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Summary

Objective and Scope

Since 2001, Medicine Hat College has sought to bring an international focus to its campus. Through its International Education Division, the college offers courses at campuses in other countries and seeks to draw international students to its campus in Medicine Hat. The college has agreements with three partner institutions in China to offer courses for students who wish to begin their studies in China and then transfer to Medicine Hat College to complete their programs.

The objective of our audit was to assess if Medicine Hat College has effective systems to deliver, evaluate and report on the International Education Division’s success and cost effectiveness. We examined:

  • reporting and governance processes within the International Education Division and at the board level
  • the division’s strategic and operational plans and how they aligned with actual operations
  • offshore partnership arrangements, including quality control processes and the program outcomes achieved
  • international travel by International Education Division staff and college executives

Conclusion

We found the college does not have effective systems to deliver international programming and manage its risks appropriately. The International Education Division operated independently and largely outside of the college’s control systems. Board oversight of international education has failed.

The college’s international education activities were the sole focus of this audit. Our conclusions are specific to those activities.