Nov 10, 2015
Vancouver, BC – Ten students from Maple Leaf Educational Systems (MLES) in China, who began studies at Langara this term, were recognized today for receiving awards established through a $50,000 scholarship fund set up by the College in collaboration with the Government of British Columbia.
Students were chosen for the scholarship based upon their academic performance and commitment to volunteer activities during their time at MLES, a group of BC Offshore Schools with more than 15,000 students that opened its doors 20 years ago as the first Canadian offshore foundational education school (K – 12) in China.
The scholarships were created as part of a provincial mission to China in April this year by BC’s Ministries of Advanced Education and International Trade, with a goal of highlighting the BC education sector and pathways within the system that support student mobility. Langara’s President and CEO Dr. Lane Trotter joined the mission and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MLES Founder and Chairman Dr. Sherman Jen that streamlines how Maple Leaf graduates can seamlessly be admitted into university studies at Langara upon completion of their BC Grade 12 curriculum.
“We’re very excited to welcome these high quality students to Langara, and to be able to offer them this scholarship in support of their educational development,” said Ajay Patel, the College’s Associate Vice President of International and External Development. “We’ve welcomed several hundred students from the Maple Leaf system to Langara over the past few years, who have made valuable and lasting connections with our institution, as well as our beautiful province.”
Each scholarship winner received $2,500 as an entrance scholarship to support the first term of their studies at the College, and another $2,500 will be awarded to students based on academic performance later in the first year. The scholarship winners were recognized for their achievement at an on-campus event on November 10.
“Students from China make up the largest segment of international students who recognize the global value of a post-secondary education in British Columbia,” said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “The ten Maple Leaf graduates who received the scholarships will work towards their education goals at Langara College, while they create important connections that will last a lifetime.”
About Langara
Located in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 21,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path.
About Maple Leaf Education Systems (MLES)
MLES is the first Canadian offshore school foundational education system (K to 12) in China. Maple Leaf high schools are certified through the BC Government’s Global Education Program, and these offshore schools are located in seven cities throughout China (Dalian, Wuhan, Tianjin, Chongqing, Zhenjiang, Henan-Luoyang, and Shanghai). Since the first graduating class in 1999 nearly 7,000 students have graduated from MLES high schools, having met the requirements of the BC Ministry of Education and received the BC Dogwood Diploma.
Almost 70% of the graduates from MLES pursue post-secondary studies in Canada, and 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of Maple Leaf Educational Systems.
See photos from the event on Flickr:
Media contact:
Annie Mullins
Communications Officer
Langara College
604.323.5058 | amullins@langara.bc.ca