The Higher Education Review

With the presence of many interna- tionally acclaimed universities, which are known for their high academic standards and empha- sis on research in post-secondary education, more than 200,000 top international students and researchers choose to study in Canada each year. Ranked in the world's top 100 universities, and the top 4 in Canada, University of Alberta is one of the premier universities in the country that offers a first-class educa- tion with leading research in a truly inspiring environ- ment. The University also has a strong relationship with India that continues to grow through new partnerships and relations, as well as a strong Indian student commu- nity on campus. Hence, not only do students receive a world-class education at University of Alberta, they also benefit from an existing and friendly Indian community.

Dr. Cen Huang, Executive Director of International Relations and Recruitment & Assistant Vice-President (International), University of Alberta says, “We have close to 100 faculty members and 600 current students from India. Many distinguished alumni are also from India. In fact, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and distinguished Indian historian RomilaThapur have honorary doctorates! The University of Alberta even has a Dr. Manmohan Singh Prize in Economics that is offered to a top student in the department of Economics.”

The University of Alberta offers more than CAD$22 million in undergraduate scholarships each year. This includes multiple scholarships specifically designated for Indian students.

Each year, thousands of international students choose to study at University of Alberta because of its high world ranking, highly respectedteaching and research facilities, great scholarship opportunities, high level of support for international students, wealth of career opportunities, and affordable tuition.“We are connected to the world and provide outstanding initiatives for students to play an active role in research at the undergraduate and graduate levels,” says Dr. Huang. The University of Alberta currently holds 700 agreements with 80 different countries. These include academic programs, internships, research agreements and work experience programs. Hence, international students at the University of Alberta truly have the chance to make a difference in the world by working side- by-side with research experts who are known all over the world for their excellence.The main campus of University of Alberta is also home to world-class facilities like the National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT), the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CCIS), the brand new 28,400 m2 Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering and the second largest research library system in Canada. Today, the University of Alberta is taking a lead role in Canada-India research collaboration, currently holding 33 agreements with various institutions in India. This includes the Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence (IC-IMPACTS), which was established to develop new technologies to ensure health, safety and sustainability for remote and rural communities in both countries. The University also hosts interns from IITs and other top Indian institutions for summer internships, through the University of Alberta Research Experience (U ARE), IC- IMPACTS and the MITACS Globalink program.

Being an International university that is highly focused in creating new knowledge, many faculties at University of Alberta offer certificate programs, such as the Certificate in International Learning and the Certificate in Sustainability, which can be completed during a regular degree and offer students the opportunity to enhance their understanding of a particular topic and gain more credentials in their chosen field of work. “We offer over 200 undergraduate programs across 18 academic faculties. Engineering, Business and Science are some of the most popular Faculties for Indian students, all of which are ranked highly in North America and offer a wide range of concentrations,” shares Dr. Huang. At the University of Alberta, many academic programs have access to cooperative and work experience programs as well as field schools, which will help gain real industry and hands-on experience before graduating. In addition to these aspects, the location of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, a modern, welcoming, capital city of 1 million people, which boasts the largest urban parkland in North America, is a major attraction to many international students.

“Edmonton is a thriving city with many experiential learning and work-related opportunities that will help Indian students achieve success in their future career,” says Dr. Huang. Edmonton is the perfect blend of a thriving business atmosphere with a strong economy and industry, paired with the natural Canadian beauty and serenity of the outdoors. The University of Alberta North Campus is minutes from the downtown area and surrounded by the river valley, full of hiking trails and scenic views of the water and the city skyline. “Be excited and come in with an open mind! Canadians are very friendly and here at University of Alberta, we provide a lot of support to ensure that international students have the best opportunity to make friends and excel in their programs,” concludes Dr. Huang.