Foreign students flock to Canada as government struggles to get grads to stay

Some of Canada's biggest universities are beginning the new school year with a record number of international students on campus.

The steady upswing in foreign applicants began several years ago, then started to spike afterthe U.S. presidential election in 2016. The challenge for the Canadian government now is to maintain thattrend amid competing countries, and to encourage morefrom the talented pool to stay on as permanent residents.

The University of Toronto, Canada's top draw for international students, enrolled17,452 international studentsin undergraduate and graduate programs last year, making up about 20 per cent of the overall student body.

That comparesto 7,380 international students comprising about 10 per cent of the total student populationa decade ago, in 2007.

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The university'ssteady increase became a spikeafter U.S. President Donald Trump was elected.

"Clearly there are things about the international situationworries about stability, Brexit and the U.S. political environmentthat have changed or increased international students' interest in looking beyond their own countries and beyond the U.S.," said Richard Levin,executive director ofenrolment services and university registrar.

"Now in places like that, students are looking for alternatives and Canada is presenting as a good one in terms of stability, safety and inclusiveness."

According to data provided by Universities Canada there has been a sharp increase in both applications and website traffic from the U.S. and abroad since the 2016 U.S. election, with manyseeing a 20 per cent jump or more in applications.

Levin said the university's current goal is to keep the level at about 20 per cent of the overall student population in coming years, but to diversify with students from all parts of the planet. He said there is little concern about culture clashes with an increasingly diversepopulation.

'Bring them together'

"One of the best ways to grow understanding isto bring them together," he said.

According to the Canadian Bureau for International Education, some of the maincountries the students come from includeChina, India, South Korea, France, the U.S., SaudiaArabia, Nigeria, Japan and Brazil. Universities also report a recentincrease in the number of applicants from Turkey.

The upward trend for international students is happening at other universities too, including the University of Ottawa, where the foreign student population of 1,959 nearly tripled to 5,583 in the last 10 years.

The number of international students in elementary and high schools has also been on the rise, according to the Canadian Bureau for International Education.

The University of British Columbia, which has the second highest number of foreign students in Canada (behind U of T) and the third in North America (behind New York University), has seen its international numbers go from 9,144 in 2012 to 14,433 in 2016.

Students come frommore than 150 countries.

Pam Ratner, vice-provost, enrolment and academic facilities, said there is little data on how many of the graduates eventually live permanently in Canada. But while they're here, international students enrich the cross-cultural learning environment, and many of thosewho stay on launch businesses and createjobs, said Ratner.

'Truly extraordinary'

"They're truly extraordinary," she said. "Others have come because they're here on scholarship and they have a strong commitment to return to their home country, to provide leadership whether it's in government, industry or in civil society in some way."

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipMinisterAhmedHussen has been promoting Canada's programs designed toattract skilled immigrants andretain international students after theygraduate.

We recognize that international students are often ideal candidates for permanent residency.- Spokesperson, Ministry for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

This summer he travelled to Europe and several countries in Africa including Ghana, Senegal and South Africa, speaking withstudents and stakeholders and highlightingthe express-entry system that fast-tracks applications, as well as otherprograms that help students settle in Canada long-term.

"We recognize that international students are often ideal candidates for permanent residency, given their language proficiency, Canadian education credentials and Canadian work experience," said a spokesman for Hussen.

Students can now work part time while studying withouta separate work permit, and most international studentsare able toapply for a work permit thatallows them to remain in Canada for three years after graduation.

Tap top talent

Patrick Snider, director of skills andimmigration policy for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said thosemeasures are attractive to prospective international students, who he called "ideal" candidates for Canadian citizenship.

"These are people who have already proven themselves successful in the Canadian education system, who have been supporting themselves for years in Canada, and who have Canadian work experience before their graduation. As such, we really can't pass up that opportunity to tap that resource as much as we can as a tool to grow the economy," he said.

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But he urged governments not to focus on countries that arebecoming less welcoming and instead on those who are competing for top talent, including France and Ireland.

Snidersaid the government could do more to encourage people to transition from graduate to permanent resident, including streamlining the application process, giving more points to work experience and ramping up outreach efforts to spread the message that Canada's door is open.

He said Canada must make sure "that students are able to receivecredit, navigate the system and know what kinds of opportunities are availablehere."