Editorials

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Foreign students wanted

By: editorial

Posted: 08/15/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

International students, once a rare and privileged group, are now a coveted global commodity. It's not just the money they inject into local economies -- about $6.5 billion in Canada alone in 2010, and $2.5 trillion worldwide -- but also their global perspective and networks, and the reverse brain drain created when foreign students elect to live and work in Canada.

These and other benefits are why a new federal report is recommending Canada double the number of international students it allows to study here by 2020. The report, International Education, a Key Driver of Canada's Future Prosperity, reinforces what most provinces, schools and universities have known for many years, namely that education needs to be "internationalized" to sustain the economy, while promoting Canada's brand abroad.

It means the country needs not only new policies to lure foreign students, but also programs to encourage Canadians to study overseas to improve their skills as global citizens, develop new business and cultural networks, and promote Canada.

The report said some universities in central Canada might have capacity issues with doubling foreign enrolments, but the rest of the country has much room to expand. About 240,000 foreign students are enrolled in post-secondary institutions, but the report says the ideal number in 10 years would be 450,000.

Manitoba has promoted the province's educational opportunities around the world for many years, and it has also taken the lead in providing incentives to attract international students, who pay three our four times more in tuition costs than citizens. The province provides free health care and offers a partial tuition tax rebate for foreign students who decide to stay and work in the province. About 6,000 non-Canadians are studying in Manitoba.

It may not be enough in the long term, however, as competition for foreign students around the world increases. Even countries such as India and China are trying to reverse the flow of talent to foreign shores. Education is a provincial responsibility, but Ottawa can help with marketing programs that promote the value of studying and living in Canada.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 15, 2012 A10

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