A new Statistics Canada report has revealed a potential concern for Canada’s international education sector as more and more international students come from the same countries, leaving the global student population becoming less diverse in many ways over the past two decades.
“The findings point to trends of increased concentration in the programs of study, source countries and provinces of study of international students from 2000 to 2019,” the study noted.
Key Takeaways:
- Statistics Canada reported possible trouble in Canada’s international education sector.
- Canada’s international students are becoming less diverse because more international students come from the same countries.
- The study’s findings are not aligned with the “need for diversification” cited in Ottawa’s International Education Strategy.
Despite the increase in the number of international students in all provinces, Ontario attracted the largest share of international students in the early 2000s. This attraction has continued to grow over time. Because of this, international student diversity has dulled drastically.
The study used immigration and post-secondary student information data between 2000 and 2019 to examine the countries from which international students come.
Based on these data, the study also looked closely at how those students’ levels of study and province of study have evolved over the years. It was found that the source countries of international students became more concentrated over the study period.
At the program level, the Statistics Canada study said that the shares of international students in elementary through secondary schools have declined. In contrast, the percentage of international students aged 18 to 24 has risen significantly.
Such a finding is unaligned with Ottawa’s International Education Strategy, which cited the “need for diversification” in the international student population in Canada.
The strategic plan also cited that benefits will be distributed equitably across the country if international students come from a wider diversity of countries and a greater variety of regions and schools.
More about the report here.
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