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Immigration Shifts and Changing Needs of

International Students in Post-secondary Institutions

Immigration Shifts and Changing Needs of

International Students in Post-secondary Institutions

Sophia J. Lowe, World Education ServicesSophia J. Lowe, World Education Services

CBIE, November 1-4, St. John’s, NFLD & CBIE, November 1-4, St. John’s, NFLD & LabradorLabrador

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OutlineOutlineOutlineOutline Canadian contextCanadian context Canadian immigration policy shiftsCanadian immigration policy shifts Global race for international studentsGlobal race for international students Recent changes for international studentsRecent changes for international students New challenges for international students New challenges for international students

and post-secondary institutions and post-secondary institutions Lessons from the Australian modelLessons from the Australian model Issues that still must be addressedIssues that still must be addressed Inconclusive Conclusions…Inconclusive Conclusions…

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Canadian Context Canadian Context Canadian Context Canadian Context

Ageing Canadian population & Ageing Canadian population & consistently low fertility ratesconsistently low fertility rates

Labour shortages in key sectors (high Labour shortages in key sectors (high and low skill levels)and low skill levels)

ByBy 2012, all of Canada’s net labour 2012, all of Canada’s net labour market growth will come from market growth will come from immigrationimmigration

By 2030, all population growth will be By 2030, all population growth will be due to immigrationdue to immigration

Immigrants are highly educated (Immigrants are highly educated (70% 70% have have some post-secondary education)some post-secondary education)

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Broken PromisesBroken PromisesBroken PromisesBroken Promises Immigrant underemployment and Immigrant underemployment and

underutilizationunderutilization 60% of immigrants are not able to find jobs in 60% of immigrants are not able to find jobs in

their intended occupationstheir intended occupations In Ontario, the unemployment rate of In Ontario, the unemployment rate of

immigrants was 2.5 times higher than that of immigrants was 2.5 times higher than that of Canadian born Ontarians (11% vs. 4.4%)Canadian born Ontarians (11% vs. 4.4%)

Major barriers; lack of credential recognition, Major barriers; lack of credential recognition, language barriers, lack of ‘Canadian language barriers, lack of ‘Canadian experience’, employment discriminationexperience’, employment discrimination

Labour market shortages persist and skilled Labour market shortages persist and skilled jobs remain vacantjobs remain vacant

Immigrants themselves and policy makers are Immigrants themselves and policy makers are quickly reacting to these issuesquickly reacting to these issues

www.wes.org/ca Immigration Policy Immigration Policy ReactionsReactionsImmigration Policy Immigration Policy ReactionsReactions Immigration policy shifting in an attempt to Immigration policy shifting in an attempt to

better match immigrants with occupations seen better match immigrants with occupations seen as in need in the labour market and to as in need in the labour market and to circumvent some of the barriers currently circumvent some of the barriers currently plaguing skilled immigrantsplaguing skilled immigrants

Employer Driven Faster Permanent Employer Driven Faster Permanent Immigration Routes:Immigration Routes:

1.1. Provincial Nominee ProgramsProvincial Nominee Programs2.2. Bill C-50 – prioritize certain FSWP applicantsBill C-50 – prioritize certain FSWP applicants

Faster Two-Step Migration Policies: Faster Two-Step Migration Policies: Ø Expansion of Temporary Foreign Worker Expansion of Temporary Foreign Worker

ProgramsProgramsØ Importance of International Student Streams Importance of International Student Streams

(PGWP, OCWP)(PGWP, OCWP)Ø Canadian Experience Class (CEC)Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

www.wes.org/ca Migration Flows to Canada by Migration Flows to Canada by Category, 2003-2007Category, 2003-2007Migration Flows to Canada by Migration Flows to Canada by Category, 2003-2007Category, 2003-2007

www.wes.org/ca Global Race for International Global Race for International StudentsStudentsGlobal Race for International Global Race for International StudentsStudents All countries are competing to attract All countries are competing to attract

international students, and other countries are international students, and other countries are more aggressively attracting and retaining more aggressively attracting and retaining international studentsinternational students

In Australia, international students’ contribution In Australia, international students’ contribution to the economy reached $9.8 billion (2006) and is to the economy reached $9.8 billion (2006) and is the third largest industrythe third largest industry

Canada has been following the lead of other Canada has been following the lead of other countries by shifting immigration policies to countries by shifting immigration policies to attract and retain international studentsattract and retain international students

‘‘Designer Immigrants’ – circumvent issues of Designer Immigrants’ – circumvent issues of credential recognition, social supports, language, credential recognition, social supports, language, etc.etc.

www.wes.org/ca Changes in Canada for Changes in Canada for International StudentsInternational StudentsChanges in Canada for Changes in Canada for International StudentsInternational Students• OCWP and PGWP changesOCWP and PGWP changes• September 2008 Launch of CECSeptember 2008 Launch of CEC• CEC for international students:CEC for international students:

1)1) Hold a post-secondary diploma or Hold a post-secondary diploma or degree that required at least two degree that required at least two years to completeyears to complete

2)2) Have completed one year of recent Have completed one year of recent full time employment in Canada at full time employment in Canada at the NOC 0, A or B levelsthe NOC 0, A or B levels

3)3) Canadian Language Benchmarks (5 Canadian Language Benchmarks (5 for NOC B and 7 for NOC 0 and A for NOC B and 7 for NOC 0 and A work experience)work experience)

4)4) Only full-time recent work experience Only full-time recent work experience after graduation countsafter graduation counts

www.wes.org/ca Challenges for International Challenges for International StudentsStudentsChallenges for International Challenges for International StudentsStudents

Changing service needs, increasing adult immigrants Changing service needs, increasing adult immigrants and two-step migration and two-step migration

Service Gaps for international students:Service Gaps for international students:

1)1) international students ineligible for regular international students ineligible for regular settlement servicessettlement services

2)2) beyond most student service mandates to deal with beyond most student service mandates to deal with immigration and settlement issues immigration and settlement issues

If increasing numbers of international students remain If increasing numbers of international students remain in Canada, we will need to address such service gapsin Canada, we will need to address such service gaps

Recent immigration policy shifts may mean Recent immigration policy shifts may mean international student flows will change and their needs international student flows will change and their needs may be significantly differentmay be significantly different

www.wes.org/ca The Australian Migration The Australian Migration ModelModelThe Australian Migration The Australian Migration ModelModel

Australian immigration system changed in early 1990s Australian immigration system changed in early 1990s to respond to the underemployment and to respond to the underemployment and unemployment of highly skilled immigrantsunemployment of highly skilled immigrants

These changes targeted international students as These changes targeted international students as skilled immigrants directly from school. 88% of skilled immigrants directly from school. 88% of Australia’s skilled migration first arrive as Australia’s skilled migration first arrive as international students (2006)international students (2006)

Exponential increase in the number of international Exponential increase in the number of international students since 2001 when they could apply for students since 2001 when they could apply for permanent residency without having to first leave permanent residency without having to first leave AustraliaAustralia

Struggles with a growing international education Struggles with a growing international education industry are arising – (2007 policy changes)industry are arising – (2007 policy changes)

www.wes.org/caAustralian International Student Australian International Student FlowsFlowsAustralian International Student Australian International Student FlowsFlows

11Australian Government, AEI 2007

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12

Canadian International Canadian International Student FlowsStudent Flows

CIC, Facts and Figures 2007

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Learning from AustraliaLearning from AustraliaLearning from AustraliaLearning from Australia

Changing international student flows – previously more Changing international student flows – previously more students from Singapore and Indonesia, now most from students from Singapore and Indonesia, now most from China (66%) and India (38%)China (66%) and India (38%)

Preliminary findings from Australia show that there has Preliminary findings from Australia show that there has been compromise in academic entry and standards, as well been compromise in academic entry and standards, as well as immigration routesas immigration routes

Employment barriers and lower salary levels for Employment barriers and lower salary levels for immigrants who came from international student streams immigrants who came from international student streams continue (more than offshore applicants)continue (more than offshore applicants)

In light of these concerns, Australia has since created In light of these concerns, Australia has since created language requirements for international students as well language requirements for international students as well (Sept 2007)(Sept 2007)

www.wes.org/ca Persistent Issues for Persistent Issues for International Students in CanadaInternational Students in Canada The transition from school to work can “still be The transition from school to work can “still be

in progress two years after graduation”in progress two years after graduation” In 2000, college graduates had an In 2000, college graduates had an

unemployment rate of 3.3% and university unemployment rate of 3.3% and university graduates 5.4% graduates 5.4%

Additional barriers for immigrants and Additional barriers for immigrants and international students in finding meaningful international students in finding meaningful workwork

Pressure of increasing debts – higher for Pressure of increasing debts – higher for international studentsinternational students

Survival jobs for international students – under Survival jobs for international students – under PGWP, but then not qualified for CECPGWP, but then not qualified for CEC

Engagement with employers is neededEngagement with employers is needed

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Inconclusive ConclusionsInconclusive ConclusionsInconclusive ConclusionsInconclusive Conclusions International Students are entering Canada in greater International Students are entering Canada in greater

numbersnumbers Different student flowsDifferent student flows Recent changes will allow many to remain in Canada Recent changes will allow many to remain in Canada

(two-step migrants)(two-step migrants) Motivation for study and coming to Canada may Motivation for study and coming to Canada may

changechange Academic integrity and standards, new programs to Academic integrity and standards, new programs to

cater migration?cater migration? Shifting responsibilities for settlement onto Shifting responsibilities for settlement onto

institutionsinstitutions

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Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

Sophia J LoweSophia J Lowe

World Education ServicesWorld Education Servicesslowe@wes.org