Canadian univs in Mumbai to woo bright students

Eyeing more students from India, top Canadian Universities are currently visiting the best schools in India providing “personal guidance” to hundreds of potential candidates.

Officials of nine Universities of Canada, including British Columbia University, Carleton and Toronto University,  landed in Mumbai Sunday.

The two-day campaign started in Mumbai on Monday. Seven international schools—Jamnabai Narsee, Dhirubhai Ambani Interational, American School of Bombay, Singapore International School, Ryan Global and Ecole Mondiale and Oberai International School — were shortlisted for the purpose. “The interaction is aimed at academically strong 11th and 12th graders from India,” says Preeti Prabhu, trade commissioner of Canadian consulate in Mumbai.

The students were told about the quality and diversity of Canadian higher education, the benefits of studying in Canada like availability of study-and-work options, job opportunities and admission procedure.

Leader of the delegation of nine universities, Robert Finlayson from Carleton University, says, “Indian undergraduate students are very important to us as they are academically very strong. They also bring a multicultural environment to our educational institutions, making them stronger.”

Over 12,049 Indian students were studying in Canada in 2011, a figure which was double as compared to 2009.

Indian students form the second-biggest group in Canada after China. The rising interest of Indian students in Canadian schools is attributed to relaxed immigration policy and cheaper education ($15,000-25,000) as compared the US and the UK.  Delegation of Canadian Universities would also visit Delhi, Dehradun, Hyderabad and Bangalore in next few days.