Jessica Roland just completed her first year in the Business Administration diploma program.
Upon arrival in Canada in 2013 and in order to continue her university studies in arts, Jessica enrolled in Campus Saint -Jean. Her first year on campus was difficult, to say the least. She admits she felt lost, and intimidated.
"At first I found it a bit difficult. I had left my country, and I was home sick," recalls Jessica. "I came from a completely different lifestyle," says the young woman.
This made her integration difficult and she did not know where to go to for necessary support in her first year. It is when she went to the Alberta College Centre (CCA) during the 2014-2015 academic year that she felt a great difference. "I realized I have been passing in front of their office every day without noticing them!" She exclaims.
Jessica explained that she discovered Campus Saint-Jean on Facebook. "I was welcomed with a big smile. For the first time, someone showed interest in my career and what I wanted to become (...). I applied and I was enrolled in the college," says Jessica visibly satisfied.
CCA has been offering a Business Administration Diploma program since September 2014,. This two-year program consists of two parts: the first is a preparatory year, during which students are led step by step towards the specialization of their choice; then, in the second year they are asked to choose from five specializations (marketing, accounting, finance, human resources or management).
In September 2015, Jessica Roland then began the Business Administration Diploma program, and she already knows what specialization she is going into next year. "I am interested in human resources. As soon as I told them, they advised me on what courses to take," said the student from the province of Toamasina, an island of Madagascar.
A devoted staff
After three years in Edmonton, Jessica has achieved a lot to be proud of during her stay at CSJ. Jessica succeeded in keeping her scores high, with three A + in the first semester in addition to two A + and two A in the second semester. According to her, teachers are passionate about what they do. "They are always available to answer questions. Lessons are clear, precise and relevant," Jessica praises.
As an international student, Jessica does not qualify for some scholarships granted to Canadian students. Moreover, she has to pay three times more for her studies compared to students born in Canada. However, teachers are aware of this situation, and Jessica is grateful. "They told us that if we managed to reach a minimum of 3.2 for our weighted average, we receive $ 1, 000," she says. "So that motivated me, I worked hard at that and I made it," she proudly adds.
A $ 1,000 entrance scholarship was added to the previous award. Two scholarships that were more than welcomed since the registration fee for an international student amounts to over $ 1000 per course (plus related charges), compared to $ 280 paid by "domestic" student, Canadians, or permanent residents for these same courses.
International students also face other challenges related to the labour market. In fact, in the spring of 2016, when Jessica Roland decided to do an internship, she learned that organizations that receive government grants to open student positions cannot hire international students.
"I think this is unfair because it's not like we do not participate in the Canadian economy. We pay taxes, consume locally, in short, this is a great barrier for us," she complains. "It is one of our major challenges, but we are hopeful things will get better," says the student, as private companies are not required to follow the same guidelines.
Why Alberta?
With French as her mother tongue, Jessica was adamant to learn English. Campus Saint- Jean has proven to be a wise choice in her case, she preferred the option of living in a Francophone community where English is spoken.
"Montreal was a good choice for me, but on the other hand, I needed an English experience, especially as the unemployment rate in Quebec is high," the student mentions.
I choose a profession that gives the chance to create job opportunities in Canada, while giving the choice to take over the family business as well; those are the reasons why Jessica chose human resources at Centre collégiale de l'Alberta. "Who knows, perhaps I will have the desire to return to Madagascar to take over the family business," she says, quite satisfied with her training.