Name: Uttal Arun Lohar

Program: Project Management

Program Provider: Algoma University (Brampton Campus, ON)
Intake: Winter (January) 2023

Subject: - Reapplication for Canadian Student Visa Permit for the UCI: 1120252699

To
The Visa Officer,
The Canadian High Commission

Letter of Explanation

After getting accepted into Conestoga College’s One-Year Ontario College Graduate Certificate
(Post-Graduate) program in Project Management, I applied for a Canadian study visa for the fall
(September) 2022 intake. However, for an explained reason, my application was rejected. To
fully explain my decision to enrol in the selected program, its relevance to my academic
background, and the expectations of this highly specialised aligned management credential
in my prior academics and India when it is completed—factors that demonstrate my position as
a bona fide student—I am submitting this letter of explanation. The following rejection ground
will be covered in great length in this formal justification letter for the denial of Application No.
S305250328:
 I am not satisfied that you will leave Canada at the end of your stay as required by
paragraph R216(1)(b) of the IRPR (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-
2002-227/section-216.html). I am refusing your application because you have not
established that you will leave Canada, based on the following factors:

 The purpose of your visit to Canada is not consistent with a temporary stay given
the details you have provided in your application.
My reasoning to change my program provider:

After receiving my latest refusal, I revaluated my program choices and though project
management as a stream was cemented, I decided that Algoma University, as a program
provider, would be a comparatively better choice given the university’s prestige, better and
larger curricula, and expansive industry integration with Brampton- and wider Ontario-based
electrical and electronic component manufacturing enterprises.

Purpose of my visit and how it directs towards my temporary stay in Canada:

Engineering has been a field that changed the modern way of life and decades of constant
innovation and development in its myriad streams have now resulted in technologies that
facilitate all the from small luxuries like a light bulb to the mammoth differences made by state-
of-the-art medical equipment. This is where electrical engineering comes into play — the very
forefront of these practical technologies. These streams have been the foundation on which such
constant development is taking place to fulfill the constantly growing people's communication,
tech, and energy needs. Though an extensive field, my initial interests were a result of my
diploma studies that apart from building broader engineering acumen focused on the essentials
of electrical power systems which only formed a base for a later undergraduate study. Though
my motivation to continue my studies in such a perspective and expanding engineering field
came with my work experience in capacities that explored the growing requirements and
change in the industry,
project management within the wider production and manufacturing aspects of the wider
engineering also became a dominant function my work related to. Being the leading sector for
globalisation, the nuances of project management (as a field) and its constituent functional
domains have long evolved from the obscure technical implementation that dominated complex
technical and manufacturing projects 50 years ago. Considering India being considered the
sustainable alternative to China for manufacturing and engineering industries, prospects for
professionals that can plan, design, lead, develop, and maintain projects will continue to grow —
my academic goals aligned with these prospects.

The sole purpose behind my visit to Canada is to tether to my prior technical academics and
extensive industry experience and build an expansive postgraduate study in project management
that beyond being regulated by the PMI’s PMBOK curriculum is to learn core subjects like
leadership, risk management, cost control, and engineering sustainability—subjects that would
enable me to lead engineering projects. Through this formal statement, I would reason why the
proposed Two-Year Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Algoma University will
be just the program for me to add to my academics; how it will help me stand out from the
competition; how it will allow me to scale my career prospects to new heights when I return to
India after the program’s conclusion. The stated introductory paragraphs clearly reflect my only
motivation to come to Canada which is to equip myself with what the project management
industry will need tomorrow and as such shows that I am a bona fide student seeking a
temporary visit to the country.

My ties to my family back in India and how it add to my reasoning to return home
after the completion of the program:

My engineering interests initially resonated with my parents as they gave me complete

independence to choose my own academic paths. Though education was given the frontier
vectors for a successful social and professional life, ethics and morals were also instilled within
me as complimentary qualities — aptitude one might need for a career where innovation is
concerned. My father, Mr Arun Laxman Lohar, who works at JMD Electricals, gave me a
directed channel to explore my engineering interests young. My mother, Mrs Anita Arun
Lohar, a homemaker, became the emotional foundation I needed to base my (to date) academic
and work endeavours. Lastly, my siblings, Mr Pratik Arun Lohar and Ms Rajani Pratik
Lohar are currently pursuing their own established careers in the private sector. Given my close
familial ties to India, this is only one of many factors that will cause me to return home when the
program is finished.

Academic and Professional Background and how they demonstrate my academic

readiness for the chosen program of study:

My interests in science got their first exposure with my subject major of Science & Technology
during my matriculation studies which not only introduced me to the two distinct streams -
engineering and health sciences - but also orientated that innate curiosity in STEM with
engineering. Upon passing my MSBSHSE SSC (10th) examinations in March 2008 with a
73.53%, I chose to pursue an engineering diploma rather than continuing with my higher
secondary study to better explore the basics young. Following this academic path, I enrolled
at Vidya Prasarak Mandal's Polytechnic, an institution affiliated to the Maharashtra State
Board of Technical Education (MSBTE), the same year and started a 3-Year Diploma in
Electrical Power Systems. The first year was dedicated to developing my foundational
knowledge based on engineering like mathematics, engineering drawing, essentials of electrical
engineering, and computing tools. This rudimentary set of underpinnings helped me flesh out the
latter two years of dedicated courses on circuit design, advanced engineering mathematics,
instrumentation, motive power, transmission and distribution of electricity, basics of electronics,
and the technical functions delineated towards power grid installation and maintenance.
Completing my engineering diploma with an aggregate of 64.97% in 2011, I decided to continue
my study to build onto my already based qualifications to not only be ready for the competitive
world of engineering in India's myriad affiliated industries but also explore its application side to
better gauge what industry might need from the technologists tomorrow. Following this, I
enrolled at the Abhinav Education Society’s College Of Engineering, an institution affiliated
to Shivaji University, and started a 4-Year Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical
Engineering; however, given my Diploma in the same engineering stream, I was enrolled as a
Direct-Second Year (DSY) student — directly to a second year/3rd Semester. With a foundation
already developed, I took detailed course offerings in analogue and digital electronics,
microprocessors and microcontrollers, control systems, engineering management essentials,
engineering design, power electronics, general-purpose programming, and a host of other
modules that aligned with contemporary technologies and tools used by businesses in
manufacturing, power generation, and industry.

After the completion of my undergraduate degree in 2015 with an aggregate of 77.38%, I

joined SWAFE Critical Facility Management as a Shift Engineer in June 2015 at its clientele
organisation- Hiranandani Hospital. I continued working till July 2016 when my primary roles
were to maintain compliance with the enterprise set engineering practices for its power grid and
handle and monitor the team of 6. To work in a larger setting, I joined a real estate
developer, CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd., in July 2016 (and continued working till July 2017)
where my primary roles included overall maintenance and management of the site including
infrastructure, common assets and services. I later joined the New Found Properties and
Leasing Pvt. Ltd. and worked as a Duty Manager from July 2017 to June 2020 at the
Gigaplex Airoli Knowledge Park site where I handled operations and maintenance functions of 6
buildings. My roles included leading a team of 25 and handling the operation of chillers, HVAC,
BMS operators, fire safety, PA systems, outdoor backup generators, and overall building
maintenance. My extensive work experience led me to re-join CBRE South Asia Pvt.
Ltd. in June 2020 as an Executive Facilities (I continue to work as one to this day) at its Maker
Maxity Bandra site. My prior experience had my roles expanded to lead and oversee entire
facility operations at the site, handle Maintenance, Engineering, Security, and Housekeeping
teams, and maintain electrical equipment and overall compliance to infrastructure regulations.

The main factors influencing my choice of electrical engineering as my

postgraduate field of study:

My expansive career has introduced me to several distinct fields within engineering and general
management and has worked in leadership settings, I have explored how project management
has been implemented as a framework that companies can use for constant innovation with
ongoing projects or develop them from the ground up while being sustainable. However, in the
last decade, project management paradigms like Agile and Lean have taken the engineering
community by storm given how these management techniques give a proper framework to rather
unplanned and curiosity-motivated technology projects or can facilitate project scaling in
manufacturing settings. Having consulted my mentors who are established in the industry, I
decided to pursue a small yet integral multidisciplinary postgraduate program that builds on my
prior background while introducing me to the fundamentals of project planning, scheduling, cost
and risk management, scope and quality control, stakeholder management, cross-cultural
strategic leadership, and communications in varied contexts (and at different levels of the
project) that effectively lets me pursue my career goals that now centre in working with
prospective capacities that exclusively plan, schedule, develop, and lead engineering projects
back. My academic background and work
experience show a competent profile to be enrolled into the selected program of study and given
its multidisciplinary nature, i.e., inclusivity for applicants of all backgrounds, shows that I am fit
to follow through and complete this program and considering its postgraduate and professional
development stature, the program is also a clear academic progression to my existing
background.

English Language Proficiency:

I took the IELTS exam to assess my English proficiency skills and earned an overall score of
6.5 bands on a scale of 9.0 — Listening 7.0, Reading 6.5, Writing 6.0, and Speaking 6.5.
This indicates that I am proficient enough in the language to undertake the program’s academic
requirements considering the official Algoma University’s general English proficiency
requirements for its taught postgraduate programs is “IELTS Academic - 6.0 overall (including
no individual band below 6.0),” according to the link provided.

https://algomau.ca/admissions/admissions-requirements/english-language-requirements/

Reasons to choose Algoma University’s Graduate Certificate in Project

Management:

With a clear purpose in mind for my postgraduate (continuing) studies, I made the decision to
enrol in the 2-Year Graduate Certificate program in Project Management at Algoma University,
which is taught by the school’s renowned business faculty. Given my academic background,
what drew me to it was the presence of course outlines that are both industry-defining and cross-
disciplinary. The Introduction to Project Management - PMAL105 course, which provides
fundamental knowledge of functional project management aspects, modelling, growth and
development and testing metrics, project conceptual model development, contemporary practises
in Agile and Waterfall project management paradigms, and project distribution channels,
effectively represent this plan. This module will tie up with the professional communication
basics, Cross Cultural Communication - PMAL101 and Business Writing and
Communications - PMAL104, well where I will be introduced to inter- and intra-project
communications, various mediums for vertical communication, contemporary documentation
tools, conduct acumen for cross-cultural business environments, that would help me articulate
within integrated activities while maintaining stable communication with the project
stakeholders.

Wrapping Term 1, a robust foundation will allow me to focus further onto the cultural
implications in a business environment that expands globally in its operational reach. Term 2’s
extensive courses that are dedicated to exploring the Canadian workplace, networking tactics,
relationship building, leading in international business settings, ethics and regulatory
compliance, and organisational behaviour and essentials of human resources will equip me with
the much-needed skills to manage any company’s most valuable resource- its people. Year 2’s
dedication in the project management phases—from planning to scope control—would become
the crux of the selected program. The Project Planning Essentials - PMAL305 presents itself
as a perfect example given its teachings in planning and executing projects where I would learn
the frameworks for scoping projects, how to sequence a project’s myriad levels, how to
minimize risks and obtain planned output, and the methods to deliver the needs of projects in a
changing research environment. Finally, a module that I am most motivated to undertake-
Project Execution, Monitoring, Control, and Closing - PMAL402 is a course that extensively
concentrates on resource control, project execution, integration and implementation, Agile
methodologies for continual improvement, Six Sigma Lean for a better implementation of
quality
management, and management of project vectors like time delays, cost overruns, scope creep,
and general change.

Level of Establishment:

I have paid my tuition deposit for the first year (1 Year/2 Terms) at Algoma University amounts
to CAD 19,100.00 and have enclosed the official Fly wire receipt with this application. I have
also purchased a GIC from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce amounting to CAD
10,200.01 for my living expenses while pursuing the proposed two-year-long graduate
certificate program.

Moreover, my family’s financial condition is quite stable; my father, brother, and I shall bear my
finances during my study term in Brampton, Ontario. To show a strong level of establishment,
I am attaching a CA Net Assets Certificate that accounts for the sponsors’ combined net assets
totalling INR 1,92,67,694 (equivalent to CAD 3,14,381.54). I have fulfilled all my financial
obligations, with a sanctioned education loan and other additive documents, to file my study
permit application and have added all the required documents (including income reports which
paint strong financial support) with this application therefore any doubts regarding my level of
establishment should be dispelled if there are any.
(1 CAD ~= 61.68 INR is taken into consideration here.)

Prospects and the reasons to return to India after the completion of the program -
and how these reasons show my intentions of being in Canada just for the stipulated
time:

Almost any sector where a project must be designed from the bottom up and managed via a
range of elements to be finished effectively could benefit from project management models and
paradigms (such as Agile, Waterfall, and Lean). India has established it as one of the largest
OEM and electrical and electronics manufacturing industries globally with a staggering
valuation of USD 300 billion in exports alone. This is a result of India being the competitive
alternative to China, the world’s largest components manufacturer, excellent local talent,
economic incentives, and a general outlook of India being the most prospective among the Big
Emerging Markets (BEMs). My goals for this program are to help me establish a solid base of
skills and understanding in a broad range of challenging areas, such as project resource
procurement, entrepreneurial orientation, leadership, critical reasoning, financial planning, scope
and time control, people management, and project planning administration, as well as to sharpen
my business writing skills, modern communication techniques, and cultural sensitivity and
inclusion within leadership. With these abilities, I hope to give myself a well-rounded set of
project management and business operations skills, which, when combined with my technical
undergrad and engineering-focused management work experience, will allow me to hold
managerial positions while still working in technical engineering environments.

My short-term goals are to return home to India and pursue a career either as a Manufacturing
Project Manager, Resources Procurement Manager, Project Scheduler, Project Risk
Manager or Project Control Analyst at either engineering enterprises or electrical components
manufacturing organisations and recuperate all of my study related costs within four years of my
return to India. This ROI is considering the average annual salary for Manufacturing Project
Managers in India is INR 20, 32,129 according to Glassdoor. Here, I intend to work to manage
and oversee the product design and development phases that include planning and organizing,
management of resources, setting baselines, and carrying success throughout all the project
phases. With a deep industry network and experience placed, I intend to work as a Senior
Principal Project Manager at MNCs that has a compensation range of INR 31, 00,000 to INR
52, 00,000 with the national average at INR 40, 63,309 according to Glassdoor. To be near my
loving and venerable parents and to assume their financial and emotional obligations as they are
retired is another reason I wish to return to India. Along with these promising job possibilities,
there is also this incentive. I want to assist my family and their aspirations in addition to
advancing my profession, just as they did for mine. Considering the various options in the many
fields of engineering project management as well as my responsibilities to my family in India, I
cannot think of any good reason for me to stay in Canada beyond the allowed program study
period.

I believe the preceding explanations may assist you in reconsidering my application for a study
permit. If you have any questions, please contact me at uttal.lohar1993@gmail.com.

Sincerely
Uttal Arun Lohar