Humber Education Alliance receives provincial support

Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Beaton Tulk today announced $25,000 in funding for the Humber Education Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that is mandated to attract international students to the Humber Valley region. The organization will use the funding to help implement its strategic plan. MHA Bob Mercer also participated in the announcement which took place in Corner Brook.

"The Humber Valley region has several features to attract international students," said Minister Tulk. "It not only boasts a solid post-secondary education system, but also a robust culture and geography."

Education as an industry, with potential to generate considerable economic wealth, was one of the themes that emerged during the province's public consultations on Jobs and Growth.

"Education is a critical building block of economic development and is an economic growth opportunity in and of itself," said Minister Tulk. "Increasing the number of international students in the province has significant potential for economic benefits and that is why we have made it a priority for action in our Renewal Strategy for Jobs and Growth that was released last spring. I congratulate the Humber Education Alliance for pursuing this economic growth opportuntiy on the west coast."

Members of the Humber Education Alliance include Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, College of the North Atlantic, Academy Canada, District 3 School Board, the Corner Brook Economic Development Corporation and the Humber Economic Development Corporation.

Internationally, more than 1.5 million high school and post-secondary education students study abroad each year, contributing an estimated $28 billion to the economies of their host countries. The number of international students around the world is expected to double in the next decade. In Canada, the education of international students is worth $3.5 billion annually.

Media contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications, (709) 729-4570.

2002 01 08                         2:05 p.m.