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Expert Guidance

Comprehensive Admissions Support for Your Creative Future

At the Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA), our team provides personalized support to help you navigate academic planning, visa timelines, travel, and accommodation strategies, ensuring you make well-informed decisions. Once we’ve established your core academic path, we work closely with you to refine your portfolio submissions, maximizing your chances of securing full scholarship amounts at our academic partner locations in Vancouver, BC, or Calgary, AB. With expert guidance, we help you efficiently reach your creative and career goals.

Yolanda Shayan - Director of international Admissions and Recruitment

Yolanda brings over 15 years of experience in creative arts education, with a background spanning three continents. She holds a double major in Political Science and Spanish from the University of British Columbia and a master’s in European Politics from the University of Birmingham, UK. In addition to leading her international team, Yolanda helps domestic students create detailed strategies to optimize the admissions process, guiding them in selecting the best academic partner location and career pathway. As a parent, she understands parental aspirations and is committed to supporting students in achieving their dreams with CEA’s guidance.

Languages spoken: English, Farsi and Spanish

Email: yshayan@thecea.ca

Cell Number and WhatsApp: +34 674 16 28 84

Location and Time Zone: Spain (GMT+2)

Minny Gupta - Regional Manager South Asia

Minny is the Regional Manager for India & South Asia at the Centre for Entertainment Arts. With deep experience in student recruitment, she has guided countless students through the complexities of international education, helping them achieve successful outcomes in Canada. Minny is passionate about the transformative power of education and its role in turning creative ambition into professional success. She is dedicated to helping students make informed decisions about their future and is committed to supporting them every step of the way in their educational journey.

Languages spoken - English, Hindi, Punjabi

Email - mgupta@thecea.ca

Cell & WhatsApp - +91 9890018005

Location & Time zone - Chandigarh, India. IST/UTC +05:30

Mert Tezel - Regional Manager, Turkey & GCC Countries

Mert Tezel is the Regional Manager for Turkey and GCC Countries at the Centre for Entertainment Arts. With a passion for the creative arts, Mert is inspired by the exceptional talent of Turkish artists and is dedicated to sharing that talent globally. He is currently collaborating with the BAU team on the development of foundational programs to connect Turkish artists with international opportunities both in education and professionally.

Primary Regions: Turkey & GCC Countries (Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE. Oman & Saudi Arabia)

Languages spoken: English, Turkish

Email: mtezel@thecea.ca

Cell Number and WhatsApp: +90 533 624 25 67

Location and Time Zone: Istanbul, Turkey – TRT/UTC+3

Ana Velderrain - Regional Manager, LATAM

Ana has over seven years of experience in the international education industry, specializing in recruiting students from Latin America. With a BA in Design and Architecture, and having studied in Ireland, the USA, and Canada, she uniquely aligns students’ talents with the right academic pathways to support their professional goals. Latin American artists are making significant global contributions in 3D, VFX, and Game Development, and Ana is passionate about helping them access the education needed to further their careers on the international stage. She expertly guides students through the admissions process, ensuring strategic success.

Languages spoken - English, Spanish

Email - avelderrain@thecea.ca

Cell & WhatsApp - +52 5528984007

Location & Time zone - Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico (GMT-6)

Jake Kwak - Regional Manager, North East Asia

Jake’s passion for movies and animation has been a constant throughout his life. After immigrating to Canada in 2013, he now serves as an international student recruiter, helping students from North and Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Korea, find the right academic opportunities in Vancouver and Calgary. He believes the creative journey, paired with the challenges of studying abroad, fosters character and resilience. Dedicated to building strong networks, Jake is inspired by guiding students toward their educational and professional goals.

Primary Regions: China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia

Languages spoken: English and Korean

Email: jakek@thecea.ca

Cell Number and WhatsApp: 587 968 2983

Location and Time Zone: Calgary, AB (GMT-7)

CEA FAQs

  • CEA Admissions Specialists collaborate closely with the admissions teams at our academic partner locations, offering invaluable guidance to students throughout the portfolio submission, application, scholarship opportunities, and document requirements process. With decades of experience in both domestic and international education, our team is equipped to address any questions you may have. Additionally, we can assist with program-specific inquiries and provide valuable connections and support. This personalized approach guarantees a seamless and successful application journey for students entering our academic partner institutions.

  • Through a combination of industry mentorship, exclusive events, studio-grade technology, state-of-the-art campuses, eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), access to comprehensive student services from accredited public post-secondary institutions, and a curriculum meticulously designed by industry professionals. These factors collectively offer a unique and exceptional learning experience for students.

  • Graduates are exceptionally prepared to excel as industry-ready professionals and creative trailblazers, propelling innovation and triumph within the realms of entertainment and digital media. Alumni have successfully secured positions at major studios, contributing to blockbuster projects across film, television, and the gaming industry.

  • The Center for Entertainment Arts (CEA) stands at the forefront of bridging academia and industry, fostering a robust network that significantly benefits students. Our unique collaboration with academic partners ensures that instructors, who are themselves high-level industry professionals, bring a wealth of real-world experience and current best practices directly to the classroom. This invaluable connection extends to our program directors, celebrated figures in their respective fields, who further enrich the learning environment with their expertise and industry insights. Students displaying strong professional development skills and a commitment to professionalism have consistently found early success, leveraging these connections to secure opportunities even before graduation. Although the recent industry strike has temporarily impacted the job prospects for our graduates, we are now witnessing promising signs of recovery and a resurgence in hiring. With a clear upward trend emerging, we anticipate that employment opportunities will substantially increase as we approach the end of 2024, solidifying the value of the connections and experiences gained through CEA.

  • Throughout the portfolio review process, our specialists will assess your skill level to help you determine whether the Advanced Programs or the Foundation in Entertainment Arts Certificate aligns best with your goals and abilities.

  • YES! Scholarship amounts are determined by multiple factors, including the strength of your portfolio, prior experience, program demand, and submission date.

  • The admission process timeline can vary depending on several factors, including the program you are applying to, the completeness of your portfolio, and the specific requirements of our academic partners. Typically, we aim to process applications efficiently to ensure a smooth experience for our students. You can expect to receive updates on your application status throughout the process. To get a more precise estimate for your specific situation, we recommend reaching out to our admissions team, who will be happy to provide you with personalized guidance and timelines.

  • The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holds paramount importance for international students as it provides a pathway to career opportunities, financial independence, and potential permanent residency in Canada. With PGWP, graduates can gain valuable Canadian work experience, explore different career paths, integrate into Canadian society, expand their professional networks, and enhance their employability both within Canada and globally. This invaluable permit empowers international students to not only support themselves financially but also to chart a successful and fulfilling career trajectory in Canada.

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