Amitabh Sharma, Features Coordinator

Andrea Glover (right), senior high school admissions coordinator at Florida Metropolitan University, speaks with students at her booth during the Edujam 2007 International Education Fair at the Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

The graph for Canada is rising and it is not only its currency that is on an upward swing, but the country's education institutions are also cashing in on the growth potential.

Sixteen of that nation's colleges and universities participated in the Edujam 2007 International Education Fair organised by Eduventures. This constitutes almost half of the total number of participants in the fair.

"We are a robust economy and offer a quality lifestyle," said Blair Bobyk, political/economic counsellor at the High Commission of Canada in Kingston.

"We have seen an increase in the presence of the Canadian institutions from previous years," said Aldain Reid, organiser of Edujam 2007.

trend

The trend to go to Canada for tertiary education has been on the rise. "In 2006, we issued 153 visas for Jamaican students going to Canada," informed Bobyk.

The institutions are giving incentives to encourage Jamaican students to enrol. "We are offering $2,000 (Canadian) scholarship to Jamaican students," said Bhanu Vashishth, recruitment and business development officer, Niagara College. Vashishth, who had immigrated from India five years ago, finds Canada a very nice place to live.

A student is eligible to work after the completion of the degree. "We have provision where the student can work for one year, if he or she is in the metropolitan cities, and for two years, if their institution is outside the metropolitan areas," said Bobyk.

The institutions are offering a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, from business administration to life sciences. Media and journalism are among the popular programmes.

"Earlier, there were a lot of enquiries for medicine and law programmes," said Michael Ferdinand, international student development advisor Seneca College.

"Now, students are enquiring about journalism, architecture, accountancy and business administration."

bull run

The recent bull run of the Canadian dollar vis-à-vis the Jamaican dollar is not deterring the students from looking into options.

Officials say it is still a cheaper option compared to other countries.

"On average, a tertiary degree costs 11,000 to 14,000 Canadian dollars per annum," said Carol Hart, media officer at the High Commission of Canada. "This is much less than what a student would have to pay in the U.S. or the U.K."

The Edujam fair, which is in its third year, also has representatives from institutions from the United States and the United Kingdom. The University of the West Indies and the University of Technology are also participating. The two-day fair concluded in Kingston on Wednesday. The fair concluded at the Holiday Inn, Sun Spree Hotel in Montego Bay, yesterday.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com