Last Updated On 14 October 2024, 6:04 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
Today, John Stackhouse (senior vice president at RBC) and Valerie Walker (president of the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), shared 4 ways Canada can keep global talent and prevent it from going elsewhere.
Processing of study visa for Canada continues to be slower and not meeting IRCC service standards. Generally, Student Direct Stream (SDS) program for study visa has a standard processing time of 20 calendar days. However, applicants have to wait for much longer to get their study visa result. In some cases, it may take up to 4 months.
In certain cases applicants received study visa approval after starting of their classes. This is discouraging for future study visa applicants. According to figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, more than 620,000 international students were studying in Canada in 2021, and that number has continued to rise.
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Recent research from RBC Economics shows that International students are stranded in an overly complex immigration system, with no clear, quick path to study permits or permanent residency and job once they graduate from college.
As a result, losing global talent is one of the major concerns for Canada as the country has an ageing population. Other countries among the race of attracting global talent such as U.K., U.S., Australia are offering much faster processing of study visas.
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Contribution of international students to build Canada
In November 1, 2022 new immigration levels plan announcement, IRCC Minister Sean Fraser acknowledged that international students contribute more than $23 billion annually. Moreover, international students have been the only source of new enrolments at post-secondary institutions in Canada since 2016.
In addition, when financial pressure is intense on Canadian institutions, the unsubsidized tuition costs paid by international students constitute a crucial source of income.
Canada’s labour market is losing a generation of workers. Additionally, improper alignment between the skills taught to employees and the labour market’s productivity is a problem. If Canada doesn’t change its direction soon, it’ll lag behind its competitors and be unable to address its most pressing problems.
4 Ways to improve international students program
As per John Stackhouse and Valerie Walker:
First, Canada must follow the example set by peers like the U.S. and the U.K. in making it simpler for students to study and stay. It’s a good start that the federal government is allowing international students to work longer hours and automating some visa renewal applications.
The best talent in the world won’t wait months for a work or study permit when they can obtain one from the U.K. in a matter of days. By working with the government to verify financial guarantees or educational credentials, post-secondary and financial institutions can reduced the processing times for study visa.
Second, Canada relies too heavily on students from China and India studying abroad. To increase the talent pool and reduce risk, Canada must do more to attract students from South America, other Asian nations, and francophone countries.
Third, Canada should pay more attention to in-demand skills for the country’s present and future labour markets and less to hiring goals. By forming alliances with groups like the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), employers and post-secondary institutions can better match hiring practices to labour market demands.
As well as promote the expansion of programs related to in-demand professions like those in the net-zero economy, STEM fields, and healthcare.
Finally, Canada must put a stronger emphasis on the experience of international students. For example, while studying in this country, provinces and municipalities must allocate more funds to affordable housing, public transit, and health care, particularly mental health.
Additionally, a part of BHER’s mandate suggests expanding the chances for international students to engage in WIL could enhance their career prospects and overall Canadian experience.
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