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Nazuk Jain has just landed herself an internship with RIM, the prestigious company that manufactures Blackberrys. Nazuk is a third year computer engineering student from Chandigarh at Ryerson University, Toronto, where her good school marks earned her a scholarship. But it was more than the scholarship that attracted Nazuk to Canada. “ There are so many Indians in Toronto, so one feels quite comfortable,” she says. “Moreover, Ryerson has an excellent engineering department, and classes are not more than 50. So, you’re not just a number.” Nazuk is not the only one who feels this way. The high quality of Canadian higher education, that too at affordable rates, is slowly attracting many students like Nazuk. Suhas, an architecture student from Mumbai is learning animation and gaming at Sheridan College in Toronto, where so many of the Emmy, Oscar and Genie award winners have studied. Samarth Modwal, a student from DPS, New Delhi, has chosen to study at McGill University, Montreal, an institution that has produced Nobel Laureates, prime ministers, astronauts, Olympic medallists and business leaders. “Even though this is a large and very prestigious university, you are made to feel special,” says Samarth. Jatinder Chaudhury from Ludhiana is another student upbeat about his programme—a diploma in power engineering from the North Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton, which he knows will fetch him a job in the country starting at Canadian $ 50,000. Study in diversity You just don’t learn the ‘whys’, but also the ‘how’s’, according to Mohit Dang, doing Entrepreneurship and Family Business management at the University of Alberta. The co-op programme offered by many colleges exposes students to the practical aspects of their study programmes, and the relevant needs of industry. Students work in their chosen field while also attending classes in college. In this way, they gain on-the-job-experience, which can help them find a suitable job once the studies are completed. Students also benefit from the cutting-edge research carried out by many institutions. Applied research, prototype and product development as well as commercialisation of new research is often undertaken by a college or institute in partnership with business and industry. The closer connection to the working world also provides opportunities for networking and a quicker transition from graduation into the workforce. Have drive, will learn McMaster University in Toronto, the heart of Canada’s automotive industry, with an automobile simulator to boot, is a research and education leader in the development of new materials, design standards and computational solutions for the growing fields in engineering and science. It works in partnership with industry, including automobile companies like GM Canada. The University of Alberta’s strong faculty of sciences, particularly in areas such as computer gaming has helped incubate over 63 new commercial ventures. Most universities are large and offer hundreds of different subjects in the arts, sciences or business. A bachelor’s degree at a university usually takes four years. You can choose any subjects in the first two years and then focus on those you wish to graduate in, in the last two years. The flexibility of the system enables you to select courses from different disciplines. The University of Toronto also encourages first and second year students to join special research groups which could be steered by master teachers, or attended by special invitees — literature students could be lucky enough to get a session with Margaret Atwood! Course clues Community colleges offer certificate and diploma programmes in professional and vocational courses. What is refreshing to know is that a degree is not the only option for higher education or a professional qualification. Diploma and certificate courses for a variety of vocational, technical and professional skills offered by community colleges and vocational institutes can also fetch equally promising jobs. Most courses range from 1-2 years for diploma programmes to 3-4 year courses for degrees. It is also possible to start with a diploma, work for a couple of years, and then graduate with a degree, whenever you are ready for it. Colleges like George Brown in Toronto and Algonquin College in Ottawa offer a range of courses in photonics and commercial pilot training to business administration, fitness and health promotion and television broadcasting, that ensure students graduate with industry experience. Students of the hotel management and culinary arts at George Brown College, not only train and operate a fully functional and popular restaurant Siegfried’s, but are much in demand by the hospitality industry in Canada. Algonquin College boasts of a $1.3-million nursing simulation lab with the latest in training technology. Community college diplomas and degrees can take from one to four years depending on the programme. You can also take a transfer from one kind of programme to another, or top up your diploma course with a university degree. Facilities galore All institutions offer well-equipped, modern facilities including computer labs with Internet connections and individual e-mail addresses for students — high standards of facilities and faculties. It is not surprising therefore that Canada’s higher education system attracts a large number of international students from all parts of the world. A number of student support programmes help students cope with living conditions and study courses. Academic support and study counselling is provided at many institutions. A Learning Commons at Queens University at Kingston puts students facing difficulty with any subject, in touch with those who can help, while a Writing Centre helps students with writing of essays. There are also career counselling services at every campus, as well as employment and job search assistance, and special facilities for students with disabilities. All campuses have a number of clubs and associations and centres for social and recreational facilities. There are Indian Student associations that celebrate all the major Indian festivals, and also assist new students in settling into college life. Nazuk is a peer supporter who makes new students feel at home. Samarth does one better — he phones new students in India, before they come to the university and prepares them with information and any useful tips about the university. Value for money Easing the path further is the knowledge that world-class higher education facilities can be available at a price which is extremely cost competitive. And because cost is a major factor of consideration, Indian students find that living and tuition costs in Canada are significantly lower than for comparable programmes in other countries. Tuition fees for international students in Canada range from Canadian $ 8000 to15,000, while living costs are around $ 10,000. Such costs come with another bonus — the promise of a work permit for two years after your study in all parts of the country, except for the MTV cities — Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, where you can work for one year. Moreover, if students get a job in Canada after completing their course, they can apply for a work permit. This is a major incentive for study in this spanking clean, open and vast country, the second largest in the world, with a population of 33 million, that could easily fit into our two major cities, Delhi and Mumbai. Moreover, if you study in Canada you qualify for points that also make you eligible for immigration. Canada is in a high growth stage right now, and is in great need of qualified professionals in a large number of career fields — from engineers and technicians to work in the oil country of Alberta, to hotel managers, chefs, beauticians, computer specialists, accountants and many others. Aftab Khan from Lahore drove us to our hotel from the airport in Edmonton. He was earning some extra pocket money while studying engineering at the University of Alberta so as to bring along his family from Pakistan, once his immigration comes through. As a country, Canada offers an opportunity for learning, and a great lifestyle. Dynamic cosmopolitan cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver offer a range of entertainment and social services, with possibly the best quality of living. It is a sparsely populated country, with a highly developed infrastructure. So much so, there is no congestion, a high standard of living and virtually crime free —a green and safe environment to live in. This is an important factor of consideration, particularly for parents. International students also feel very welcome in Canada. Strolling through a university or college campus is like visiting the United Nations, practically every nationality appears to be represented. Music blares from the student centres, and food flavours wafting in the air range from sandwiches and sushi to pastas and Far East cuisines. Most campuses exude a friendly and casual environment, and little to distinguish students from teachers, as everyone here is on first name terms. And Canadians are friendly easy-going people, famous for their laid-back attitude and warm hospitality — quite different from their aggressive, pushy neighbour in the south. “It’s a warm and friendly environment,” says Errol Lobo, a graduate of the John Molson Business School at Concordia University in Montreal, who liked it enough to stay on to join the faculty, after his MBA programme two years ago. The writer is a noted
career expert
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With highly sophisticated facilities and a reputation to go with it, Canada surprisingly draws few students from India. Yet, most campuses are multi-cultural and diverse with students from over 50-100 different nationalities. Courses range from research programmes in aerospace or health, to a range of degrees and diplomas in business, agriculture, engineering and design. What is of significance for Indian students is that many of the high-level qualifications combine theory with career-ready, hands-on experience. 
