November 23, 2009

Media contact: Kim Lawrence
Cell: 604-302-6257
Office: 604-864-4611
kim.lawrence@ufv.ca

UFV welcomes province’s new
Education Quality Assurance designation

When you’re an international student shopping for a post-secondary school in Canada, it’s tough to make a life-changing decision based on glossy pamphlets, a chat with polished recruiter, and the promise of a vibrant campus thousands of kilometres away.  The BC government’s establishment last week of the new Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation will help better inform these students and others who choose to come to our province in pursuit of higher education.

The first education brand or seal of quality in Canada, the EQA trademark will be used worldwide to promote high-quality, reputable BC post-secondary institutions. Not only will it result in a standard trademark recognizable worldwide that reduces confusion caused by various quality assurance processes,  but it will also protect BC’s reputation for quality post-secondary education and showcase the province internationally as a preferred place to live, work, and invest.

“We're happy that government moved in a substantive way to protect the reputation of BC post-secondary institutions and the quality of our offerings,” says Robert Buchan, vice-president external for the University of the Fraser Valley. “The EQA designation is unique in Canada in having a government back the reputation and quality of post-secondary institutions.  The designation and accompanying marketing efforts will help us increase our international activity and business opportunities.”

The EQA is a voluntary designation available to public and private post-secondary institutions that wish to apply. UFV is applying immediately and will begin using the EQA mark once approved.

“We applaud government for its steps to back the reputation we have worked hard to achieve,” adds Buchan. “This initiative happened because of the strong partnership and collaboration between the provincial government and the post-secondary education sector in BC.”

The system will be administered by the BC Council for International Education on behalf of the BC government.

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