The BC Council for International Education (BCCIE), working together with the Ministry of Advanced Education and the Ministry of International Trade, was recently asked to assist in the planning of the Premier’s Trade Mission to India this October. We’re pleased to report the Mission was a great success enabling close partnerships between BC and Indian educational institutions.

The Education component of the Mission highlighted the nexus between Education and Innovation.  The broad sector objectives of the Mission include the following:

• To raise awareness of the great potential for education partnership, exchange, joint research, investment and recruitment between BC and India
• To create opportunities for internships and vocational cooperation
• To create opportunities for graduate exchange and joint research
• To create opportunities and awareness of opportunities for graduate and undergraduate recruitment in India
• To renew old relationships and build new ones between BC and India
• To communicate at home and in India the importance of India in BC’s economic growth.

India remains a top source country for international students to BC. In 2012/2013 there were 4,600 Indian students studying in the province, with 2,600 in public post-secondary institutions and 2,000 in private. This figure represents the highest growth rate (188 %) of all source countries between 2009/10 and 2012/2013. With the assistance of government funding, between 2012 and 2014, 35 % of the international students in the Mitacs Globalink program in British Columbia were from India.

For more information on the mission, please refer to the provincial government newsroom page.