Rethinking international education in Canada for sustainable solutions

Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:33:29 +0000

In this opinion piece, educators Raghwa Gopal and Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan highlight complex issues facing international education in Canada and underline the importance of national conversations with stakeholder groups to find solutions. 

There are many reasons why international students from around the world pick Canada, including quality education, overall safety, respect for diversity, work options while studying and pathways to permanent residency.

Since the 1980s, Canadian provinces and territories have been welcoming international students in large numbers, especially in light of decreased public funding for post-secondary education. A decade ago, when the federal government released the International Education Strategy Plan, the target was to double the number of international students, from nearly 240,000 then.

According to data from the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE), Canada has seen a 43 per cent increase in international students over the past five years and nearly 170 per cent over the last decade. At the end of 2022, there were over 800,000 international students in the country.

However, while the number of international students did increase over the years, resources were not always proportionately increased. In addition, the checks and balances in the system to ensure quality education and positive student experiences were not always adequate. While many colleges and universities as well as recruitment agencies engaged in best practices and delivered ideal student outcomes, many did not and this raised questions around ethics and compliance, with cases of fraud and student exploitation coming to light.

In recent times, the topic of international students in Canada has become highly divisive, with a lot of finger-pointing happening while trying to come to terms with serious issues facing Canadians: housing, affordability, and the overall cost of living. Worrisome sentiments – where many Canadians no longer share a pro-immigration viewpoint – surfaced, with polls in 2023 showing that a significant percentage of Canadians were concerned with the numbers of immigrants coming to the country.

International students pay much higher fees than domestic students, often work in low-paying jobs that are difficult to fill with Canadian workers, and are often being blamed for many of Canada’s problems including the housing crisis. while subsequently contributing more than $22 billion to the Canadian economy annually and supporting more than 200,000 jobs, according to government data. The issues are complex and unpacking them carefully will help us analyze the root causes better.

So where are we right now?

We recognize the Canadian government’s resolve to make things right, starting with sweeping reforms announced in October last year to fight admissions fraud and strengthen the integrity of its international education industry, including additional requirements for Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) and an assessment of the popular Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. On January 22, the government has also officially announced a two-year cap on the number of visas it will issue for international students. There are grave concerns about this, the implications and consequences for Canada as a study destination and our future as a country.

We are at a crossroads and we must thoughtfully decide on the path forward.

Canada is known for its resilience and innovation. As a country, we have encountered many complex issues and continue to do so. And this is no different. Across the nation, we have thought leaders who are internationally renowned for their expertise in the education sector. There is also no short supply of committed stakeholders here, from exceptionally committed student associations to strong advocacy groups like Universities Canada that act as bridge builders and service providers who support all aspects of the international student journey. Our international students themselves, while struggling, try their best to thrive academically, socially, and mentally to succeed and contribute to their second home in significant ways.

This juncture provides an excellent opportunity for all stakeholders who care deeply about education to come together, reframe the problems and challenges we face as a nation, and work together to find meaningful and sustainable solutions.

Only a national conversation on post-secondary education, international students, and immigration that tackles the tough questions often left unasked – can bring us the solutions we need.

Raghwa Gopal is the CEO of M Square Media (MSM), a global edtech company, the former CEO of Innovate BC and Advisor to BC-India Business Network. Sobhana Jaya-Madhavan is the AVP of External Relations at Simon Fraser University, Adjunct Faculty at the School of Public Policy and the President of BC-India Business Network. Raghwa and Sobhana are both recipients of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.  The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations the writers are associated with.

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