"University Capital" in the Capital
Ottawa Chief of Police Vern White and Universite Sainte Anne professor Christine Igot appeared on /A\ Channel Ottawa Morning today to promote Nova Scotia as "Canada's University Capital." Their appearance ramped up the Ottawa launch of the interactive online campaign which proclaims that “Nova Scotia is Canada’s University Capital,” a bold claim backed by a strong reputation as a learning province.
The launch in the nation’s capital promotes the quality and breadth of education available in Nova Scotia amid a concentration of graduates with first hand familiarity with the fact. The event took place this afternoon at the National Arts Centre with an enthusiastic crowd of university alumni that will help spread the word to the uninitiated that there’s good reason to consider Nova Scotia when thinking about post-secondary future plans.
"Nova Scotia has the ability and capacity to provide cultural and linguistic diversity to the aspiring learner, said White, an alumnus of two Nova Scotia universities."So as well as engaging with the student as they work toward their education, social work, legal or medical profession, Nova Scotia has also prided themselves on growing and expanding the differences we find in Canadian Society."
Home to 11 universities – Acadia, Dalhousie, the University of King’s College, Saint Mary’s, St. Francis Xavier, Mount Saint Vincent, the Atlantic School of Theology, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Universite Sainte Anne, Cape Breton University - and a world-class community college system, Nova Scotia’s tradition of excellence in higher education dates back more than 200 years to the foundation of Canada’s first English speaking university – the University of King’s College founded first in Windsor, NS in 1789.
Today, a student interested in studying in Nova Scotia will find a variety of fields to study with the choice to study within the province’s capital city Halifax, or in smaller communities with easy access to the province’s natural splendor.
"This campaign sends a strong message to prospective students and their parents, that Nova Scotia is the destination for education in this country," said John Harker, chair of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents. "Nova Scotia has more than 220 years of experience educating students from all over the world in a wide range of disciplines.”
The province’s universities and colleges attract a young population, and retaining students after graduation ensures Nova Scotia continues to offer an educated workforce.
Our universities attract more than 16,000 students from outside of Nova Scotia every year and 21% of these students choose to remain in the province upon graduating, to pursue their careers. 89% of students originally from Nova Scotia remain following graduation.
Fostering a welcoming environment for students interested in studying in Nova Scotia has residual benefits that are also inviting to young families and businesses. Providing top quality education and keeping graduates in our province is fundamental to Nova Scotia’s economic success.
Offering such a breadth of education options in both urban and rural areas of the province, Nova Scotia’s universities, Nova Scotia Community College and the province’s private colleges contribute to the growth of our communities. As 56,000 jobs become available over the next five years due to new employer demand and worker retirement, graduates will find the opportunity to do the same, investing in the communities they have come to call home.
If you're an alumnus of Nova Scotia University - share your story with others and visit: universitycapital.ca
