KOTA KINABALU: Canadian universities are making a comeback in their education roadshow in Sabah, offering quality education at reasonable price.

EDUCATIONAL TALK: (From left) Masidi and David talk to students who visited the education fair.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun said Canadian universities offered more personalised service in taking care of international students.

He added that Canadian universities also provide more enclosed campus, hence students do not have to worry about residential problems.

Officiating at the Canadian education fair at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu here yesterday, Masidi suggested Canadian universities identify courses that interest Sabahans and create their own niche market.

High Commissioner of Canada in Malaysia David Collins said there were currently 1,000 Malaysians studying in Canada, with less than 20 per cent were East Malaysians.

However, he stressed it was due to the lack of awareness among Malaysians, as the education fair yesterday was the first one in 20 years in Sabah.

Commenting on the trend that students prefer going to Australia and England to further their studies, David said the standard of Canadian universities is on a par with universities in Australia and England.

“Our challenge is to create market awareness of who we are and what we offer,” he said in a press conference after the opening ceremony.

He added that popular courses among Malaysians were engineering, information technology, business and petroleum engineering.

In addition to undergraduate courses, David said Canada also offers quality high school, boarding schools, homestays, college with undergraduate programmes and postgraduate courses for students.

“We look at education as the most important investment families can make for their children.” David also reassured parents and students that Canada was a multi-racial country where different races mix and integrate very well.

However, he said law courses in Canada are postgraduate degrees, which means students would have to do undergraduate programme before they can pursue their law degree.

David added that Canada offers affordable education and living costs, whereby tuition fee for pre-university programmes starts from RM16,000,  university programmes cost from RM22,000 a year, and living costs start from RM24,000.

Around 16 universities from across Canada took part in the education fair which was held from 2pm to 7pm yesterday.

The delegates will set up another education roadshow in Hilton Kuching on Jan 28.