Toronto: To develop a good understanding of the culture & history of India and its Canadian Diaspora, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) (Vancouver), through its Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies, will introduce a new one-year, 30-credit certificate program in India-Canada Studies this September.

"We have designed the curriculum so that it crosses various disciplines," said Satwinder Bains, Director of the Centre and Professor with the varsity's Social Work and Human Services Department.

The certificate program will cover topics such as History, Geography, Anthropology, English, Film, Art History, Religious Studies, and the Punjabi language.

Students enrolled in the programme will also be sent on a study tour to Chandigarh and other Indian cities to engage in a cross-cultural study of institutional and social/family networks.

"Our goal is to offer a program that responds to needs identified by our local Indo-Canadian community and others who are interested in learning more about the rich social, cultural, and political heritage and contribution of the Indian community in Canada. We designed the program so it is attractive to all students: those of Indian heritage and those who are non-Indian. So far, our classes have had a balanced ratio of ethnicities", added Bains.

"Students with a familiarity with Indian culture, history, economics, Indian languages, and the special relationship between Canada and India, are enjoying a competitive advantage once they hit the workforce. These courses expose them to knowledge and ideas about a cultural community that has a great impact on our daily work and lives here in the Fraser Valley," she said.

The new certificate programme is one of many activities that the university is undertaking to nurture its connections with India.

Other initiatives include formal academic visits and exchanges; formal memoranda of understanding between UFV and Indian universities; the cohort of the UFV Bachelor of Business Administration degree being offered in Chandigarh and the B.C. Regional Innovation Chair on Canada-India Business and Economic Development, which is housed in the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies.