International Student Services: Pre-Arrival Support

To support international students, programs like COVID Safe Canada and head START, Centennial’s pre-arrival program, have streamlined the journey to Canada without compromising safety or engagement. 

The COVID Safe Canada app is an evolution of an international-student Airport Welcome initiative, which Centennial continues to lead in the province of Ontario.

Centennial College is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) with an approved COVID-19 readiness plan. Centennial’s comprehensive protocols include securing airport transfers to students' place of quarantine, identifying hotels that provide room service for students isolating for 14 days, and arranging healthcare professionals to conduct mandatory COVID-19 testing toward the end of their quarantine. Specialized programming and social media community-building assist with a transition to campus for essential labs and classes.

International students reported 96% satisfaction with our head START pre-arrival program in the 2019 International Student Barometer (ISB) survey. An engaging virtual series includes sessions on Coming to Canada, Finding Your First Job in Canada, Online Learning and Classroom Support.

Orientation is a suite of programming designed to enable a welcoming and positive transition for students’ personal, academic, and social success. Through a learner-centered approach, Centennial offers a series of community-building sessions and presentations from faculty, staff, and peers. This model recognizes that students are active agents in their education who bring their own knowledge, experiences, and ideas.

Centennial orientation includes program information sessions, allowing students to meet their faculty and future classmates before classes begin. The faculty introduce the college model of learning and explain what students can expect from their courses.

At the student services fair, students can visit booths from each of our service areas and speak with representatives. Students learn about sports and athletics, career services, mental health supports, learning centre and tutoring services, volunteer opportunities, and more.

The Centennial College Student Association (CCSAI) hosts social activities as part of orientation, including meet and greets, games, and dance.

The International Centre offers orientation activities to help new international students adjust to life in Canada. Programming includes housing, banking, shopping, coping with culture shock, and important immigration-related matters. The Centennial International Student Ambassador (CISA) program helps integrate new international students by connecting them with upper-year students who act as peer mentors. Over 500 student leaders have volunteered to welcome and support new international students, assisting with events like orientation, field trips, and calling campaigns.

Global Experience

The International Education, Services and Global Experience (SaGE) team facilitates global learning opportunities for all students – Canadian and international. Since 2016, SCC has hosted three Faculty-led International Programs for CC students in the areas of Culinary, Hospitality, and Business. Centennial hosted two incoming FLIPs for SCC students in Toronto, as well as other bilateral faculty exchange, co-teaching, and cooperation activities. Centennial College intends to continue 2-way mobility with SCC once travel resumes after the pandemic.

At this time, Centennial has transitioned all Global Experience programs for online delivery. Until travel advisories are lifted, and global travel is no longer a risk, SaGE will offer Virtual Global Experience programming in the Winter 2021 and Summer 2021 semesters. Students can still participate in fulfilling opportunities such as studying virtually with one of Centennial’s international exchange partners, participating in an applied research project with a partner in Morocco, or completing a virtual internship with agencies in Costa Rica and China.

Follow Centennial’s Global Experience Blog: www.centennialglobalexperience.com

News/ Photos provided by Centennial College

Editing by CIE of Suzhou Centennial College