Expanding international education pathways with a focus on regional labour market needs is central to a new partnership between Selkirk College and the Li Ka Shing School of Professional & Continuing Education (LiPACE) based in Hong Kong.
In a signing ceremony held online, representatives from Selkirk College and LiPACE inked an articulation agreement in the presence of the Acting Consul-General of Canada. The partnership provides an opportunity for graduates of the Chinese post-secondary’s Higher Diploma in Business Administration & Management Program to elevate their education in the two-year Postgraduate Business Management Program that is based out of Selkirk College’s Castlegar Campus.
“Having LiPACE graduates join our Postgraduate Business Management Program enhances diversity and broadens opportunities for global learning,” says Danny Beatty, the college’s manager of International Education & Development. “Students from different parts of the world contribute significantly to our local culture and economy, bringing fresh ideas and diverse perspectives to our community.”
LiPACE is a top-level business school that is part of Hong Kong Metropolitan University, where Chinese students conduct their studies for this particular program in English. Selkirk College’s postgraduate programs in the School of Business are specifically designed to meet the needs of international students from across the world who desire a unique and supportive Canadian educational experience.
The partnership between the two post-secondary institutions began in June 2020 with a memorandum of understanding that received support from the trade commissioner in Hong Kong. Leading up to the articulation agreement signed in June 2024, Chinese students had been getting a taste of Canadian teaching through online international business courses offered at Selkirk College. An important aspect of the partnership is waiving the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirement because students who will attend the program in Castlegar have already been studying in English.
As many as 35 Chinese students each year will have the opportunity to start their studies at Selkirk College after graduating from LiPACE.
“It’s exciting to have this new partnership in place because we know that our postgraduate programs fill an important need within our communities when it comes to bringing new talents and ideas to the regional labour market,” says Tiffany Snauwaert, Dean for the School of Business and a former college instructor. “Whether students take a pathway towards permanent residency in Canada or return to China, the entire college benefits from the diversity that will arrive through this partnership.”
The Postgraduate Business Management Program at Selkirk College provides international learners with the concepts and theories relevant to Canadian business. Under the mentorship of faculty with a diverse array of real-world experience, students apply problem-solving skills and develop critical thinking as they learn to communicate effectively in various formats to a variety of stakeholders.
Delivered in-person on the vibrant Castlegar Campus, students engage in classroom learning and project-based work that builds on previous education. Graduates are trained for successful careers in areas such as marketing and sales, human resources management, operations management, financial systems, entrepreneurship, and project management.
“Partnerships like the one with LiPACE are essential to ensuring Selkirk College is graduating the next generation of business leaders,” says Elizabeth Li, the college’s International Student Recruiter and Cultural Advisor who worked on the deal between the two institutions. “The students who arrive to our campus will contribute to our communities while they are in school and after graduation. The language of business is international and this helps shrink the world for those with a desire to embrace a multitude of possible outcomes.”
Learn more about Selkirk College's School of Business.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.