Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
The name of this post-secondary institution in the province of British Columbia is usually abbreviated to NVIT. It was established in 1983 in the city of Merritt, but soon it also opened a second campus in the city of Burnaby. Today, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology offers various academic programs to local and international students, who are attracted to this educational institution by its values and learner-centered approach to education. Moreover, most of the programs at the institutions focus on the development of the First Nations, as it were actually started by several bands of the indigenous population representatives.
Programs
One of the degrees that is offered at the Nicola Valley Institute is a Bachelor of Social Work. Every year, approximately fifty students are admitted to the program, which lasts two years, and it's required to earn sixty credits in order to transfer to the third and fourth years. The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology aims to teach students all the possible tools for aiding people of all age groups in times of trouble. They learn how to help the minorities overcome oppression and the indigenous population preserve their culture and deal with the problems they often encounter. Among the courses they study are the following: Social Work With Individuals, Theory and Ideology of Social Work, Family Violence, Sexual Diversity, Social Work With Groups, Aging and Society, and a lot of other interesting disciplines.
In the field of Environmental Studies, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology offers students to obtain a certificate or a diploma in Environmental Resources Technology, and a diploma in Renewable Energies Technology.
The last program is growing in popularity not only at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology but all around the world's institutions. The reason is that people are turning to renewable energy sources that are eco-friendly and don’t contaminate the environment. But there is a lack of true professionals who would make this technology work and serve a good purpose. The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology wants to teach a new generation of scientists, connoisseurs of solar, wind, and geothermal energy and develop their skills in maintaining and creating the technologies.
In the field of Education, the Nicola Valley Institute offers students the opportunity to earn a certificate and a diploma by studying the programs in Aboriginal Early Childhood Education and a certificate in First Nations Speech and Language Assistant. It also offers a diploma in the program of Native Adult Instructor. The last program is dedicated to teaching professional educators for the First Nation people in the context of their historical and cultural values. By the way, one of the possible ways to continue a student’s path in the field of Education can be achieving a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of British Columbia. After completion of this eleven-month program, students will be awarded a recommendation for a special teacher certification, which is required to officially work in Canada. The University of British Columbia also offers a choice between two specializations: Teaching in Elementary School and Teaching in Secondary School. Then, students are further divided into the subjects they are going to teach. For example, it can be Computer Science, English, Earth Sciences, Technology Education, Modern Languages, and a number of others for secondary school educators.
Moreover, the University of British Columbia makes it possible for students to obtain a dual degree. Thus, along with studying Education, students can go for Forestry, Food and Nutrition, Math, and Physics programs.
One of the university transfer programs is Criminology, which leads to an Associate of Arts Degree. During the two years of studying the program, international students earn sixty credits. If their average GPA is greater than 2.33, they will be awarded an Associate degree as well as the option to continue their education by transferring their credits to Simon Fraser University. This, in turn, will give them a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Criminology. In the course of the studies, students will learn the following disciplines: Psychological and Sociological Explanations of Criminal and Deviant Behaviour, Research Methods in Criminology, Criminal Law, Statistics, and a number of others.
In the field of Business, students of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology can achieve certificates in the following programs: Aboriginal Community Economic Development, Aboriginal Governance and Leadership, First Nations Public Administration, Foundations in Innovation Technology, Office Administration, and Tourism Management. And the following diploma programs: Administrative Studies, First Nations Public Administration, Aboriginal Community Economic Development, and Executive Assistant.
For example, the diploma program in Aboriginal Community Economic Development lasts for two years and has great value for the indigenous community of Canada. Basically, students learn Finance, Project Management, Statistics, and Law but with regard to the problems and cultural peculiarities of the First Nations representatives. For the successful completion of this Nicola Valley Institute of Technology program, students need to have a minimum GPA of 2.33 and complete sixty credits during the two-year period.
The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, among other programs, offers students the opportunity to take a co-op program. It allows them to obtain real work experience together with learning the theory at the institute and earn credits towards the academic credential. Through practice, students learn if they want to pursue a professional path or not, while being paid for the job they do. During the job term, students’ soft skills greatly evolve as well; students’ testimonials show that they all become more confident in their abilities and knowledge.
To be eligible to study at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, international students whose native language is not English need to confirm their English knowledge by providing a certificate of an official examination. It should be the equivalent of an IELTS band score of 5.0 for all sections.
As for the tuition fees of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, international students are required to pay around CAD 363 per credit. International students can get a scholarship or an award for their academic excellence that will decrease the cost of education.
Accommodation
The main campus of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is located in Merritt, in the south-central part of the province, only 270 kilometres away from the city of Vancouver. The city often becomes a location for filming movies about the indigenous population of America; it also hosts musical and theatre festivals and sports competitions. While living in this city, international students can rent a flat either alone or with their friends. The rent price of a one-bedroom in Merritt begins at CAD 1000, but the final price will depend on its location in the city, type of furnishings, and other factors.
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology offers international students to live in student housing. There are two buildings with thirty-two units each. A unit usually consists of bedrooms for four and two students. There are also single rooms for one student and family suites for a family or two students of the same sex. All suites have fully-equipped kitchens with stoves, fridges, sinks, and ovens. All the rooms in the residence halls are fully furnished, have high-speed internet access, and utilities are already included in the rates. Overall, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology provides places for eighty people. That’s why it’s better to apply for a place in a hall of residence as early as possible.
Besides comfortable rooms and impeccable housing conditions, students often conduct sports and entertaining events in the hall of residence, where they communicate with each other and spend their leisure time together. So, living in the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology housing allows students to build a great network of like-minded people and enrich their free time with rewarding activities.
The cost of living in a private suite is CAD 4,200 for an academic year. During the summer period, students pay around CAD 2,100. A family room costs CAD 10,000 for a four-member family. Families are given priority for these types of rooms, but if they become available, students can also live in them for the same price.
Future Prospects
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is a perfect place to start your life in Canada. In the case of finishing a full-time program, together with compliance with all the other requirements, international students can apply for a post-graduation work permit and work in the country for three years. Then, their next step can be getting a permanent residence visa and, finally, citizenship of Canada.
Staying in Canada is not the only possible option for international students after finishing Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. They can go to any other country in the world, including their native country, and start building a career with all the knowledge they gained in Canada.
Of course, they can also extend their study permit and continue their educational path towards other academic credentials either at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology or other institutions of Canada.
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