Pari Johnston, president of Colleges and Institute Canada, voiced concerns about the impact of reduced international student visas, emphasizing, "There aren't always enough Canadian students to fill a program, particularly those higher-cost programs in the trades [and] health care." This highlights the essential role that international students play in maintaining program viability across Canadian colleges.
Student recruiter Meti Basiri explained how the visa cuts undermine Canada’s attractiveness as a study destination, saying, "The dramatic cut in the number of international student visas has lowered Canada’s global appeal; we risk losing prospective students to competitors like Australia and the US who are expanding their international student caps." This underscores potential long-term effects on Canada's educational landscape.
Institutions are bracing for significant financial strain as they face a projected loss of hundreds of millions of dollars, raising alarms that "jobs and student programs could be at risk if governments don't boost funding." This stark warning reflects the interconnectedness of immigration policies and educational funding.
Johnston pointed out the combination of study permit cuts and "under-investment in public education in several provinces," which might restrict student options in remote communities, stressing that colleges are already stretching budgets thin. This brings attention to the broader implications of policy changes on equitable education access.
#international-students #education-policy #post-secondary-institutions #visa-regulations #financial-impact
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