Canada to launch iCARE for Indians

_{Charu Sudan Kasturi, Hindustan Times New Delhi, February 16, 2011}

Thousands of Indian students applying to Canadian universities may no longer run the risk of a Tri-Valley University (TVU) repeat under a unique plan aimed at students concerned after recent instances of fraud abroad. The Canada India Education Council (CIEC), which coordinates educational ties between the two countries, plans to launch iCARE, an agent certification process, this July ahead of the Fall 2011 academic session. Around 12,000 Indian students are currently studying in Canada.

Senior Canadian government officials have told HT that the Federal government is backing the initiative that it hopes will help Canada emerge an alternate destination for Indian students seeking to study abroad.

"Students in India are worried about studying abroad after the TVU scam and the recent instances of fraud and race attacks in Australia. We believe that if we pitch Canada appropriately, we can show Indian students that our country is a very attractive alternative," a senior Canadian official said.

The iCARE process will allow Indian students keen on studying in Canada to ensure that education agents are certified, CIEC Executive Director Husain F Neemuchwala said.

The CIEC-modeled on the lines of the United States India Education Foundation (USIEF)- is particularly critical for Indo-Canadian ties because Canada does not have a federal education department. Education is managed by each Province. The CIEC is an NGO, but is supported by the Canadian Government.

But Canada is keenly pushing its education as a major source of revenue- to be earned from foreign students. India at present falls behind China, the US, Mexico and a handful of other countries in the number of students it sends to Canada.

Showing 2 comments

V Raju
i think this shall be a fantastic window for Indian Students who are looking for quality education abroad. Instances like Tri-valley may be avoided. I would be optimistic and more so because this is a NGO startup which bears promise of being responsive and innovative change agents and not educrats or red-tapes that often does nothing but add inefficiency to the entire system

Social Activist
The Tri Valley University scam could not have been undertaken without the support of agencies that dupe students and make tall claims to help increase their profits. While the University may be closed down and the students deported, the agents still go scot free and continue to cheat many thousands. The innocent students mainly from smaller pockets of India literally sell/pledge all their assets to fulfill their dream of studying abroad. Organizations such as the CIEC must be greatly appreciated for their efforts towards helping improve the system. Someone needs to clean up the mess and the ICARE seems to be a progressive step towards this mission. While UK has British Council, Australia has IDP, US has USEFI and Singapore has STB, it is high time that the Canadian Education system is well represented by an organization like this. Being set up as a not-for-profit, as a Parent, this gives me a good feeling that my child will now be able to pursue his dream and not be chained or radio tagged like criminals in a foreign land!

I first had contact with the Canada India Education Council (CIEC), less than one year ago. Based on a forty minute “cold call”, it became evident that if Fleming College wished to pursue a faculty recognized and supported professional development initiative in India, brokers, support and advice were required. Indeed, Fleming College received that and much more. In less than five months, not only has Fleming College gained membership to CIEC, we have just recently completed a faculty exchange with a ‘sister’ college in Mumbai. Now we are moving forward on the imaginative piece with the educational synergy that has taken place within the Canada/India corridor! CIEC on more than one occasion visited Fleming Campus to debrief outbound faculty, discuss logistics, assist in executing a tailor-planned international itinerary, as well as provide network coordinates to name just a few. Fleming College cannot begin to articulate the patience, assistance, time and enthusiasm that we have been so very fortunate to receive from CIEC.
On a personal note, Mr. Neemuchwala and Dr. Sheila Embleton have opened up a whole new professional engagement network.

L. Faith Ratchford, PhD
Faculty Development Facilitator,
Fleming College

Durham College engaged the services of Canada India Education Council (CIEC) to assist in the planning and coordination of a trip to India for the purpose of meeting with student recruitment agencies and agents in the following cities: New Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai. The trip was well organized and was very productive for the College. Nevzat Gurmen, V/P Finance and CFO, and Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald, Director of International Business Development met with numerous agents, businessmen and women, and educational professionals during the stay in India. Both Nevzat and Sandy had a far better concept and understanding of India and the way that business is conducted in India after their trip. The trip to India set the parameters in place that enabled the college to contract with an Indian company located in New Delhi to procure an office location for the College as well as employ a person who will act as the South Asia representative for Durham College throughout India.

Nevzat Gurmen
VP/Finance, CFO
Durham College or Applied Arts and Technology