GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN PROCLAIMS INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK

The Government of Saskatchewan joins more than 100 countries around the world to celebrate International Education Week (IEW) from November 11-17, 2012.

The purpose of IEW is to raise awareness and understanding of international education and its benefits to Canada, our educational institutions and our people. This year's theme is "Canada Engages with the World: Realizing Our Potential through International Education."

"This special week highlights the importance of international education and the contribution it makes for our students and our province," Advanced Education Minister Don Morgan said. "International study encourages our students to develop new skills and diverse perspectives that will enrich our classrooms, labour market and our communities."

To demonstrate its commitment to international education, the government announced a number of goals as part of the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth which include:

• increasing the number of international post-secondary students studying in Saskatchewan by at least 50 per cent by 2020;
• encouraging the study of international languages in Saskatchewan business schools, to better equip students and the business community to engage internationally; and
• establishing the Saskatchewan International Future Scholarship to provide 20 students annually with the opportunity to study business at an international institution if they return to Saskatchewan for at least five years after they graduate.

"Our goals for international education including the new 'Saskatchewan International Future Scholarship', are examples of how our government is building a better quality of life for all Saskatchewan residents," Morgan said. "International education is a key component that will help ensure the continued growth and prosperity of our province."

Since 2008, the number of international students who choose to study in Saskatchewan has increased by nearly 35 per cent. Currently, there are more than 4,800 international students from more than 90 countries studying in Saskatchewan.

To learn more about International Education Week, please visit www.iew-sei.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Marieka Andrew
Advanced Education
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3170