BCCIE revealed that each winner has helped position the province of British Columbia – a pioneering and populous province as far as international students are concerned –  as a leader in Canada in attracting and supporting international students and in delivering innovative global programmes.

Award winners are:

·         Sharla Reid of Fraser International College was presented with the Rising Star in International Education Award, recognizing up-and-coming talent – tomorrow’s leaders and practitioners in the field of International Education.

·         Tracy Wang of British Columbia Institute of Technology was presented with the International Education Marketing Award, celebrating excellence and success in BC’s education export sector.

·         Bev Hudson of Navitas was presented with the International Education Distinguished Leadership Award, recognizing an educator or community member who has “led from behind” and whose determined leadership in the sector will have a lasting impact in the field of International Education.

·         Charles Mossop (ex-Thompson Rivers University) was presented with the International Education Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising the long-term contributions made and far-reaching impacts realised over a career of commitment to BC’s International Education sector.

·         The Philosopher’s Teahouse at Kwantlen Polytechnic University was honoured with the Outstanding Program in International Education Award, given to a high quality and highly creative program in International Education.

Rising star Reid has been with FIC, Canada’s largest pathway college, since 2007 (also a Navitas-operated college).

“I’m especially proud to receive this honour because pathway programmes are growing rapidly and this award highlights the fact that FIC has been of foundational importance in setting the gold standard for support for international students as they transition into the Canadian education system,” she said.

Navitas winner Hudson worked to establish the partnership of Simon Fraser University (SFU) and FIC, the first of its kind in Canada to provide pathway programmes for international students to transfer to a Canadian university in second year, going on to establish similar partnerships.

“It means a lot to receive this award from my peers at BCCIE,” Hudson told The PIE News.

“This is a community that has worked together for years to make international education in BC a win-win-win for our students, our post-secondary institutions and our Province,” she said.

International education is currently the fourth largest export sector for BC, creating over 25,000 jobs and contributing over CAN$2.3 billion dollars to the provincial economy in 2012/13.