Universities welcome bold, long-term vision for Canada’s International Education Strategy

OTTAWA – A newly released strategy for international education presents an ambitious and achievable plan to boost Canada’s prosperity through investments in international education. The strategy, outlined in the report of the federal government’s Advisory Panel on Canada’s International Education Strategy, was released today by the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, in Halifax.

The panel, led by Western University President Amit Chakma, calls for investments in international student recruitment to attract top talent and help meet Canada’s workforce needs, a major new international mobility program for Canadian students that will help them acquire a global perspective, and a series of other measures to strengthen Canada’s worldwide reputation for excellence in education and research.

“The advisory panel has laid out a bold vision to build prosperity through strategic, targeted and sustained investments, key partnerships and a coordinated approach to international education,” says Stephen Toope, president of the University of British Columbia and chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “This report is a blueprint for preparing our graduates to be global citizens and contributing to the labour market of the future.” 

The panel’s report calls for federal funding support for new scholarships for international undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and the creation of a new Council on International Education and Research, comprised of senior government officials and stakeholders, to provide policy advice to the federal government. 

“Canada needs these kinds of bold initiatives and investments in order to succeed in a very competitive marketplace in international education,” says Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “These are achievable goals. This is a plan that will help to align national strategies for economic development, science and technology, global commerce, immigration and the labour market. The implementation of these recommendations will drive growth in our economy and help position Canada as an international leader in research and innovation.”

“We commend the panel for its dedicated and thorough work over the past 10 months to develop a meaningful roadmap that will build on Canada’s success in international education and provide our students with enhanced global opportunities in the years ahead,” says Mr. Davidson. “Universities look forward to working with their partners in other education associations, governments and the private sector in a collaborative effort to strengthen Canada’s education brand.”

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Media Contact:
Helen Murphy
Communications Manager
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
hmurphy@aucc.ca
613-563-1236 ext. 238