News Release Archive
EDUCATION/CULTURE--NOVA SCOTIA PROMOTES UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGE ----------------------------------------------------------------- Two senior Thai officials, who influence where tens-of-thousands of Thai international students choose to study, were in Halifax yesterday to learn more about what Nova Scotia universities and the Nova Scotia Community College have to offer. Nova Scotia was the only Atlantic stop on the week-long Canadian visit by Udol Boonprakob, secretary general, Thailand Civil Service Commission, and Sathaphon Sakolrak, director, education and training abroad, with the civil service. The Thailand Civil Service counsels thousands of students interested in international study. These students are funded by their families, are on government study leave, or are funded by public or private scholarships. Along with making recommendations concerning private and civil service scholarships, Mr. Sathaphon will give out 25,000 Royal Thai Scholarships over five years to Thai international students. Currently, Canada attracts less than two per cent of Thai scholarship students. In comparison, the United States attracts 40 per cent, followed by almost 30 per cent going to the United Kingdom. Education and Culture Minister Robbie Harrison said Canada and Nova Scotia have as much, if not more, to offer that will turn these numbers around. "The premier opened the door for Nova Scotia, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Thailand Ministry of Education during Team Canada," Mr. Harrison said. "Mr. Sathaphon is literally the gatekeeper for tens-of-thousands of Thai students who come through that door each year to study internationally. When Mr. Sathaphon and his staff talk to these students, I want Nova Scotia to be at the top of their minds." Mr. Harrison thanked Saint Mary's University (SMU) for the tremendous hospitality the university offered the Thai officials, making them feel welcome at the university and in Nova Scotia. SMU president Ken Ozmon met Mr. Sathaphon during the Team Canada mission, and used the opportunity to invite him to visit the university. Along with the Saint Mary's visit, Mr. Harrison invited university and community college representatives to meet with Mr. Sathaphon and Mr. Udol as part of Nova Scotia's aggressive marketing in the Asian Pacific. Yesterday's visit was the second time Mr. Harrison and Mr. Sathaphon have met in less than a month. Representing Canada at an international education conference, Mr. Harrison visited Mr. Sathaphon at the civil service office in Thailand in early March. "Nova Scotia was the first province back to build on the Team Canada momentum. Timing is everything and we want to do everything we can to ensure the doors opened by Team Canada stay open for Nova Scotia." Nova Scotia's international marketing plan for post-secondary education involves the provincial government, universities and the Nova Scotia Community College. The aim is to attract 1,000 new international students to Nova Scotia by the year 2000. The Thai visit was organized by the Asia Pacific Institute's Canadian Education Centre in Thailand. Funding was provided through the Canadian International Development Agency. The Asia Pacific Institute runs Canadian Education Centres in seven Asian countries and Mexico. -30- Contact: Donna MacDonald 902-424-2615 trp Mar. 25, 1997 - 12:15 p.m.