By Mata Press Service

According to a new survey by IDP Education, almost nine in ten international education professionals in Canada said that the country’s recent policies regarding foreign students have negatively affected their programmes and operations.

The IDP Canadian Sector Survey on International Education was completed by 212 international education sector professionals in Canada and was drafted by the global agency group IDP Education in collaboration with sector bodies including the Canadian Bureau for International Education, Universities Canada and Languages Canada / Langues Canada, as well as regional associations.

More than two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) agreed that some government intervention was necessary to manage the rapid increase in international enrolments in Canada, but a similar ratio (68 percent) disapproved of the suite of policies that have been implemented in the last year – including caps on study permit applications, changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit and increased financial requirements for study permits.

Some 87 percent said that policy changes have negatively impacted their programmes/operations, with 44 percent citing a very negative impact.

More than half of the professionals surveyed (54 percent) said that the government’s engagement with the sector was ‘very poor’, while a further 27 percent that it was ‘poor’, with indications that the government should have collaborated more widely with industry stakeholders while drafting policies.

Simon Emmett, Chief Partner Officer and Chief Executive Officer UK at IDP Education, said, “Canadian institutions clearly recognize policy changes are necessary to improve quality standards in international education, but what is needed now is clarity from the government so institutions can focus on providing the best student experience.

“Collaboration between government and institutions is essential to avoid long-term damage to the sector.”

Ajay Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vancouver Community College and an IDP Strategic Advisory Board member said the survey reaffirmed that there was an opportunity to rewrite the narrative on students.

“As well as improving our sector’s social license, the study highlights the critical importance of student support. There is more we can do to ensure international students have a healthy and positive experience in Canada,” he said.

A recent survey of 6,171 students by IDP Education showed Canada slipping from being the most popular first-choice destination previously to fourth, while a survey of more than 1,000 agents by global pathway group Navitas showed the perceptions of Canada being open and welcoming to international students had slipped since stricter policies were introduced.

Following the findings, IDP Education has launched a sector-wide video campaign titled ‘There’s a future in Canada for you’, featuring current international students and alumni from more than 30 Canadian institutions sharing their positive experiences in the country.

Christine Wach, Senior Vice President for Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at IDP North America said, “We have listened to our students and the sector, and we are actively working with institutions on a nationwide campaign that will showcase the excellent study opportunities.”

She added, “IDP is committed to sharing the voices of students and the sector and amplifying the exceptional study opportunities that Canada offers. We will continue to support our partners through this new policy landscape and ensure that Canada remains a top destination for international students.”

The survey was completed by representatives from universities (37 percent), colleges (26), language schools (10), private sector providers (10), technical institutes (seven), associations (five), secondary schools (three) and government agencies (two), with a mix of management, senior management, practitioners and executive leadership.

Australia-headquartered IDP, which has around 6,500 employees across more than 60 countries, places international students at partner higher education institutions in major English-speaking destinations and is the co-owner of the IELTS English language exam.

Earlier this year, Canada put a cap on study permit applications, limiting these to 606,250 this year, a move which was expected to reduce the number of new study permits issued this year by 40 percent.

According to immigration.ca, the government has also:

• introduced a letter of acceptance verification system to protect students from fraud
• increased the financial requirements that applicants must meet to be approved for a study permit so students are better prepared for life in Canada
• limited the open work permit eligibility for spouses of students to only those situations in which the principal applicant is in a master’s, doctoral or professional degree program, or part of the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot
• introduced reforms to the PGWP that removed eligibility for graduates of college programs delivered through public-private curriculum licensing arrangements
• proposed new regulations to require international students to apply for a new study permit to change schools and hold learning institutions accountable for failing to participate in student compliance and letter of acceptance verification activities
• lower the number of hours per week international students can work off-campus to help students focus primarily on their studies, while still having the option to work.

Changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which started this month have also had a noticeable impact on international student enrollment patterns.

The PGWP is a key attraction for students globally, as it offers a pathway to gain Canadian work experience and is often a stepping stone toward permanent residency.

International students aiming to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will now face new eligibility requirements that limit the range of qualifying programs. The PGWP is essential for students who wish to gain Canadian work experience after completing their studies. Under the updated rules, only graduates from certain approved programs will be eligible for the work permit.

The list of 966 approved programs spans key sectors in need of skilled workers, with categories including agriculture and agri-food, healthcare, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), trade, and transport. – with agencies