca/679/postsecondary-programs.canada.
Our Directory of Universities, Colleges and Schools in the Provinces and Territories of Canada, at http://www.cicic.ca/395/directory-of-universities-colleges-and-schools.canada, lists Canada's recognized, authorized, registered, and licensed institutions, with links to their Web sites, program listings, and information for international students, when available.
The Imagine Education au/in Canada Web site, a joint initiative of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), at http://www.educationau-incanada.ca/, contains information about study programs, visa requirements, and more.
The nearest Canadian diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) in your country can also assist you in your search.
3. Is the institution/program I chose recognized in Canada?
What is recognition? In Canada, education is the responsibility of provincial and territorial governments. Provincial legislation gives universities the right to operate as degree-granting institutions and regulates the establishment of colleges.
To verify whether an institution is recognized or authorized to grant degrees, diplomas, or certificates, consult our Directory of Universities, Colleges and Schools in the Provinces and Territories of Canada, at http://www.cicdi.ca/395/directory-of-universities-colleges-and-schools-in-canada.canada.
Which are the best universities in Canada? There is no formal ranking of universities and colleges in Canada. In fact, it is widely recognized that, across the country, postsecondary programs are remarkably uniform in quality. For a more in-depth study of recognition and accreditation procedures in Canada, see our publication Quality Assurance Practices for Postsecondary Institutions in Canada.
Distance education: Many Canadian universities and colleges offer courses and programs on-line. This means you can get a head start on a Canadian education before coming to Canada by taking one or two on-line courses. If you are not able to come to Canada, you can earn a recognized Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate without leaving home. More information about on-line and distance education is available at http://www.cicic.ca/668/online-and-distance-education.canada.
4. What do I do once I have decided to enroll in a program at a Canadian institution?
IMPORTANT: The admission application process can take considerable time; you should start at least one year in advance to compile the necessary information and documentation.
How to get your credentials assessed: Once you have decided which universities or colleges you wish to apply to for admission, you should write directly to the institution's office of admissions (for undergraduate and college programs) or office of graduate admissions (for graduate programs) and ask for detailed application information and forms. The office of admissions will inform you of the documentation, translation, and visa requirements. The institution's decision is usually announced four to six months after the application deadline, although this can vary from one institution to another.
In some jurisdictions, applications can be submitted electronically. Visit the following Web sites for more information:
Alberta: Alberta Learning Information Service - Electronic Application Service http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/learning/ao/postsecondary.asp
British Columbia: Post-Secondary Application Service of British Columbia (PASBC) https://portal.bccampus.ca/render.userLayoutRootNode.uP?uP_tname=Login_and_Apply_for_Admission
Ontario: Ontario Universities Application Centre: http://www.ouac.on.ca/ Ontario Colleges Application Service: http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/
Quebec (cégeps) Montreal region: http://www.sram.qc.ca/ Quebec City region: http://www.sraq.qc.ca/ Saguenay/Lac St-Jean region: http://www.srasl.qc.ca/
Language requirements: Most institutions in Canada require demonstration of proficiency in their language of instruction (either English or French), usually through the achievement of a certain minimum score in a standardized language test. You should confirm the details of the language requirement with the office of admissions of the university or college to which you are applying.
Student visas: It is advised that you contact the nearest Canadian visa office (embassy or consulate) in your country for information about entry requirements. You can obtain information about student authorizations on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Web site, at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp.
Cost of education: The Imagine Education au/in Canada Web site, a joint initiative of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), at http://www.educationau-incanada.ca/, will help you to calculate the cost of studying in Canada. It also contains information about study programs, visa requirements, and more.
5. Financial assistance
You should contact the government of your country of citizenship or the financial aid office of the university or college you wish to attend to obtain information about scholarships and other award opportunities. You can find more information about academic exchange and financial aid programs for permanent residents and foreign students at http://www.cicic.ca/389/student-financial-assistance.canada.
Working while studying in Canada: You may be able to work on or off campus in Canada while you are here as a student. There may also be limited employment opportunities for graduate students, such as teaching assistantships or research assistantships; if you are studying for a master's degree or a Ph.D., you may be able to work at your institution as a teaching or research assistant. You should enquire about this possibility when you apply for admission. Consult the Studying in Canada: Work permits for students site, at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work.asp, for details.
The Canadian Experience Class: Once you have graduated from a Canadian postsecondary institution, you may apply to stay in Canada permanently. Consult the Canadian Experience Class: Who can apply – Requirements for graduates Web site, at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english//immigrate/cec/graduates.asp, for more information.

If you need additional advice, please visit www.nexuscanadaimmigration.com

Source: http://www.cicic.ca/392/admission-to-universities-and-colleges.canada

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Canadian education among best in the world: OECD

Image via WikipediaCTV.ca News Staff Canada is a world leader when it comes to education, according to a new study from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The report, released Tuesday, says Canada is especially unique because its immigrant students perform well and socio-economic background seems to have little effect on performance.
The study was based on scores from testing in 2009 through the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment.
"Canada stands out not just because of its high overall performance but also because the impact of socio-economic background on educational outcomes is much less pronounced than in most Western nations," said Andreas Schleicher, of the OECD, in a video posted on the organization's website.
"An example is the extraordinary performance of Canada's immigrant children."
When studying Canada's education system and the results from each province, Schleicher said he was struck by the high expectations that immigrant families have for their children "and even more by the fact those expectations are by and large held by educators as well."
On reading, science and mathematics, Canada finished in fifth place behind Shanghai-China, Korea, Finland, Hong Kong-China and Singapore.
Scores in all three categories were well above the OECD average.
The U.S., by contrast, was 17th overall.
When broken down by region, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia tied with four other jurisdictions for second place in reading, following Shanghai-China.
The report said Canada proved to be an exception to at least one rule.
Canada is the only country in the developed world with no federal office or education department, the report states. Instead, education is a provincial and territorial responsibility. But surprisingly, the report said, the system seems to be working just fine.
"Canada demonstrates, rather surprisingly, that success can be achieved without a national strategy," the report states.
"This observation runs counter to the instincts of many of those who sit in policy seats and seek to effect change, but the fact is that Canada has achieved success on PISA across its provinces despite a limited to non-existent federal role."
However, the study also points out that some Canadian leaders, including Liberal MP and former Ontario education minister Gerard Kennedy, "are now trying to mount a more national strategy, arguing that education is too important to be left entirely to the provinces."
The study is compiled from results of tests administered to 15-year-old students in about 70 countries, every three years in math, science and reading.
About 22,000 Canadian students took the test, and about 470,000 worldwide.

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Canadian immigration consultant regulator gives public a look at internal operations

The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) gave the public a glimpse at its internal operations today through a video presentation that puts a face to the organization, its departments and its staff.
“CSIC embraces transparency in our governance, and now we’re going one step further to give the public and our members a look at our internal operations,” said CSIC Chair Nigel Thomson.
The video shows CSIC’s small, diverse staff, which has accomplished great things by working together with limited resources. Working together in many different roles, CSIC’s registration, education, complaints and discipline, legal, compliance, member practice aide, finance and administration, policy, communications and intelligence departments have been highly effective in pursuing CSIC’s mandate to protect consumers of immigration consulting services.
“Since 2004, CSIC has shut out more than 800 agents, and disciplined more than 225 consultants. These numbers demonstrate that CSIC is an effective regulatory body that acts in the public interest. With this video we’re giving the public an idea of the day-to-day operations that help CSIC perform its vital regulatory activities,” said Thomson.

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