Canada rebrands international education scheme and launches EduCanada

24 Feb 2016

Earlier this week, the Canadian government unveiled a fresh national brand, EduCanada, to represent the country’s global education scheme.

The brand was revealed at the annual AIEA conference in Montreal, and features a new logo and strapline – A world of possibilities – that will appear on all printed education materials from the federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as all Canadian universities that operate on an international scale.

The current Education au/in Canada website is set to be replaced in line with the EduCanada brand, and will serve Canadian higher education at events around the world, including this year’s NAFSA conference and other global education fairs.

Min Freeland welcomed the #EduCanada brand to help market #StudyinCanada @CCMEC https://t.co/QGLpbY1Oe0 pic.twitter.com/edjmyGfnUK

— Canada Trade (@CanadaTrade) February 22, 2016

Global Affairs Canada has also produced a video promoting Canada as one of the world’s most desirable study abroad destinations.

Increasing the global influence of Canada’s higher education sector was one of the main goals cited in the 2012 Global Affairs of the federal International Education strategy, which sought to double the number of international students in Canada to 450,000 by 2022.

The rebrand will overtake the existing Imagine Canada branding, and seeks to represent Canadian international education in a more consistent and contemporary manner.

MT @ConsulGDL: #EduCanada atn #feriaconecta @ITESO. Cdn representatives from #Alberta, @uvic, Kaplan y EF. pic.twitter.com/TMiVbDJFiR

— Canada in Mexico (@CanEmbMexico) February 23, 2016

“It was time to freshen things up and give the sector a new look moving forward,” said Randall Martin, executive director of the British Columbia Council for International Education.

“I think what we’re going to see is a more concerted digital approach or social media campaign, more, better, choreographed collateral initiatives and branding with the provinces. We’re quite excited about the potential this will bring in terms of refreshing the brand, along with the new government and the new focus on international education,” he adds.

The executive director of Languages Canada, Gonzalo Peralta, also voiced his approval of the new brand, claiming it “sends a clear message that Canada is ready to move forward in actively marketing Canada’s offering as a leading language education destination.

Infographic: International Students in Canada Up 83% (2008-2014); low Cdn$ will attract more. #EduCanada @CBIE_BCEI pic.twitter.com/rqwsdBoYp6

— Mark Schroeter (@TCS_Mark) February 22, 2016

“This brand will no doubt help to attract the best and brightest international students to Canada,” he told The PIE News.

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, is also pleased with the new design, stating that the cooperation between the brand and Canada’s provinces and territories will entice the world’s top international students, who serve as “ambassadors” for Canada, and increase the country’s competitiveness in the global education sphere.

“We must continue to highlight internationally the excellence in Canadian education, and I am very pleased with today’s campaign to attract new students from around the world,” she said.

Image via EduCanada.

Additional reporting by The PIE News.