Centennial College opens office in Chongqing, China

TORONTO, Dec. 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Centennial College opened its fourth international education office in China last month. The new office will be used to market the college in Chongqing, one of China's five major population centres, which is home to more than 30 million people.

With consistent support from the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, the Canadian Consulate General in Chongqing, and assistance from the Chongqing municipal government, partners and agents, Centennial's Chongqing office will facilitate new opportunities for student recruitment, partnership and corporate training.

Centennial College began marketing in China in 1996, which resulted in 15 students travelling to Canada to study Centennial's hospitality program the following year. Today, there are almost 1,500 Chinese visa students enrolled in Centennial's diploma, degree and graduate certificate programs in Toronto.

Over the past 17 years, Centennial has established strong partnerships with the central and provincial governments, universities, colleges and industries across China. To date there are 21 Chinese institutions collaborating with Centennial on joint academic programs, teacher and administrator training, university and college leadership training, language training, faculty and student exchanges, and more.

Centennial staff members are employed at the college's four offices in Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chongqing.

With China serving as a successful model, Centennial has established international resource centres worldwide, including offices in India, South Korea, Mexico, Panama, Turkey, Dubai and Australia. Approximately 5,000 visa students from 90 countries are currently studying at Centennial's Toronto campuses, making it the leader in international student recruitment among Canadian colleges.

At the same time, Centennial is developing pathways for Canadians to study abroad. In the recent past, 42 faculty and administrators have taught or provided program management in China, and eight Canadian students have travelled to China for internships since last year. Some 20 students and faculty will go to Chongqing next summer for language and cultural studies.

Recognized as a leader in international education, Centennial received two gold awards of excellence for internationalization in 2013, bestowed by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges and the Canadian Bureau for International Education.

Photos available upon request.

SOURCE: Centennial College

Media contact: Mark Toljagic, Communications Officer, Centennial College, 416-289-5000, ext. 7142/[email protected]