Canada improves access to off-campus jobs

Diane Finley, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, has announced a new online application system that should make it easier for foreign students to apply for off-campus work permits.

International students can now complete and submit their application online, anywhere and anytime. The system will only accept completed applications, thereby minimising approval delays that had previously occurred  when incomplete forms needed to be returned.

Full-time students in public post-secondary institutions have the right to work off-campu. “By making it easier for international students to work off campus, we are making Canada a more attractive destination for international students,” said Finley. “We want foreign students to choose Canada. We want them to gain experience, and to contribute to our economy while they are here.”

Bell’s new teacher focus

Bell International, based in the UK, is launching a new Teacher Campus next year as a centre for professional development courses for English language teachers worldwide.

Participants on the professional programmes will live on-site at Homerton College at Cambridge University and be able to attend conference-style workshops as well as standard lessons on language and methodology. Bruce Milne, Product Development Manager at Bell, said that guest speakers would also deliver some of the afternoon sessions.

The aim is to create a campus of non-native English teachers from around the world. Milne commented, “A single campus location will create a lot of synergy, give lots of opportunity for professional exchange and the chance to forge international friendships.” Read more in our October issue.

Awards in New Zealand

Education New Zealand held its annual conference last month and rewarded four of its members for excellence in international education provision at the annual awards ceremony. National Trade Academy (NTA) in Christchurch was one of the winners (see grapevine, right) as was Victoria University in Wellington, which shared the prize with NTA for Innovation in an International Programme. Victoria University was honoured for its decision to open a campus in Ho Chi Minh City.