When Ukrainians want to know how to prepare seafood, they come to the experts – New Brunswickers. The culinary instructors at New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) are experts among experts.
NBCC Moncton culinary instructor Emmanuel Charretier recently returned from a week in Kiev and Dnipro, Ukraine, where he showed Ukrainian chefs how to prepare lobster at an event designed to promote Maritime seafood to the European market. The trip was a direct result of the longstanding relationship NBCC enjoys with the country, from which many of NBCC’s international students hail.
The week-long seafood demonstration was a success, and NBCC culinary instructors and students have been invited to return next year for a similar event. There are also plans underway for Ukrainian chefs to visit NBCC Moncton.
The number of international students at NBCC’s six campuses has been steadily increasing over the last three years as the College has increased its focus on international recruitment. In our 2017-2022 Strategic Plan Together We Rise, we committed to welcoming more learners. With the changing demographics of New Brunswick and the decline of the 17-24 age group in our provincial population, it was important that we reach beyond our borders to bring more newcomers and international students to our College and to New Brunswick.
International students are not only important to NBCC; they are important to New Brunswick. Based on a 2018 survey, we know that many NBCC international students come to our College with an eye to building a life here in New Brunswick. Eighty-five percent of NBCC international students indicated they hoped to remain in Canada after graduation; 80 percent of them wanted to stay in this province. By staying here, they’ll help contribute to the $1.5 billion injected into the New Brunswick economy by NBCC operations and graduates each year.
