Projects in Chile

Chilean Students Return to Niagara
Niagara College and Chilean Ministry of Education
Tourism Training in Chile

Chilean Scholarship Students Return to Niagara

Thirteen Government of Chile scholarship recipients will return to Niagara College for regular postsecondary programs in September 2009:  four in Culinary Management; three in Hospitality and Tourism Management Systems; one in Wine Business Management; three in International Business Management; one in Tourism Management- Business Development; and one in Business General (with a focus on Accounting).

These students significantly improved their English skills thanks to their ESL classes over the last year. In addition to attending their regularly organized classes and lab sessions for 25 hours per week ( five hours per week for each skill or content category: listening, speaking, reading, grammar and writing), students were also involved in the preparation of assignments and projects outside of class.  Students also had access to language and computer labs beyond regularly scheduled classes and were encouraged to engage with Canadians and other international students for language practice. 

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Chilean MINEDUC Partners with Canadian Colleges

"It has been a great opportunity for our students and for me to learn about Chilean geography, history, people and culture in our Level 3 Speaking Class. We are all so happy to have a new friend from Chile." Shari Virtue, ESL Teacher, Level 3a Speaking

Last year the Government of Chile initiated an innovative program that offers scholarships for study abroad to graduates of post-secondary technical institutions. Twenty-one Chilean students are now increasing their English language skills while furthering studies in the fields of international business/finance, tourism and the culinary arts at Niagara College. 

Two students who arrived with the group in September had such a high level of English proficiency that they embraced the offer to enter the Hospitality and Tourism Management Systems graduate certificate program. They will graduate in April 2009. Many of the students will be applying for Niagara College’s post-diploma programs as soon as they complete their ESL requirements. Three mining graduates will complete a study program at other Canadian colleges.

All of the Chilean students have made remarkable progress both in and out of the classroom. They eagerly gave back to the College community by hosting a very popular booth during International Education Week in November 2008.  Ambassador Eugenio Ortega, the representative of the Chilean Government in Canada, visited some of the students in March and was impressed by their progress.

On April 7, the Chilean students showcased their country and culture at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus. The presentation will provide insight into Chile’s economy, mining industry, as well as culinary and tourism sectors. Those who attended were inspired by this committed group of international students!

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Tourism Training in Chile

Spectacular glaciers, active volcanoes and the Andes Mountains make Chile a beautiful tourist destination. Now, Niagara College along with the Centro de Formación Técnica of the Universidad de Atacama (CFT-UDA), is attempting to build the tourism industry in the southern portion of the Atacama Desert. For the last year, Niagara College has been consulting with the CFT-UDA to develop a tourism training program in a region where tourism is underdeveloped but very promising.

The Atacama Desert—located between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains—is considered the driest place on earth as well as one of great beauty. The dryness provides ideal visibility and makes the area popular for astronomical research.  The consultancy project focuses on Vallenar—an agricultural area situated in a valley that mainly produces table grapes, olives, apricots and artichokes. Unemployment is currently high in the region.

The CFT-UDA has traditionally concentrated on providing technical programs related to the mining sector.  With tourism in the southern reaches of the Atacama Desert in the development stage, the offering of a new training program in special interest (niche) tourism is viewed with increasing interest as a viable means of developing the economy in the area. Opportunities also exist for developing new products and services in the areas of heritage and cultural tourism, agro-tourism, mining tourism and adventure tourism. 

A new training centre is under construction in the city of Vallenar south of Copiapó, and a program start date is slated for later this year.

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