Students and teachers throughout the province can earn the chance to study and learn in Asia, thanks to a new exchange program that builds on British Columba’s education relationships with our Pacific Rim partners.
About 200 students and six teachers from B.C. public and independent schools will benefit from the exchange program between schools in China, Japan and British Columbia.
Government is investing $200,000 in scholarships that will help send student groups and teachers on exchanges with Japan and China. Student groups need a minimum of five students and, if approved, will receive $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the group’s size.
Teachers with successful applications will receive $5,000 to assist with their exchange costs.
The award program encourages students and teachers to build on our multi-cultural partnerships and build increased student mobility between China, Japan and B.C. The application deadline for the scholarships is Feb.12, 2016, and the exchange must be complete before the middle of August 2016.
As a result of B.C.'s strong economic growth and fiscal discipline, government is able to support and fund projects that make a real difference in the lives of British Columbians, said Mike Bernier, Minister of Education
“These scholarships open up exciting new opportunities for students and teachers to study in schools abroad. International education has the power to enhance our economy while at the same time providing our young people the important opportunity to study different languages and cultures,”

Quick Facts:

The B.C. Council for International Education is a Crown corporation supporting B.C.’s dynamic and growing international education sector. 
The BCCIE is administering the awards on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
Government launched British Columbia's International Education Strategy in 2012 to promote the global two-way flow of students, educators and ideas between countries. International education is a key sector under the BC Jobs Plan, and B.C. is making progress toward the goal of a 50% increase in the number of international students by September 2016.