Studying in Canada

Orginially published in the October-November-December 2021 issue of Voyageur magazine.

Sending one’s children abroad to study is a big decision. My parents made just such decision and chose Canada as the destination for my post-secondary education when I was 18. Canada was their choice because of its reputation as a safe, friendly and welcoming culture. Besides, Canadian universities were known for their quality education and fair treatment of international students. In hindsight, my parents could not have made a better choice. Canada and the University of Alberta, my alma mater, have proven these popular attributes of Canada to be spot-on in my personal experience.

Universities are often a reflection of their societies. The Canadian values of fairness, equality and openness are firmly entrenched in the culture of Canadian universities.

I have experienced them both as an international student and an administrator. Indeed, academic excellence and a safe student environ are found on most campuses in Canada. The welcoming and harmonious social atmosphere in Canada provides just the necessary environment for international students to thrive and excel while studying abroad. As for academic quality, a defining characteristic of Canada’s post-secondary education system is its consistent academic quality of undergraduate programs across the country. A Canadian undergraduate education is a good undergraduate education. These are the reasons why I often recommend Canada to my friends as a destination for their children’s education overseas. 

Canadian universities have many strengths and advantages that I can share. However, as a first-person narrative, I will confine my comments to the University of Alberta where I currently work as an associate dean in the School of Business. As a top-ranked university in Canada, the University of Alberta was founded in 1908 and is located in Edmonton with an Augstana campus in Camrose. It is a comprehensive, research-intensive university with more than 200 undergraduate and 500 graduate programs in its 18 faculties. The University currently has 40,061 students from Canada and 156 other countries. It is one of the top five research universities in Canada with an international reputation for excellence in many disciplines such as engineering, business, science and creative arts.

In 2020-21, The University of Alberta is ranked at #81 globally and #4 in Canada by the Centre for University Ranking, with Paleontology at #3, petroleum engineering, forestry and geology at #5 globally.

A comprehensive university like the University of Alberta clearly has many advantages to offer its students. The large array of expertise across the 18 faculties and many (professional and academic) disciplines cannot help but create a rich environment for intellectual exchange and learning. Students are able to access classes from a wide spectrum of disciplines and tailor-make a program that suits their interests and professional needs.

For example, at the Alberta School of Business, we offer joint programs with faculties like Medicine, Law, Science, Engineering and Arts to enable a well-rounded education for students in these faculties. Our curricula are designed not only to offer students access to the latest academic research, but also current professional knowledge. Our accounting, finance, marketing and supply chain management curricula are designed with significant professional inputs. This is important because many of our students are expected to pursue a professional designation in accounting and supply chain management upon graduation. In fact, a co-operative program is available to our students who are interested in acquiring a practical professional experience during their undergraduate studies. Similar programs are available in the engineering and science faculties at the University of Alberta.

With students from 156 countries represented on campus, the university offers also a fertile environment for global learning and exchanges. Aside from engaging in an exchange program overseas, there is a myriad of student activities and forums where students can engage directly and make friends with their colleagues from around the world. There are 425 student clubs on campus. We not only aim for academic excellence, we also want to cultivate and nurture global leaders of tomorrow at the University of Alberta.

As part of the University of Alberta family, the Alberta School of Business offers students an opportunity to acquire a world-class education and study under world-class researchers and with students from around the world. The School offers 11 majors from Accounting and Finance to Strategic Management. Our students’ academic experience is supplemented by personal growth opportunities made possible by our co-operative education programs and various student clubs and community activities. The latter are important training tools in encouraging and cultivating leadership qualities in our students. As for formal assessment in 2021, Shanghai Jiaotong University Ranking ranks the School #4 in Canada, and #90 globally, and Times Higher Education Ranking ranks the School #2 in Canada, and #36 globally. Above all, it is the caring attitude and excellent teaching records of my colleagues that make University of Alberta a university that I would recommend unreservedly to anyone considering Canada as a destination for a post-secondary education.

A Canadian education is more than a degree. It is a chance to experience the Canadian lifestyle and values first hand, and make friends from around the world.

For more information, please contact Edy at: edy@ualberta.ca, or Jane Ji at: yji6@ualberta.ca.