The University World News recently published an article about the factors that have affected international student enrolments in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. All of these countries, with the exception of Canada, have seen their globla share of international students decline in recent years. The authors outline the reasons for decline (or increase) in each country as well as look at what needs to change in each country in order to promote sustainable growth going forward.
Tag: International students
International students now allowed to complete all studies online from abroad and still qualify for work permits
In what is undoubtedly good news for Canadian colleges and universities, it was announced on Friday that international students that have been kept out of the country because of the pandemic will be able to qualify for work permits even if they complete all of their studies online from out of the country.
Read more in The Star.
Canada improves its position as destination for international students
Recent surveys have shown that since the beginning of the pandemic, Canada has improved its desirability for international students. Viewed as both “safe and stable” and “open and welcoming”, Canada is now competing with the UK for top spot. We will point out that this means Canada has overtaken the US in this area.
Read more in CIC News.
How to teach online
While many of you may already be teaching online, there are many teachers who have been left unemployed by the pandemic. We came across a helpful article in the EL Gazette with information on how to get work teaching online, as well as tips on how to teach online.
Read Teaching Online.
Pandemic may represent up to $3.4 billion loss for Canadian universities
Statistics Canada crunched some numbers related to the devastating impact of the pandemic on the national education scene.
Read more from Stats Canada.
International students allowed back into Canada
As of October 20th, international students are again allowed into Canada provided that they are studying with an institution that has an approved covid-19 readiness plan. It will be interesting to see how quickly students return.
We should take this opportunity to give a shout-out to Languages Canada. They have been working hard since the outset of the pandemic to work with the government to advance the interests of this industry which, as we all know, has been hit particularly hard by this pandemic. They have pointed out that over 75% of English and French programs are at risk of permanently closing and that with international students contributing $22 billion to the economy every year, Canada needs international students as well. They developed the Study Safe Corridor, a well-thought out plan, that would ensure that students could get to Canada for their studies, ensuring that they depart safe, arrive safe and study safe.
Read more about the new regulations.
Read more about Languages Canada’s efforts.
Something else to feel bad about: the carbon footprint of international students
It is probably a good bet that a larger than average percentage of ELT professionals are concerned about climate change. Well, a recent article in Inside Higher Ed puts the spotlight on international education and the large carbon footprint that it has. Possible solutions are suggested – including students staying home – but that leaves ELT professionals between a rock and a hard place.
Read more on IHE.
Lakehead University turns international students into ambassadors
In an effort to attract more international students, Lakehead University is turning to the international students it already has. With its Global Ambassador program, some students at Lakead will be recruited to help attract more students from their country. These students will be taught special speaking and presentation skills and will be featured on social media programs.
We are generally pretty cynical and jaded, but this sounds like a bright plan.
Read more on the CBC website.
New Brunswick courts international students snubbed by Quebec’s new immigration policy.
Only in Canada, man!
Read more on the CTV website.
After you’ve gone big, you don’t need to go home… so diversify instead.
In 2014, the Canadian federal government set the objective to add 450,000 international students by 2022. In a rare example of a government succeeding in a plan, that number was actually reached by 2018!
A small problem with this great success story is that almost half of those students are from China and India. Given the tensions in relations with China lately (and historical lessons like those of ghost towns) and the comfortable position that Canada is sitting in at this moment, the feds have set some new objectives: diversifying the international student body, increasing the number of Canadian students who go to study abroad and improving the experience of international students. All sounds good.
Read more in Maclean’s.