REGINA — University students in Saskatchewan have a new opportunity to promote their home province while studying overseas, with this week’s launch of the new Student Ambassadors Program from the Ministry of Advanced Education.
Minister of Advanced Education Gene Makowsky announced the official launch of the program on March 28, which is part of the provincial government’s recently detailed International Education Strategy to improve international study and retention rates in Saskatchewan’s post-secondary sector.
Makowsky said the ambassador program is another tool the province is looking to use to attract more students to Saskatchewan, both to study and stay.
“It will allow us to tell the Saskatchewan story, about what a great place it is to study and learn from a number of great institutions,” said Makowsky.
The ambassador program is aimed largely towards Saskatchewan students taking part in study abroad programs, offering them training to help promote their home province while overseas.
“While they’re there, they can tell everyone about Saskatchewan and all the great things we have to offer, and be able to market the porcine in that manner,” said Makowsky.
Intake will begin this spring, and the program will be available to students at all of Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions through their individual study abroad programs.
This includes Saskatchewan Polytechnic, both the University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina, and smaller institutions like Parkland College and Cumberland College.
“This program aims to close a gap and uses already existent opportunities as a launch for Saskatchewan students,” said Livia Castellanos, executive lead of international education and jurisdictional initiatives at the ministry.
It will also be open to international students who have come to Saskatchewan, offering academic and cultural training about the province to round out their experience.
Training will involve learning about Saskatchewan’s study, work and immigration opportunities, to prepare students to promote the province as a prime destination to complete studies abroad.
Castellanos described the training, which results in a certificate upon completion, as a program that makes students into “global ambassadors.”
Shirley Zhou, a former international student who now works as a specialist in the International Partnerships department at the U of S, said she thinks the program will be extremely beneficial to those overseas considering Saskatchewan as a potential study option.
“The atmosphere and environment made me feel so embedded here, so that’s why I love this province,” said Zhou.
Zhou works with both international students and partners in other countries in her role, and she said there is already interest about a program like this, to provide more information about Saskatchewan as a study destination.
She feels the ambassador program will fulfill that need, bridging a gap both in the province’s network with institutions in other countries, to attract students, but also in connecting with those already studying on Saskatchewan campuses.
“When they go back to their home institutions or home countries, they can promote Saskatchewan and share their memorable experience here, and share what this province has to offer,” said Zhou. “They will be our lifelong ambassadors and spokespeople.”
Makowsky said the province’s retention rate of international students has seen a slight decline over the last two years, likely due to the pandemic.
But, he continued, the province’s strategy is actively working to improve international interest in Saskatchewan as a destination option.
“We’re holding our own, with around 8,000 students here in Saskatchewan and we’re looking to grow that as much as we can,” said Makowsky.
The Student Ambassadors Program was originally announced in November, as part of an initiative to increase global engagement and international student attraction over the next five years.
