Capital Alliance's academic subsidiary rakes in more students
Tue 1 Oct 2002
News Release
Mr. Toby Chu reports
CIBT ENROLLMENTS INCREASE BY 153%
CIBT Canadian Institute of Business & Technology Corp. (CIBT), a subsidiary
of Capital Alliance Group, has experienced an increase of 153 per cent in
fall 2002 enrolments, as compared with the same period last year. The
increase in new student enrolment was attributed to the high demand for
CIBT's co-operative international bachelor degree program ("2+2 program")
and favourable response to the newly launched information technology
program. CIBT was also selected, through a competitive bidding process, to
provide English language and computer training to Chinese recipients of the
Ford Foundation International fellowship program.
Launched in 1999, the international bachelor degree program allows Chinese
students to obtain their bachelor degree by studying in Beijing and abroad.
Following two years of study at CIBT's campuses in Beijing, students
complete the final two years of undergraduate degrees at one of five CIBT
partner universities located around the globe. The first group of 69
students in this program has successfully transferred to CIBT's academic
partners in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Thailand. An additional 24
students are awaiting visa approval for the United Kingdom, Canada and
Australia. Based, in large part, on referrals from participating students,
enrolments in this year's 2+2 program have increased by 98 per cent over
the previous year.
CIBT's information technology program, one of the first foreign-owned joint
venture information technology diplomas approved by the Chinese government,
also received favourable response with over 100 students in its first
group.
CIBT also signed a contract with the Ford Foundation to provide English
language, business and technical training to students from remote areas of
China who are sponsored by the Ford Foundation to attend graduate level
programs at schools in the United States. Due to the wide range of
educational and professional backgrounds, candidates are required, under
the terms of the agreement, to participate in a five- to ten-month training
program at CIBT's campuses in Beijing, China. Founded in 1936, the Ford
Foundation operated as a local philanthropy in the state of Michigan until
1950, when it expanded to become a national and international foundation.
Since its inception, it has been an independent, non-profit,
non-governmental organization and has provided slightly more than
$10-billion (U.S.) in grants and loans.
"We are very pleased with the phenomenal growth in enrolments for 2002,"
stated Toby Chu, chief executive officer of CIBT. "The popularity of our
programs demonstrates strong demand for foreign education, and the
government's dedication to opening its doors to foreign investment.
Furthermore, after receiving formal government approval for the information
technology program just three months ago, the reception and interest has
been significant. Our enrolment results confirm CIBT's firmly established,
strategic position in China and set the foundation for aggressive expansion
in this vastly untapped market of 1.2 billion people." |
