During the BC government’s South Asian trade mission last month President Andrew Petter announced several initiatives to attract top students from India’s Delhi Public Schools (DPS) to study in Canada.

Meeting Nov. 18 with DPS officials and students, Petter announced that beginning next year SFU will create an India Entrance Scholarship to provide a top DPS graduate with $10,000 to help with tuition and other expenses. The annual award requires a minimum 95 per cent academic average.

The scholarship will be awarded in two $5,000 installments. Recipients need to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average for the second disbursement. The prize will also include a $1,000 travel allowance.

“This scholarship recognizes SFU’s longstanding relationship with Delhi Public Schools and our mutual commitment to creating further opportunities for their outstanding students to study in Canada,” Petter said during a visit to Ghaziabad, east of India’s capital, New Delhi.

Petter travelled throughout India as part of the trade mission, meeting with new and existing academic and industry partners to help position SFU as Canada’s “bridge to India.”

SFU will also explore two additional initiatives with Delhi Public Schools. The first would establish an annual major entrance scholarship to recognize both high academic standing and a commitment to school and community service, leadership, volunteer activity, the arts and/or athletics.

The second would create a summer institute to provide opportunities for high school students to spend several weeks at SFU, living in residence and participating in activities inside and outside the classroom.