Canadian universities are: earn billions There are also opinions from international students, many of whom are speaking out about the unstable conditions they live in.
Jovial Olulaki Osundu, president of the University of Moncton’s International Students Association, says international students are unfairly blamed for housing and job shortages.
“It is quite unfair to use political actors in our country as scapegoats to explain the wrong decisions they have taken in the past,” Osundu said.
Following the Federal Immigration Minister’s announcement, schools now face a significant reduction in the number of study permits allocated to international students. temporary cap On Monday, it aims to target “bad actors” within the organization and address its impact on the housing market.
But how did Canada’s international student program get here in the first place?
Many higher education institutions have increased their international student enrollment in recent years as state funding for universities has declined. But authorities have accused schools of “bad actors” who mislead students about the real cost of living and of “puppy mills” that fail to provide a quality education.
Breakdown of post-secondary education funding
According to statistics from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, there are more than one million international students in Canada.
Mike Moffatt, an assistant professor of economics at Western University’s Ivy Business School in London, Ont., says higher education institutions have increased international student enrollment “over the past decade” in response to provincial funding cuts. .
In Ontario, data According to the state government’s announcement, university operating grants in 2021 were $8,350 per student, lower than the $8,514 per student in 2008, which does not take inflation into account.
“At least a small number of schools went above and beyond to fill the financial gap and significantly increased enrollment,” Moffat said.
Moffatt points out that universities in particular rely heavily on international students, and this is most evident in Ontario.
According to one study, about 76 percent of the state’s college tuition comes from international students. report By consulting firm Higher Education Strategy Associates.
The report estimates that Indian students alone will generate $2 billion in operating revenue for Ontario universities in the 2023-2024 academic year. This is slightly more than the university receives from the state government.
Who are the “bad guys” in this field?
The rapid increase in the number of international students is occurring at the same time as the following reports: Some recruiters mislead those students about the education they receive and the actual cost of living in Canada.
Both federal and state officials have cited “bad actors” preying on international students in post-secondary education.
“Some bad actors are taking advantage of students with false promises of employment, residency and guaranteed Canadian citizenship,” Ontario’s University Minister Jill Dunlop said in a statement.
CBC’s Fifth Estate exposed some of those false promises in their documents Undercover investigation In 2022, what some recruitment agents in India’s Punjab state told students planning to study in Canada was exposed.
Fifth Estate has infiltrated India and revealed its marketing to some students planning to attend Canadian universities. The father and son in this video were interested in Canadian education and agreed to wear hidden cameras when meeting with agents.
The investigation found that “sub-agents” – recruiters who do not work directly with schools but work through third-party aggregators – operate in the industry.
a Report from the Auditor General of Ontario In 2021, Canada’s growth in international student numbers was found to be influenced by prospective students viewing higher education institutions as “pathways to immigration.”
but, Statistics Canada survey A study from the same year found that only about 30% of people who came to Canada on student visas became permanent residents within 10 years.
Ashish Gill is a first year Hospitality student at Fanshawe University Toronto Campus. partnership We are affiliated with the private ILAC International College. Gill is from India and hopes to be able to work in Canada once she completes her studies, she said.
“People are here for this [permanent residency]. They have a PR mentality,” Gill said.
George Jiang, a third-year international student at the University of Prince Edward Island, agrees. “Most of us have a goal of immigrating to Canada,” he says. “The quality of life is generally higher than in many home countries.”
The prospect of permanent residence has increased the number of study permit applicants, many of whom attend private universities.
“The diploma equivalent of a puppy mill.”
Federal Immigration Minister Mark Miller has called some private universities in Canada “the diploma equivalent of a puppy mill, churning out diplomas.”
Miller and other officials say these “puppy mill” schools often rely entirely on tuition from international students. Some stores are located in strip malls and don’t offer a high-quality educational experience, Miller said.
Mr. Miller pointed out that BC and Ontario Especially in areas where private institutions are issuing what he calls “fake” degrees. He said these institutions have “exploded in the last few years.”
B.C. plans to announce measures to improve oversight and accountability of private education providers that advertise their services to international students, Higher Education Minister Selina Robinson told BC Today host Michelle Elliott.
Moffat says part of the problem is that responsibility for regulating the industry lies with multiple levels of government.
“A lot of blame can be given between government orders,” Moffat said.
Students who plan to apply for a study permit must have a letter of admission from a school on the Canadian list. Designated learning institution. States and territories are responsible for licensing these agencies, and the federal government maintains the complete list.
Immigration Minister Mark Miller has announced that the federal government will cap the number of international student permits over the next two years, telling CBC’s David Cochrane that there are hundreds of “degree-granting institutions” across the country and that each province has He said he is paying part of the cost. About the responsibility to police them.
CBC News reached out to Miller’s office to ask if “puppy mill” schools are on that list and how the federal government plans to respond if provinces and territories don’t take action. Ta.
Julie LaFortune, communications advisor for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), said in a statement that IRCC is developing an “accrediting body” framework to identify designated learning institutions that “set higher standards.” He said that he would adopt.
The government plans to introduce the framework in time for the autumn 2024 semester, the statement said.