Grads and their supporters gather for CNC's Convocation ceremony on Saturday  250News photo

Prince George, BC – It is a spring of 'firsts' for international students attending the College of New Caledonia…

Among the 255 students taking part in Saturday's Convocation ceremony, was Muhammad Rujmun Hussain, who offered greetings to those gathered at CN Centre on behalf of CNC's Students' Union.  Hussain is from Dubai and is the first international student to graduate from the college's Automotive Technician program.

Patricia Bbosa was presented with her certificate for completing the Health Care Assistant program, becoming CNC's first graduate from Uganda.

The college's International Academic Advisor, Sabreena MacElheron, said Bbosa arrived in Prince George as a minor at 17 and has done a remarkable job of settling in and pursuing her studies.  "I'm very, very proud of her, she's overcome a lot of odds."

Bbosa originally enrolled in the Licensed Practical Nurse Diploma, but decided to take a more gradual approach, "If I go step-by-step, my plan is to go later on to become a psychiatric nurse."

"First, I'm going to work for a bit because a want to support myself," said the beaming grad.  "My parents have done a good job of supporting me, so now I want to work and support myself."

Bbosa plans to stay in Prince George and has several applications out.  "I'm keeping a positive outlook," she said.

Her parents were in the stands for Saturday's Convocation, as were the relatives of international students from India, other parts of Africa, and the United States.

The ceremony featured the first graduating class in the Post Diploma Information Technology program – the majority of the more than 20 grads were international students.  MacElheron said the PDIT program is a prime example of CNC's effort to carve out unique offerings for international students.  She says those enrolled were already very skilled in their own countries – many holding three-year degrees – but looking to further their education in a way that can help them get permanent residency in Canada.

"They're trying to fulfill a skill shortage that we have in Canada in computer technical areas," she said.  "By completing a program that's at least two years, or more, they're eligible for a two- to three-year post-graduation work permit, which allows them to stay in Canada and get the necessary work experience, which is a criteria to apply for permanent residency."

MacElheron said CNC now has more than 300 international students – Brazil, Russia, Cameroon, and Japan to name just a few – and many are in the university transfer program, where they're meeting with great success.  "Many go on to get competitive entry after studying for two to three years at CNC – into engineering at UBC, UVic, McGill and Concordia," said the academic advisor.  "We've had students go into universities all over North America, into really competitive programs, with scholarships."