Expanding Connections with Brazilian Students
February 28, 2015
Seventy Brazilian students currently live and study at Camosun College, taking advantage of the excellent education and remarkable local surroundings in Greater Victoria, British Columbia.
Camosun is the largest comprehensive college in British Columbia. Nearly 20,000 students, approximately 1,200 of whom are international students, are enrolled in the college’s well-developed degree programs. Particular specialties include, university transfer programs, business, accountancy, engineering technology, sports management, and sports programming.
Camosun takes pride in its applied focus for all of its educational programs. Mr. Geoff Wilmshurst, Director of Camosun International, explained, “In all programs, students are very much encouraged to apply what they learn. This includes collaboration with local and international companies. For example, in the sports programming fields, Camosun students benefit from their location at a training center for the Canadian Olympic team.”
Brazil is a key focus for Camosun. Brazilian students have been attending Camosun for years, with an increasing presence over the past four years. The majority of the students arrive through the Science without Borders program, and most are enrolled in engineering and technology fields.
Camosun College in British Columbia
Students hiking near Camosun College
“We have such large numbers of Brazilian students because the feedback they send home to Brazil has been very positive,” said Mr. Wilmshurst. “Victoria is a beautiful city and has the warmest climate in Canada, and is very conducive to outdoor life with activities like kayaking, running, and skiing nearby.”
“This is a snow-free city, which is important to many Brazilians,” Mr. Wilmshurst added.
Camosun is currently exploring joint applied research programs with Brazilian university partners to develop a broad range of projects and to deepen their existing connections. For example, Camosun is working with IFsul in Pelotas to create an English language training cartoon. IFsul personnel are creating the cartoons while Camosun provides the English voice-overs. This has become an exciting first foray into what Camosun hopes to expand with technology-related research work and continuing collaborative efforts.
“We’ve had great success with our Brazilian students, including working with language skills to bring them up to speed quickly to enter other academic programs,” said Mr. Wilmshurst. “In addition to the opportunities at Camosun, all credits can be transferred throughout British Colombia through the University Transfer Program, giving students access to four year universities throughout the region.”
“We love having Brazilian students—they bring a different dynamic to the Camosun College campus,” concluded Mr. Wilmshurst.
