Support Services
The NSISP provides comprehensive support to ensure every international student has a successful and positive experience in Nova Scotia.
Supporting Student
Homestay Coordinator
The most important is the Homestay Coordinator.
If students have not already done so, they should contact them before their arrival. They will be the first point of contact in various situations.
Students should contact the Homestay Coordinator if they:
- have a question or problem they cannot solve on their own
- do not understand Canadian culture, or something seems unusual in the home, school, or community
- have trouble making friends or getting involved in extracurricular activities
- feel extreme homesickness
- have concerns or questions about school
- want to travel or have friends visiting
Your Homestay Coordinator is here to help you. If you have questions about your school or host family, you should talk with your Homestay Coordinator. The Homestay Coordinator will mediate any issues with students and host families and take any major issues to the Director/Program Manager for help finding a resolution.
Director and Program Manager
Another level of support is the Director and Program Manager within their region.
Their Director is their legal guardian while enrolled in the NSISP and oversees the program within their region. Program Managers often communicate with students about upcoming events, issues they may have (if not resolved by the Homestay Coordinator), and general information about the region.
Students are encouraged to work things out with their Homestay Coordinator or Program Manager before meeting with the Director or Program Manager. The Director may choose to bring the matter to the Operation Committee for discussion. However, the final decision for all student matters rests with their respective RCE/CSAP.
Teacher Liaisons and Ambassadors
Within the schools, there are teacher liaisons and ambassadors. The teacher liaisons help students with their courses and academic issues. All high schools in Nova Scotia have student ambassadors. The ambassadors contact students before arrival to introduce themselves and ensure they know at least one person before they arrive! They help students become familiar with the school and community and help create friendships with other students. The ambassadors also strive to make their school a more internationalized and welcoming environment.
Student Ambassadors
In each high school in Nova Scotia, there is an NSISP Ambassador in place to welcome your students to Nova Scotia. The Ambassadors go through a training program to learn how to welcome international students, learn about the many countries the NSISP hosts, collaborate with other Ambassadors to develop fun and unique student activities, and learn how to help international students have a positive experience in Nova Scotia.
Before new students leave for their program, their Ambassador should have contacted them via email or social media to introduce themselves and tell them a little about their school and community. The NSISP knows that making friends is one of an international student's biggest concerns, so we help alleviate that concern with this program.
The NSISP believes the key to student success is full integration into local schools, families, and communities. To this end, the NSISP trains more than 100 Nova Scotian students annually to become student ambassadors. The primary role of the ambassadors is to help international students become familiar with their school and community after they arrive and create deeper relationships with the students around them. The ambassadors also work with the international student staff liaisons to make their school a more internationalized and welcoming environment. The NSISP believes the interaction between student ambassadors and international students helps both groups develop cross-cultural skills and become better global citizens.
Ambassador Responsibilities
Provide school tours and welcome new international students and international visitors.
Work with the school staff liaisons and homestay coordinators to organize regular activities for international students in the school and community.
Work with school administration to acknowledge and celebrate the international students in their schools.
Encourage international students to use and complete their NSISP Passports.
Help their schools work towards or maintain 'NSISP Welcoming School' status.
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