International Programs and Exchanges
Welcome to Douglas College
Every year, approximately 500 international students come from around the world to study at Douglas College in our academic, career and English as a Second Language programs. Our Centre for International Education offers many services for international students, including the Homestay Program which places students with English-speaking families.
Douglas College's experience launching new and innovative programs in BC has prepared us to take on the challenges of starting new programs overseas.
We also have many years of experience running international exchange programs, working in Japan since the early 1980s and Thailand since the early 1990s. Our record of long-standing relationships is a testament to the quality of service and education we provide in our international programs.
In 1997, Douglas College launched an exchange program with Shanghai Administrative Institute, which has brought over 100 students and civil servants from China to benefit from Douglas College's skills and expertise. Douglas College also has joint programs with other schools in China, and relationships with institutions in Japan, Thailand and Mexico.
About Douglas College
With over 35 years of experience offering academic and career programs in the Greater Vancouver area, Douglas College has a strong track record and tens of thousands of satisfied graduates. Each year, Douglas College serves over 12,000 regular students and more than 8,000 continuing education students.
As a government-funded, comprehensive college, Douglas College offers a wide range of choices to our students. We have six faculties: Child, Family and Community Studies; Commerce and Business Administration; Health Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Language, Literature and Performing Arts; and Science and Technology.
Our educational courses include academic programs such as four-year career degrees as well as two-year University Transfer programs which allow students to transfer into the third year of university. In addition, we offer over 25 career programs in community service, health care, the arts and more. We also offer bachelor degrees in Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing and Therapeutic Recreation. For more information on Douglas College Programs, visit the Programs section of our Web site.
Douglas College International Programs and Exchanges: The Benefits are Mutual
Douglas College believes in building international communities at home and abroad, and has developed many programs and relationships in pursuit of this goal. In the last 10 years, more than 70 members of the Douglas College community (including faculty members, students, College Board members and administrators) participated in college overseas program teaching, academic research projects, cultural exchanges and high profile international symposia. Many mutual benefits come from sharing knowledge, expertise and cultural experiences with overseas institutions and people from around the world. As a public college funded by the government, Douglas College works hard to identify educational needs and to create programs and relationships to serve those needs.
China
Shanghai Administration Institute (SAI)
Scholar Exchange Program with Douglas College
Since this program was launched in 1997, more than 200 professionals, senior civil servants and professors have come from SAI, Shanghai Municipality and other government agencies to Douglas College to enhance their expertise in the areas of public administration, economic and market development, social and community services, legal studies, human resources for public sectors, non-governmental agencies, the mass media and more. While they are here, they expand their understanding of Canadian theories and practices in public administration, and share their knowledge and experience with Douglas College, sometimes by giving guest lectures to our students and faculty.
As well as ongoing exchanges, Douglas College and SAI have hosted:
Young Shanghai Media Leaders Training - a three-month training program on critical thinking and western culture for 15 young media professionals from Shanghai, held in 1999 at Douglas College
Sino-Canadian conference on corruption and culture, co-hosted by Douglas College along with the Shanghai Political Consultational Committee and Fudan University, sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency.
International Symposium in Creating Harmonious Society
International Symposium on Social Issues in the Contemporary Metropolis
Douglas College faculty members regularly have attended joint conferences and visit SAI for their professional development every year.
Douglas College and SAI have also completed and published the very first book on Comparative Studies between Greater Vancouver Area and Shanghai in Social and Community Services.
Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU)
University Course Transfer and Student Exchange Program
Luoyang University (LU)
Education Exchange Program for Faculty members, students and administrators.
Dalian Maple Leaf Education System
Student Recruitment arrangement and an international project for first-year students at Maple Leaf Vocational Institute.
East China University of Politics and Law - Faculty Exchange in Humanities and Social Sciences
Shanghai World Expo 2010 Human Resource Development Training Center (affiliated with Professional Development Center at SIFT)
HR Basics Training
Marketing and Manufacture Quality Training
Developing other programs
Lujiang University, Xiamen, Fujian - Faculty exchange in early 1990s, funded by ACCC and CIDA
Douglas College was involved in a three-year faculty exchange, focusing on the training of teachers. After the project ended, an ongoing relationship continued, and each year several students come from Lujiang University to study at Douglas College.
Dual Degree Programs in ChinaJapan
Momoyama Gakuin (St. Andrew's) University in Osaka - Faculty and Student exchanges
Since 1985, Douglas College has had an exchange program with Momoyama Gakuin University for faculty and students. Up to 10 students per year have come to Canada from Japan for one year. We also offer two four-week language programs for their students each year.
We also send several Douglas College students each year to Momoyama to study Japanese language and culture.
Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) - Faculty and Student exchanges
Since 1990, Douglas College and KUFS have participated in faculty and student exchanges. About 30 students come for a three-and-a-half week ESL program and one student a year comes over for an academic exchange. Four Douglas College faculty members have taught at KUFS as visiting professors.
Thailand
Rajabhat Institute - Faculty and Student exchanges
Since the mid 1990s, Douglas College's Hotel and Restaurant Management Program has operated an ongoing student exchange with Rajabhat Institute, sending students there each year to work in resort hotels in Thailand and hosting students from Rajabhat in Western Canada. Douglas College also hosts English teachers and some students from Rajabhat every summer.
Mexico
The Technological Institute of Cancun - Faculty Exchange
The Technological Institute of Cancun sends two to three faculty per year to Douglas College to improve English and further develop their teaching skills in English.
For more information about international programs at Douglas College, visit the Centre for International Education Web site at: www.douglas.bc.ca/services/international-education or email the Centre at cie@douglas.bc.ca.
