Vancouver, BC - March 10, 2010

The British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE) is pleased to announce the launch of its new website www.bccie.bc.ca in concert with the new EQA Designation website www.bceqa.ca.

The new website will improve coordination, knowledge sharing, and communication within the province’s international education sector. New features of the site, such as a password protected discussion forum, a searchable international education news and events section, and the ability for those in the province’s international education industry to access market intelligence will help  BC’s institutions and school districts leverage key research, data and best practise approaching to recruiting, supporting and retaining international students.

Additionally, both sites feature the ‘Find a BC School’ interactive map which features BC’s recognized post-secondary and K-12 institutions, as well as information about the new provincial Educational Quality Assurance (EQA) brand. Social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter as well as an online photo gallery, Picasa, have been integrated to ensure news and real-time information are available through multiple communication platforms.

The new website is Phase One of a planned two phase approach. The second phase, to be launched in fall 2010, will include a student focused, interactive, multilingual Study in BC website with enhanced profiling for BC’s institutions and school districts.

The BC Council for International Education (BCCIE) is a learner-driven, non-government agency funded by the province of British Columbia. BCCIE represents the province's public and accredited private K-12, post-secondary, career college, language institutions and school districts to international learners around the world. BCCIE is committed to advancing the international education interests of the province of British Columbia. Approximately 140,000 international students choose to study in BC each year. International education is estimated to be the fifth largest industry in BC, generating annual revenue of over $2.5 billion to the province.

For more information:

Christina Wu, Communications Coordinator
BC Council for International Education
cwu@bccie.bc.ca

1.604.637.6766