International students in Canada

Canada is a popular destination for international students across all levels of its education system, with the country ranking fourth in terms of international student enrollment as of 2019, following the United States, United Kingdom, and China.[1] In As early as 1959, Canada's then-monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, said on Dominion Day (now Canada Day), in reference to cooperation and mutual help, "one instance of this is the number of students from India and Pakistan and the West Indies who found places in Canadian universities. This is and admirable plan and I hope that it spreads [...] If any of these students are listening to me, which perhaps they are, I congratulate them on the hard work and enterprise which has sent them here and send them my very good wishes."[2]

According to the International Education Strategy published by the Government of Canada, international students are present in all levels of education, including primary, secondary, trades, and college and post-secondary education, with the largest number of international students enrolled at the post-secondary level.[3] The number of enrolled students has been increasing steadily in all levels from 2015 to 2018, with the greatest rise in college attendance.[3][4] The International Education Strategy for the period 2019-2024 includes a commitment to diversify inbound student population and distribute them more evenly across the country rather than concentration them in a few cities.[4]To attract more international students, many Canadian universities are working to attract international students by providing English as a second language programs and reserving specific scholarships for international students of high caliber.[5]

A survey conducted by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) found that 96% of international students endorsed Canada as a study destination, due to its quality education and its reputation as a safe, tolerant and multicultural country that celebrates diversity.[6]

Statistics

Number of students
Reported total student population by year
Year IRCC GAC
2014 326,120[7] -
2015 350,130[7] 457,828[8]
2016 410,400[7] 523,971[8]
2017 494,525[7] -
2018 558,957[9] 721,000[4]
2019 642,480[9] -

Figures for the international student population in Canada vary depending on the reporting agency. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) only reports on the number of students with a valid work or study permit. Students who study for less than six months do not require a permit, which means that short-term students are not counted in IRCC statistics.[10] The International Education Division of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) includes both short- and long-term students in their statistics, basing short-term numbers on data obtained from Languages Canada.[8] By definition, this means that GAC numbers will be higher than those reported by IRCC.

The IRCC reports that as of December 2019, there were a total of 642,480 international students in Canada at all levels, representing a 13% increase from the previous year.[9] Most international students are post-secondary students, with over 120,000 of college student permit holders reported in 2018 and most recent statistic released by the GAC is for 2018, reporting 721,000 students.[4]

Most international students are post-secondary students. In 2015, the number of college students was reported at approximately 50,000 and by 2018 the number was over 120,000 college student permit holders.[4]

In addition to post-secondary education, Canadian high schools and primary schools also attract increasing numbers of international students. In 2000, the GAC reported that there were 27,997 international students at the primary and secondary level. By 2010, this number had increased to 35,140.[3] In 2017, CIBE, relying on IRCC numbers, reported 71,350 international students in the secondary and primary Canadian school systems.[11]

The provinces with the highest international student populations are Ontario and British Columbia. In 2016, Ontario had the greatest number of international students in Canada, with 233,226 short- and long-term students representing 44.5% of all international students in the country.[8] British Columbia had 145,691 students, representing 27.8% of the international student population.[8] Quebec, Alberta, and Nova Scotia had the next three largest populations of international students.[8]

By university
Aerial view of the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia

According to Maclean's, in 2016, the three universities with the highest enrollment of international students in first-year undergraduate studies were the University of British Columbia (31%), McGill University, (30.7%), and Bishop's University (29.6%).[12] For graduate students overall, the universities with highest international enrollment were the University of Windsor (57.2%), Memorial University of Newfoundland (50%), and Concordia University (49.2%).[12]

Demographics

International students attending Canadian institutions are primarily coming from Asia. IRCC statistics for 2018 show that over 50% of all international students come from just two countries - India, with 172,625, represents about 30% of enrollments, and China, with 142,895, represents about 25%.[4][6] South Korea (24,195), France (22,745), and Vietnam (20,330), send the next-greatest number of students.[4]

Work and residency

Students are able to work off-campus 20 hours a week during the regular school year and engage in full-time employment during scheduled breaks on the strength of their study permit.[13] After graduation, students wishing to remain in Canada may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, lasting three years - and subsequently for a Permanent Residency Pathway. Part of their Core 1 responsibility in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Departmental Plan 2019-2020 is an intention to work with all partners to better understand options for immigration for international students in a "study to immigration" initiative.[4]

In recent year there has been considerable concern about how well international graduates are faring during their post graduation work permit phase. Not only is there evidence on hand which suggests very low volumes of these graduates are successful in their goal of transitioning from international student to Permanent Residence,[14] but also that the vast majority of international graduates working on post graduate work permit are stuck working in low skilled low paying jobs.[15]

Economic impact of students

The large number of international students studying in Canada contributes significantly to the Canadian economy. According to Global Affairs Canada, the economic impact can be felt across the entire country. In 2015, expenditures by international students, including tourism associated with visitors to the students, was worth $12.8 billion; in 2016, that figure had increased by 21.2% to $15.5 billion. Long-term international students spent an estimated yearly average of $33,800 in 2015 and $35,100 in 2016. This figure includes expenses associated with education, as well as unrelated discretionary spending, but excludes money spent by visiting family and friends. In 2015, international education created or supported 140,010 jobs (118,640 full-time equivalent), and in 2016, that increased to approximately 168,860 jobs (143,150 FTE).[8]

International student spending in Ontario contributed $5.04 billion to the provincial gross domestic product in 2015; this figure increased to $6.35 billion in 2016. The expenditures of international students supported 62,737 jobs in 2015, and 79,034 jobs in 2016.[8] British Columbia also experienced an increase in their GDP from $2.39 billion in 2015 up to $2.76 in 2016. Over the same period, jobs supported by foreign enrollment in British Columbia increased from 35,294 to 40,499.[8]

The notable growth in international students from India has led to escalated tensions with Canada's large Indian Canadian community, who claim that students are "stealing their jobs" and "causing violence" within the established Indian enclaves of the country.[16][17]

Ethical concerns and misuse

Ethical concerns about the recruitment and living conditions of international students have arisen. In 2019, the Toronto Star and St. Catharines Standard collaborated to produce an investigative series about international students called "The Price of Admission", which examined industry costs, academic performance, exploitation for profit, and other aspects of the industry.[18][19][20][21] Canadian magazine The Walrus published an investigative piece in 2021 which looked at potential exploitation faced by international students in Canada.[22] That same year, The Globe and Mail reported on issues with international student recruitment in India.[23] Some media have reported an increasing problem with international students committing suicide, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.[24][25][26]

Until 2014, international students could be issued study permits for almost any educational institution, even unaccredited institutions, and only had to show that they intended to study while in Canada.[27] Students could remain in Canada until the expiry of their study permit, even if their studies ended earlier.[27] According to a 2006 report by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), study permits had been exploited by parties linked to organized crime to enable them to enter Canada.[27] Regulations were changed in 2014 to limit study permits to "designated learning institutions," and students had to show that they were actively pursuing studies.[28] Incidents of fraudulent student visas still occur, and may be associated with human trafficking.[29][30][31]

Incidents
Incidents involving and/or impacting international students
Incident Date/Period Summary Source
400 students asked to re-take tests December 2018 Over 400 students in India admitted to Niagara College's 2019 January term were asked by the college to re-take their IELTS tests after a probe claimed to find inconsistencies in language proficiency. [32][33]
Montreal college closures February 2022 Between 1700 and 2000 international students, mostly from India, were left stranded due to the shutting down of three Quebec-based colleges (CCSQ College, M. College, and CDE College) that collected millions of dollars in fees before declaring bankruptcy. The Indian High Commission in Ottawa issued an advisory for the students impacted. [34][35][36]
Enrolment suspension by Ontario college May 2022 In May 2022, Alpha College of Business and Technology, based in Scarborough, unilaterally suspended enrolments for its spring term, leaving hundreds of international students who paid thousands of dollars in tuition fees, uncertain. The incident sparked protest following which the college resumed enrolment. [37][38][39]
$245,000 automated phone scam October 2022 Extortion scams using automated phone messaging targeted Chinese students in Waterloo, with regional police reporting the loss of at least $245,000 in the fraud. [40][41]
Anti-Ukrainian harassment January 2023 Ukrainian student groups at University of Victoria and Carleton University raised concerns over targeted harassment of Ukrainians by specific groups operating out of their campuses. [42][43][44]
700 students facing deportation March 2023 Around 700 Punjabi students received deportation letters from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). All 700 students had applied for study visas via a migration agency headed by Brijesh Mishra based from Jalandhar, Punjab. The agent was stripped off his license and reportedly fled after the news concerning the deportation broke out. [45][46][47]

References
  1. "Global Mobility Trends". Institute of International Education. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  2. Elizabeth II (1 July 1959). The Canadian Queen's Dominion Day Message 1959 (Video) (in English and French). Ottawa: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. Government of Canada, Foreign Affairs Trade and Development Canada (2012-08-03). "Number of International Students in Canada | Economic Impact of International Education in Canada". GAC. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  4. Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada (2019-08-22). "Canada's International Education Strategy (2019-2024)". GAC. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  5. Canada, Global Affairs (2011-01-26). "International scholarship opportunities for non-Canadians". www.educanada.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  6. "Facts and Figures". Canadian Bureau for International Education. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  7. CBIE Research In Brief Number 10 (PDF) (Report). Canadian Bureau for International Education. August 2018. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  8. "3. Assessing the economic impact of international students in Canada". International Education Division. Economic impact of international education in Canada – 2017 update. Global Affairs Canada. 2017-09-28. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  9. "International students in Canada continue to grow in 2019". Canadian Bureau for International Education. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  10. CBIE 2018, p. 8
  11. CBIE 2018, p. 6
  12. "These Canadian universities have the most international students - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  13. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (2007-03-31). "Work off campus as an international student". aem. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  14. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2021-06-23). "International students as a source of labour supply: Transition to permanent residency". www150.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  15. "Secret pgwpreport_rotated (2).pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  16. "Indian-Canadians say international students 'stealing their jobs' - Times of India". The Times of India. 9 July 2018.
  17. "Douglas Todd: Indo-Canadians in uproar over surge of foreign students".
  18. "'I've given up everything.' Explosive growth in international students comes at a steep cost". stcatharinesstandard.com. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  19. "They passed the admissions test, but they were failing in class. How Niagara College tackled an international student crisis". stcatharinesstandard.com. 2019-09-28. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  20. "'We think of them as cash cows.' International students want to immigrate, but colleges, employers want to boost their bottom lines". stcatharinesstandard.com. 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  21. "International education in Canada is booming - but the system is flawed. Here's how to fix it". stcatharinesstandard.com. 2019-09-28. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  22. "The Shadowy Business of International Education | The Walrus". 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  23. Bascaramurty, Dakshana; Rana, Uday (2021-11-04). "In India and Canada's international student recruiting machine, opportunity turns into grief and exploitation". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  24. Keung, Nicholas (2021-12-04). "'No parents should have to bury their child': How a Canadian funeral home owner is trying to stop suicides". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  25. "Pandemic takes tragic toll on international students with rising deaths by suicide: report | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  26. "Nagar: What is happening to international students in Canada?". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  27. "Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations". Canada Gazette. Vol. 146, no. 52. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  28. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (2014-02-12). "ARCHIVED – Notice – New regulations for international students finalized". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  29. Gowriluk, Caitlyn; Pauls, Karen (2023-01-24). "Indian migrant arrested near U.S. border last year accused of using fake documents to apply to Ontario college". CBC News. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  30. Pruden, Jana G.; Bascaramurty, Dakshana (2022-01-21). "Justin Trudeau decries 'human traffickers' after the deaths of four near U.S.-Manitoba border". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  31. "Manitoba border deaths may be part of larger human smuggling operation: documents". Winnipeg. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  32. "More than 400 students in India told to retake language tests after Niagara College flags concerns". thestar.com. 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  33. "More than 400 students in India told to retake language tests after Niagara College flags concerns". NiagaraThisWeek.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  34. Rana, Uday (February 26, 2022). "International students in Quebec face uncertain future as colleges shut down". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  35. "2,000 Indian students scammed as 3 Canadian colleges shut after bankruptcy". The Times of India. February 17, 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  36. "As 3 Canadian Colleges Shut Down, Advisory For Indian Students In A Spot". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  37. "Hundreds of international students in limbo after Scarborough, Ont., college suspends spring enrolment". CBC News.
  38. "Canada: Ontario college suspends spring semester enrolment; fate of hundreds of international students uncertain - NRI Affairs". 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  39. "Enrolment resumes at Scarborough college after international students left in limbo". CBC News.
  40. "Nearly $250K scammed from Chinese students in Waterloo region: police". Kitchener. 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  41. "Waterloo police say victims duped of $245,000 in scam targeting Chinese students | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  42. "UVic launches investigation into alleged anti-Ukrainian harassment on campus". Vancouver Island. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  43. "Ukrainian students allege harassment at Canada unis". thepienews.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  44. Barkley, Sajjan Sarai, Ethan (2023-02-09). "Ukrainian Student Society at UVic concerned about harassment". Martlet. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  45. "Take Up Case Of 700 Punjabi Students Deportation From Canad... | MENAFN.COM". menafn.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  46. "Deportation notices to 700 students: Licence of Jalandhar-based consultant cancelled". Hindustan Times. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  47. "700 Punjab students face deportation from Canada Jalandhar travel agent flees abroad". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.