University World News 19 August 2012
A government-commissioned report has urged Canadian universities to nearly double international student enrolment, from 240,000 in 2011 to 450,000 by 2022. It signals a fundamental policy change and provides a blueprint for how government could support university recruitment efforts.
The report, International Education: A Key Driver of Canada’s Future Prosperity, argues that not only do Canadian universities and domestic students benefit from a large international student population, but so does Canada as a whole.
In the past, international students were primarily considered a source of revenue for universities. Having argued the wider benefits to Canada as a whole, the report makes the case for more federal government involvement in international recruitment.
Recommendations include creating a Council on International Education and Research to advise government, providing funds for scholarship programmes and developing a national brand to promote education.
