For a second consecutive term, a record number of students showed up for orientation at University Canada West.

British Columbia’s fastest growing university welcomed students from around the world for the Winter 2018 term. Their countries of origin include China, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Korea, Canada and elsewhere.

“The accelerated growth of UCW is exciting to witness,” said David Wiens, UCW’s executive director. “The enthusiasm of the new students is infectious, and we wish them the best in their academic journey.”

Olla Goncharko, 25, is in the MBA program and hails from Ukraine. She arrived the night before orientation and was still getting used to her new surroundings. However, Olla likes what she has seen so far. “It’s clean and the view is great,” she said. “The people are very nice.”

Temperatures generally remain mild throughout the winter in Vancouver; however, it snowed the evening before orientation.

Syed Yameen Agha, 28, arrived the day before from India and is enrolled in the MBA program. “It was the first time I saw snow falling,” he recalled. Syed said Vancouver was a beautiful city and he’s glad that he jumped at the opportunity to study in Canada.

All new students at UCW must take part in the mandatory two-day orientation and academic testing. This allows international students to get familiar with their new school, academic expectations and their new city.

Reza Namaki, 32, arrived in Vancouver 10 days ago from Iran. “It’s been amazing,” she said. “Compared to the UK, it’s way better.” Reza said she been pleasantly surprised by the number of other Iranian students on campus but noted that it should make her transition easier. “For many years, I wanted to come to Canada,” she said.

A group of students took part in an optional guided tour of downtown Vancouver. They got to see the local sites and amenities, as well as get to know the neighborhood around their urban campus. Jan. 3 is the first day of classes for the winter term.

University Canada West is located in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia. The university offers both online and on-campus Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication and MBA programs. The business-oriented university provides students with the experience to succeed in their careers and scholarships to recognize students’ academic excellence.

WRITTEN BY BRADLEY FEHR