Creating Pathways For Students From Latin America

VIU expands its international presence with the opening of a new recruitment office in Quito, Ecuador.

Vancouver Island University (VIU) is enriching its international student population with the opening of a recruitment office in Quito, Ecuador. 

“Reaching out to potential students across Latin America is a logical extension of what we have to offer,” says Bruce Condie, VIU’s Director of International Marketing, Recruitment and Business Development. “Canadian education, and our ideals and lifestyle, is valued in many Spanish speaking countries extending from Mexico into South America. They are also looking to expand their awareness and abilities in English, which will enhance their career prospects and VIU is well-positioned to provide a variety of programs to meet these requisites.”

A 2019 Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) report states the country has moved into a top-five position among leading global study destinations and the number of international students studying in Canada grew by 73 per cent between 2014 and 2018. 

VIU has recruitment offices in China, India, Vietnam and Germany. In 2019, more than 2,600 international students from 93 countries came to study at VIU. 

“The university is attractive to international students because of the wide range of flexible and career-oriented credentials and programs we offer and they can obtain relevant and market-ready skills,” says Condie. 

As people become more mobile worldwide and students have considerably more destinations and institutions to choose from, having an agent positioned in emerging markets such as Latin America provides value-added services. 

VIU Recruitment and Marketing Representative Pamela Cisneros will be the Head of Operations for Latin America operating out of the Quito office. 

“Being from Ecuador, she can offer assistance in a timely manner, in the first language of the Spanish speaking countries of Latin America, and students and parents appreciate having someone from their own culture being able to act as a facilitator,” adds Condie. 

The Quito office was officially opened February 5 at a special ceremony attended by Sylvie Bédard, Ambassador of Canada in Ecuador, along with a number of other notable Canadian government officials, local authorities, high school counsellors, prospective students and Irlanda Gonzalez Price, VIU Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs. 

“The recruiting office in Quito is an opportunity for VIU to raise the profile of the University and encourage new relationships and collaboration with institutions in Latin American countries,” says Condie. “It also helps us focus our efforts on diversification of the student population which strengthens the quality of student and employee experiences in a global world.”

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Media Contact: 

Annette Lucas, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University

O: 250.741.2020 | C: 250.618.7296 | E: Communications@viu.ca