Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) announced that, thanks to the generosity of its members, over 150 scholarships will be available to Ukrainian students coming to Canada to study as they flee violence in their home country.
Thirty-seven of CICan's member colleges and institutes will provide scholarships and/or other support including on-campus housing or living expenses, mental health support, alternative of deferred-payment options or language training. In the case of scholarships, the commitments include a minimum of one year of free tuition, although in many cases the support offered is multi-year.
The following institutions have committed their support:
- Algonquin College
- Assiniboine Community College
- British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Canadore College
- Cégep André-Laurendeau
- Cégep de Chicoutimi
- Centennial College
- Collège Ahuntsic
- Collège d'Alma
- Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne
- College of New Caledonia
- Collège Mathieu
- Collège Universel
- Columbia College
- Durham College
- Fanshawe College
- Fleming College
- Georgian College
- Great Plains College
- Humber College
- Justice Institute of British Columbia
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Langara College
- Lethbridge College
- Loyalist College
- Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
- NAIT
- New Brunswick Community College
- Niagara College
- North West College
- Northern Lights College
- Nova Scotia Community College
- Olds College
- Selkirk College
- Seneca College
- Sheridan College
- St. Lawrence College
In publicly acknowledging the institutions who have so far offered support, CICan also urges more to take part to meet the needs of this humanitarian crisis.
"The Canadian college and institutes community has long been a global leader in attracting and providing quality education to students from around the world and in responding to crises and the resettlement needs of newcomers," said Denise Amyot, president and CEO of CICan. "We are very proud to announce that we are continuing that tradition by coming together to support Ukrainian students seeking refuge in Canada during this difficult time."
Beyond these scholarships, colleges and institutes across the country will also continue serving refugees and immigrants by offering programs and services that align with community needs and that are focused on the wellbeing of newcomers. Their experience offering language training, bridging programs, career advising, and other programs designed to support refugees and immigrants, combined with their focus on local communities will help create an inclusive environment for Ukrainians arriving in Canada, much like how they contributed to resettling thousands of Syrian refugees in 2015 and are currently contributing to resettlement efforts for Afghan refugees.
CICan also welcomes the Government of Canada's response to the crisis which includes new immigration streams for Ukrainians wishing to come to Canada temporarily or permanently, and the extension of settlement program services for eligible temporary residents in Canada. Among other things, these efforts will make it possible for more Ukrainians to come to Canada to continue their education.