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Program and Project Highlights and Updates
Retention numbers exceeded set targets with a regional average of 96% of the 179 international graduates from the 2018-2019 cohort remaining in Atlantic Canada. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provinces will be hosting virtual graduation ceremonies. This year, we will see an additional 220 international students complete the Atlantic Canada Study and Stay™ program. Over 200 mentors from across Atlantic Canada supported students during the 2019-2020 program year. EduNova created an alumni page on LinkedIn to share stories of success from Study and Stay™ graduates across Atlantic Canada.
Since 2016, the program has supported over 200 international students in Nova Scotia. The program provides students with connections, resources and professional development opportunities in Nova Scotia. Each year we have exceeded the target of 80% retention, which marked our highest targets to date: 96% of the 2018- 2019 program graduates remain living and working in the province one-year post-graduation. Cohort 4 (2019- 2020) continues to receive enhanced and virtual supports to overcome the challenges faced by COVID-19. During the 2019-2020 program year, an additional 62 international students will have completed the final year programming. We will celebrate their graduation online on July 9, 2020.
Study and Stay TM in Nova Scotia Program – Third Year Curriculum
The Study and Stay TM in Nova Scotia program is now in its retention year three (third-year curriculum, 2019- 2020) and has been supporting students’ overall transition throughout their studies since 2016. Retention year
three continuously focuses on students’ career development, concentrating on job searching, networking and soft skills development. All students received one-on-one support during COVID-19 and celebrated their completion of another academic year with a year-end virtual party on Zoom. During the 2019-2020 program year, 48 international students will have completed the Study and Stay TM in Nova Scotia Program. Nine of 48 students will have completed the Atlantic Canada Study and Stay TM – Nova Scotia final year programming.
Study and Stay TM programs retreat En Point professional development workshops Intro to Entrepreneurship workshop (in collaboration with Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development and Nova Scotia Office of Immigration) Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) program webinar Alumni Panel Discussion Immigration Q&A Session with two Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants One-on-one meetings with Career Strategists Study and Stay TM Holiday Social Study and Stay TM Summer Dance Party and Social
Study and Stay™ CONNECT
Study and Stay™ CONNECT represents the evolution of the award-winning Study and Stay™ program. Study and Stay™ CONNECT will use technology and a program-specific mobile app to deliver essential pre-employment, campus, and community supports. The app will be open to all international students studying at a post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia, across all years of study. The Study and Stay™ CONNECT responds to emerging trends and online learning environments, using innovation, collaboration, and opportunities for new programming and partnerships. Through the Study and Stay™ CONNECT platform, international students will have access to appropriate educational resources, an interactive online learning environment, and an inclusive online community.
COVID-19 Webinars and Resources – March 2020
With the onset of COVID-19 EduNova quickly realized it would need to adapt in order to meet the needs of students. The ‘Navigating Uncertain Times’ webinar series was developed given the constraints presented by physical distancing and designed to support international students during the COVID-19 crisis. The webinars took place weekly from April 15 to May 20, 2020. The goal of the webinars was to assist international students in navigating the unprecedented times and assist them in building positive momentum while remaining grounded and focused in the following areas: Career Resiliency, Self-Care, Health and Wellness, Financial Literacy and Pathways for Moving Forward. A total of 458 students attended the six webinars. In addition, a COVID-19 Updates and Resources page was added to EduNova’s website, connecting students to institution resources and government and health information.
The webinars also be found at the COVID-19 page
Brazil Media Tour of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island – June 2019
From June 8-15, EduNova hosted Fernanda Albano, Brazilian Trade Commissioner for Education, Paulo Ayusso, Trade Commissioner responsible for the Caribbean and Latin America, and journalist Camila Pati from the Brazilian online news magazine Exame and Adriene Goncalves is the owner and operator of the BFF Youtube channel, based in Vancouver, Canada. The tour visited 12 institutions in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island as well as local tourist sites throughout the week-long tour. The tour resulted in articles written on the Exame website that attracted more than 80,000 views and one ranked as the #2 article on the website during the week of its publication. The tour also resulted in two videos produced for the Youtube channel BFF. The first video has resulted in more than 24,000 views to date.
Counsellor’s Tour – July 2019
Between July 13-21, 2019, EduNova hosted 13 international counsellors for the annual Counsellor’s Familiarization (Fam) Tour of Nova Scotia. The counsellors hailed from schools across the globe, including two from Switzerland, two from Turkey, two from Kenya, one from China and six from the USA. The counsellors visited Acadia University, Dalhousie University, University of King’s College, Saint Mary’s University, NSCAD University, NSCC, Mount Saint Vincent University, St. Francis Xavier University, Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, Cape Breton University and Class Afloat. The tour was very well received, and members have included visits to alumni schools in their recruitment planning, including in several schools in the USA, Switzerland, China and Kenya.
Jamaica and Bahamas Counsellor, Student and Media tour – July 2019
Between July 31-August 3, 2019, EduNova hosted guidance counsellors from high schools and colleges across Jamaica and Bahamas for a tour of six Nova Scotia institutions (St. Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, University of King’s College, NSCAD University, Mount Saint Vincent University and Acadia University). Each counsellor brought one student with them to participate in the tour, and the group was also joined by Kimone Francis—a journalist with the Jamaica Observer newspaper based in Kingston, Jamaica. Overall, the tour resulted in three of the five students who participated in the tour choosing Nova Scotia for study in fall 2020 as well as hundreds of expressions of interest to participating universities as a result of the 10 articles written by Kimone Francis and published in the Jamaica Observer.
Agents Familiarization Tour – August 2019
EduNova hosted the annual Agents Familiarization Tour of Nova Scotia between August 4-10, 2019 and included agents from Turkey, Ukraine, Colombia, Brazil and Vietnam. EduNova partnered with Bonard (formerly Student Marketing) to recruit the 12 agents to the tour and visited EduNova member’s campuses including: Nova Scotia International Student Program, Cape Breton University, ICEAP-NS, St.Francis Xavier University, East Coast Language College, Canadian Language Learning College, Halifax Language Institute of Canada , King’s Edgehill, Acadia University, Landmark East and Mount Saint Vincent University.
Philippines Study in Canada – October 2019
In October 2019, EduNova led eight Atlantic Canadian institutions on an outbound recruitment mission to Manila, Philippines, which was centred around participation in the fall 2019 EduCanada student recruitment fairs. Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Cape Breton University, New Brunswick Community College, Holland College, Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Prince Edward Island and the University of New Brunswick joined the tour. The Philippines continues to be an important new recruitment market for Atlantic institutions with explosive growth evident in each of the last four years. The 2019 outreach yielded 492 solid student leads, a 112% increase in student leads and a 90% increase in predicted enrolments when compared to 2018.
Vietnam Study in Canada – October 2019
EduNova led 17 Atlantic Canadian institutions to Vietnam in October 2019 to participate in the 11th Annual Study in Canada Vietnam student recruitment fairs. Fairs were held in Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. University of Prince Edward Island, University of New Brunswick, Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Cape Breton University, ICEAP, HLIC, East Coast Language College, Mount Alison University, Holland College, New Brunswick Community College, St. Francis Xavier University, St. Thomas University, Nova Scotia International Student Program (NSISP), NSCAD University, NISEP (Newfoundland) participated. Institutions generated 1376 solid student leads, representing a 216% increase in leads developed and a 77% increase in predicted enrolments vs 2018.
China Nova Scotia Curriculum Schools Tour – November 2019
In November 2019, seven Nova Scotian universities participated in the 3rd annual EduNova tour of Nova Scotia curriculum schools in China. Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, NSCAD University, Acadia University, Mount Saint Vincent University, St. Francis Xavier University and Cape Breton University visited 11 of the 15 schools in operation. Overall, the universities encountered enthusiastic crowds of students and parents and generated 652 student leads, which they predict will convert to 151 student enrolments in fall 2020.
NSISP Students Fall Familiarization Tour – November 2019
From November 14-18, 2019, EduNova led our seventh Student Fall Familiarization tour. The province-wide tour offers an insider’s view of Nova Scotia institutions – from a first-hand look at room and board to the valuable insights of senior administrators, students, faculty and alumni. Designed to help students make informed decisions, the tour allowed 65 NSISP students from 15 different countries the opportunity to make connections with institutional staff. Students and institutions were well prepared with both questions and answers—the event allowed students to make more than 200 admissions applications during the four-day tour.
Kenya Counsellors PD event – January 2020
EduNova and representatives from Cape Breton University and Saint Mary’s University participated in a counsellor’s professional development session in Nairobi, Kenya. The event was facilitated by Tom Olang – alumni from the 2018 EduNova Counsellor’s Tour and featured 23 counsellors from schools in Nairobi, Nakuru and Kisumu, Kenya. The event allowed representatives to make new connections, provide information on admissions procedures, scholarships and specialized programs and speak to the barriers their students face as they try to access international education. Marketing materials from all EduNova post-secondary members were distributed to the counsellors during the event.
Ukraine Outreach – February 2020
EduNova led a second mission to Ukraine from February 5-14th, 2020. Participants included Cape Breton University and Mount Saint Vincent University. The recruitment mission was anchored in participation in the winter Study.UA student recruitment events in Kyiv and Odessa. Participants also visited agents in Dnipropetrovsk and held a student/parent/agent information session in Kyiv that was supported by a Facebook marketing campaign. The evening was supported by and featured representatives from The Canadian embassy in Kyiv and IRCC’s Visa section.
Latin America and Caribbean Virtual Recruitment Event – May 2020
EduNova was pleased to support participation in the FPP Virtual recruitment fairs for Latin America and the Caribbean in May 2020. Participation in this virtual event was part of an EduNova pivot to reflect the changing recruitment landscape as an after-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifteen EduNova members participated in the virtual fair, which had student registrations of more than 41,000. The event represented an excellent opportunity to develop student leads heading into the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle.
Asia Virtual Recruitment Event – June 2020
EduNova was pleased to support participation in and occupy a booth at the FPP Virtual recruitment fairs for Asia in June 2020. Participation in this virtual event was part of an EduNova pivot to reflect the changing recruitment landscape as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Twelve EduNova members participated in the virtual fair, which had student registrations of more than 6,500. The event represented an excellent opportunity to develop student leads heading into the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle. EduNova reported 685 visitors to the booth from 38 countries with the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia occupying the top four largest groupings of students.
International Ambassador Awards Gala – June 2020
EduNova hosted the first NSISP International Awards Gala on June 16th, 2020. The event featured speakers, EduNova President and CEO Nicole Johnson-Morrison, Deputy Minister of Labour and Advanced Education Duff Montgomerie, Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard and NSISP Executive Director Paul Millman. Awards were distributed to 43 students by representatives from Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Mount Saint Vincent University, St. Francis Xavier University, Acadia University and NSCC.
EduNova Official WeChat Account
There are currently more than 3,500 Chinese students studying in Nova Scotia, and EduNova and its members have been actively engaged in recruiting Chinese students to study in the province. In order to better reach and serve prospective students in China, EduNova has created a corporate WeChat account. The WeChat account gives EduNova access directly to students in the Chinese market. The purpose of the WeChat account is to raise awareness of Nova Scotia as a priority education destination, increase student interest, promote members in the Chinese market and to grow the EduNova audience.
