After three years, China has reopened its borders and many Chinese students are eager to leap back into their ways of international travel and study.

 

Canada has remained a top destination for international students – particularly Chinese students – over the last decade, and has generated billions of dollars in revenue by providing educational services to Chinese students via tuition, textbooks and studying materials, and living and travel expenses.

 

However, competition in the global education market is fierce and with the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, tense Canada-China relations, and global economic slowdown, what must Canadian educational institutions do to keep their competitive edge? According to the Institute of International Education (IIE) in 2022, Chinese students occupied 19.59% of all international students in Canada, lower than other English-speaking destinations (34.64% in U.S., 23.39% in U.K., 35.76% in Australia, and 37.74% in New Zealand).

 

CCBC is pleased to have speakers from Canadian universities, colleges, high schools, language centres, and educational service companies discuss this important topic from their unique perspectives, including:

 

• • • Allison Yokom, Senior Director, International Undergraduate Enrolment, Queen’s University;
    • Gwen Burrows, Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact, University of Toronto;
    • Kelvin Chan, Associate Director, International Recruitment (East and South Asia), Toronto Metropolitan University;
    • Hugo Chen, Director, International Collaborations and Partnerships, Interim Assistant Dean, Strategic Enrollment Management, York University;
    • Serge Demers, AVP, Student Affairs, Registrar and Secretary of Senate, Office of the Registrar, Laurentian University;
    • Nick Huang, Director, East and South East Asia Region, Seneca International;
    • Dr. Bob Liu, Special Advisor to the President, Cape Breton University, President, Cape Breton Language Centre (CBLC) on CBU Campus, President, Cape Breton China Corp.; and
    • Tim Yawney, Principal, NOIC Academy.

Agenda:

9:30 am – 10:00 am: Registration
10:00 am – 11:00 am: Welcome Remarks and Presentations
11:00 am – 11:10 am: Coffee Break
11:10 am – 12 pm: Panel Discussion followed by Networking

This is a free event for CCBC members, $50 + HST for non-members; maximum 2 registrations per organization, first come first served until capacity is reached.

 

About the speakers:

 

Allison Yokom
Senior Director, International Undergraduate Enrolment
Queen’s University

 

As a Senior Director, International Undergraduate Enrolment for Queen’s University, Canada, Allison Yokom brings 20 years of experience in working in post-secondary education in Canada. A graduate of Lakehead University, she started her career in Student Affairs and has since gained a wealth of experience in areas including International Curriculums and Admission Standards; Recruitment; Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Indigeneity; Strategic Enrolment Management; Student Transition Programming; and Transfer and Mobility. Recognizing the merit and achievement of diverse students is her passion and because of this continues to streamline admission processes, evaluate, and clarify admission requirements, and advocate for equitable assessment of applicants. As the lead developer of the First-Generation Admission policy at Queen’s, she expanded outreach and access to PSE to students from underrepresented areas and equity deserving backgrounds. Ms. Yokom has personally completed thousands of recruitment events and activities around the world, reviewed tens of thousands of applications and helped to shape the student body at Queen’s today.

 

 

Gwen Burrows
Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact
University of Toronto

 

Gwen Burrows is Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact at the University of Toronto. The Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement and Impact (AVP IEI) collaborates with colleagues across the university and internationally to advance the University of Toronto’s global excellence and impact in research, its translation, and in teaching and learning. The Assistant Vice-President leads and executes the University’s integrated international strategy across multiple dimensions, with a particular focus on region-specific engagement strategies and the development of partnerships to maximize global impact.

 

Ms. Burrows was Executive Director in the Office of the Vice President International for five years before becoming AVP IEI and in that role, supported the creation and implementation of the University’s first international strategic plan, and led the development of key international partnerships in a number of regions around the world. Ms. Burrows came to the University from The Hospital for Sick Children, where she held a number of leadership positions, including Executive Director, Public Affairs and Child Health Advocacy. As Director, Strategic Projects for the SickKids Research Institute from 2006-2013, amongst other accomplishments Ms. Burrows co-led a successful $227 million Canada Foundation for Innovation grant proposal and its implementation to support the vision guiding the development of the Peter Gilligan Centre for Research and Learning. Ms. Burrows holds a Master’s in Philosophy from Johns Hopkins and a BA from McGill University.

 

 

Kelvin Chan
Associate Director, International Recruitment (East and South Asia)
Toronto Metropolitan University

 

Kelvin Chan is the Associate Director, International Recruitment (East and South Asia) at Toronto Metropolitan University, leading a team of four regional recruitment representatives based in China and India to achieve Toronto Met’s strategic objectives in those key markets. He has 10 years of both domestic and international recruitment experience across McGill University, York University and Toronto Met, overseeing the entire enrolment pipeline from application to matriculation, with the goal of providing a holistic, caring and equitable experience to all students throughout their journeys. Mr. Chan holds an MA from McGill University, and is a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor active in the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) community, being a member of its Standards of Practice Focus Group.

 

 

Hugo Chen
Director, International Collaborations and Partnerships
Interim Assistant Dean, Strategic Enrollment Management
York University

 

Hugo Chen joined York University in January 2021 as the inaugural Director of International Collaborations & Partnerships for Faculty of Science. In his current role, Mr. Chen is responsible for developing and managing overseas collaborations and partnerships between the Faculty of Science and international institutions, and accelerating our international student recruitment efforts. In February 2023, Mr. Chen took on the additional role of Interim Assistant Dean where he guides and supports academic consulting services for science students, strategic enrollment management, science engagement programs, and experience education.

 

Mr. Chen has 14-plus years of international education and education administration experience, particularly in the management of international collaborations and partnerships. He holds an MBA from Laurentian University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Foshan University in China, and is a Certified Socio-cultural Competency Training (SCT) Facilitator. Mr. Chen is also multilingual; he is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as basic conversational French.

 

 

Serge Demers
AVP, Student Affairs, Registrar and Secretary of Senate, Office of the Registrar
Laurentian University

 

Serge Demers is currently the Registrar and Secretary of the Senate at Laurentian University in Sudbury. He received his B.A. from the University of Waterloo in Mathematics, his B.Ed. from Laurentian University, and his M.Ed. and Ph.D. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto in Measurement and Evaluation. He was Director of the School of Education at Laurentian University for six years, and President of the Ontario Association of Deans of Education, an organization of the province’s 13 faculties and schools of education, for two years. He is currently President of the Ontario University Registrar’s Association, and Past President of the Canadian Association of Educational Researchers. He has been a faculty member at Laurentian University for the past 25 years, as well as assuming the roles of interim Provost on two occasions. He is currently responsible for Admissions, Domestic and International Recruitment, Varsity and Recreation, Fees and Awards, Records, and Graduation. His teaching and research areas include science and mathematics education.

 

 

Nick Huang
Director, East and South East Asia Region
Seneca International

 

Nick Huang leads a team of Business Development Managers that promotes Seneca College in the East and South East Asia region. He is involved in many areas of international students’ recruitment, such as attending education fairs, hosting agencies partners events, participating in conferences and seminars. He also partakes in visiting high schools, colleges, universities and language schools. The East and South East Asia team focuses on student recruitment, developing new recruitment markets, as well as identifying potential partner institutions to create joint educational partnerships with Seneca, such as exchange or study-abroad programs. In addition, Mr. Huang’s team develops the Seneca brand, promotes Seneca programs, and establishes short-term/contract-training opportunities for Seneca in the East and South East Asia region.

 

Mr. Huang was a professional classical musician in China before he immigrated to Canada in 1990. He plays bassoon and saxophone with various ensembles and orchestras in Toronto during his free time. He speaks English, Mandarin and Russian.

 

 

Dr. Bob Liu
Special Advisor to the President, Cape Breton University
President, Cape Breton Language Centre (CBLC) on CBU Campus
President, Cape Breton China Corp.

 

Dr. Bob Liu holds a Doctorate in Business Management from Université Nice-Sophia-Antipolis and is a well-respected leader in the education sector. As the Special Advisor for the President (International) at Cape Breton University (CBU) and President of several key organizations, including Cape Breton Language Centre located on the CBU campus, Cape Breton China Corp., Topline Career Training College, and Toronto Heuristic International Academy (THIA), Dr. Liu is actively involved in academic and business communities across Canada. In 2022, he was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Award.

 

 

Tim Yawney
Principal
NOIC Academy

 

Tim Yawney has led NOIC Academy in its recent rapid development and growth from a private school of 250 students to over 700 students. With Mr. Yawney as the principal leader and with his dynamic leadership staff in Markham, Ontario, and Beijing, China, NOIC Academy has developed both a permanent full-time school campus and residence, and a vibrant online OSSD program. With over 30 years of experience in education in Ontario public and private schools, Mr. Yawney has supported the development of the teaching staff, both the OSSD and IB curriculum, and the successful graduation and transition to university of the students in his care. Mr. Yawney has a Master’s of Educational Leadership with a focus in Educational Leadership and Administration from Niagara University.

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