ARCHIVED - Canada’s International Education Strategy (2014-2019)

Harnessing our knowledge advantage to drive innovation and prosperity

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Message from the Minister of International Trade

International education is critical to Canada's success. In a highly competitive, knowledge-based global economy, ideas and innovation go hand in hand with job creation and economic growth. In short, international education is at the very heart of our current and future prosperity.

International collaboration in higher education contributes to success on many levels—both domestically and globally. Inviting international students and researchers into Canada's classrooms and laboratories helps create new jobs and opportunities for Canadians while addressing looming skills and labour shortages. Perhaps most importantly, international education fuels the people-to-people ties crucial to long-term success in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

The Government of Canada has an important role to play in fostering international cooperation in higher education. That's why Economic Action Plan 2011 announced funding for the development of a comprehensive International Education Strategy and called for the establishment of an advisory panel to consult broadly and make appropriate recommendations. As a result, the Global Markets Action Plan I announced in November 2013 rightly includes international education as one of the 22 priority sectors where Canada enjoys a strong competitive advantage.

Canada's International Education Strategy, a key element of the Global Markets Action Plan, is our blueprint to attract talent and prepare our country for the 21st century. With the support of all the players in the research and education fields—provinces and territories, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector—we can make Canada a world leader in international education and ensure our future prosperity.

The Strategy has a number of fundamental elements that build on existing federal-provincial collaboration.

The first identifies the six markets most likely to send students to Canada, in keeping with the Global Markets Action Plan. At the same time, Canada must maintain the advantage it currently enjoys in international education in countries such as France, the UK, the US, Germany, South Korea and Japan.

The Strategy also includes a commitment to “brand” Canada to maximum effect. This means refreshing our excellent value proposition for international education and developing appropriate promotional tools, such as customized marketing strategies that more powerfully target messages to potential students.

Setting ambitious yet achievable targets to attract international students is another important element of the strategy, as are enhanced links between Canadian and international institutions, deeper research partnerships and greater coordination among federal, provincial and territorial governments and education stakeholders, including the private sector.

To facilitate the entry of international students and researchers into Canada, our government also commits to providing the funding necessary to maintain reasonable timelines for processing temporary-resident visas in the face of increasing demand, particularly from priority markets.

In short, the plan envisions a more prosperous, more innovative and more competitive Canada that capitalizes on the vast advantages with which we have been blessed, and the many opportunities that exist.

I invite you to review the Strategy in greater detail and learn what it means for Canada's long-term economic security.

The Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade

1. Setting the Stage and Enhancing Canada's Competitive Advantage

Making the Grade in a Highly Competitive Global Environment

While Canada already has robust two-way exchanges with countries around the world in international education, the global environment is increasingly competitive. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and France all attracted more international students than Canada in 2012. On a more positive note, the number of international students is growing at a faster rate in Canada than in any other country, with the number of international students studying in Canada increasing by 51 percent since the Edu-Canada pilot project was launched in 2007—an average of eight percent per year. Canada must seize existing opportunities in international education and capitalize on its numerous advantages in the field.

This is why Economic Action Plan 2011 included funding for the development of a comprehensive International Education Strategy and called for the establishment of an advisory panel reporting to the Ministers of International Trade and Finance to make recommendations to be considered as the Government of Canada developed its strategy.

Undertaking Extensive Consultations to Develop an International Education Strategy

An Advisory Panel was named on October 13, 2011. Its mandate was to make recommendations on a strategy to maximize economic opportunities for Canada in international education by:

• Strengthening our engagement with emerging and key markets;
• Focusing on attracting the best and brightest international students;
• Encouraging Canadians to study abroad;
• Expanding the delivery of Canadian education services abroad; and,
• Building, expanding and ensuring greater partnerships between Canadian and international educational institutions.

Members of the Advisory Panel on Canada's International Education Strategy were selected for their expertise, experience and sound understanding of education and marketing in Canada and abroad. The members also shared a strong belief that Canada's strategy would require a comprehensive partnership between governments, the private sector, industry stakeholders and Canada's trading partners.

The Advisory Panel approached provincial and territorial government partners and education sector stakeholders with a view to an inclusive process to collaboratively develop recommendations for Canada's International Education Strategy.

The Panel completed a three-phase process:

1. During the consultation phase, the Panel invited the representatives and stakeholders to identify products or services they were interested in, the work that they do to promote international education and priority markets, and the support that they needed to succeed. This phase was carried out in October-November 2011 and generated almost 140 online submissions.
2. The engagement phase consisted of a series of roundtables held in early December 2011 in Ottawa, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. The Advisory Panel met with representatives from education associations, institutions, and private sector organizations during these sessions. Consultations were also held as part of the “access to talent” discussions which led to the Global Markets Action Plan. In total, the Panel consulted almost 250 organizations, as well as all provincial and territorial governments and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC).
3. During the collaboration phase, held January 17-18, 2012 in Toronto, the Advisory Panel discussed the ideas that emerged during the consultations and roundtables with partners and stakeholders. The discussion focused on the strategy's overarching theme and priorities, along with the approaches and commitments needed to succeed in priority markets. This included appropriate allocation of the resources of all parties.

International Education as a Priority Sector under Canada's Global Markets Action Plan

The Government of Canada's Global Markets Action Plan, announced in November 2013, includes international education as one of 22 priority sectors where Canada's capabilities and expertise provide us with a strong competitive advantage.

The Advisory Panel and the Government of Canada recognize that much of the demand for international education will come from developing and emerging economies - countries with relatively young demographics and, in some cases, inadequate educational capacities. Based on this reality, the opportunities for Canada to strengthen its international leadership in international education can best be realized by aligning efforts with key partners and by ensuring that activities and resources complement those of the Global Markets Action Plan.

Canada as a Destination of Choice for World-class Higher Learning

Canada is a leader in higher education, ranking first among Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries with 50 percent of our adult population having a post-secondary diploma or degree. The fact that students from more than 180 countries studied in Canada in 2012 speaks directly to the attractiveness of Canada's education systems.

Canada's numerous advantages as a world-class destination for higher education include:

• A welcoming, safe and multicultural country offering high-quality education at an attractive price;
• A global centre of innovation, research and development;
• A research partner of choice;
• State-of-the-art research facilities; and
• A world leader in skills development and other advanced skills for employment.

Benefits to Canadians of International Education

Creating Jobs, Economic Growth and Long-term Prosperity

International students in Canada provide immediate and significant economic benefits to Canadians in every region of the country. Data for 2012 show that 265,400 international students spent a total of some $8.4 billion in communities across Canada, helping sustain 86,570 Canadian jobs (see chart). Additionally, the activities of international students helped generate more than $455 million in federal and provincial tax revenues.

Note: * Additional employment gains from short-term student categories. Estimated expenditure by international students based on average annual expenditure of $31,720 per international student (all study levels) on tuition, books, accommodation, meals, transportation, and discretionary spending, as indicated in International Education in Canada - An Update by Roslyn Kunin & Associates, Inc., released in May 2012 and commissioned by DFATD.

Addressing Skilled Labour Shortages

International students also help address the shortages of skilled labour that diminish Canada's long-term capacity for research and innovation, and contribute to the “innovation gap” identified in the 2011 Jenkins Report as a critical threat to our future prosperity. International education, both incoming students and Canadians studying abroad, materially contributes to Canada's innovation strengths, such as by enhancing the development of qualified candidates for employment in both the private and public sectors.

Relieving Demographic Pressures and Helping Ensure Long-term Labour-force Vitality

As Canada's working population ages and retires, there are not enough candidates to replace them, particularly in the highly qualified professional and skilled trades that sustain a technologically-driven modern economy. According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce: “Canada's growing shortage of highly skilled labour is becoming desperate, threatening our ability to keep up in a global, knowledge-based economy.”

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, within the next decade, immigration is expected to account for 100 percent of net growth in the workforce, up from 75 percent today. Attracting the best and the brightest students through a robust international education strategy will help secure Canada's long-term prosperity and economic success.

Creating New Opportunities for Canadians by Seizing the Moment

The number of students around the world seeking to further their educations abroad continues to increase. This demand reflects rising worldwide awareness of the important links between international education and domestic prosperity. The OECD estimates that the number of post-secondary students enrolled abroad will grow from 3.7 million in 2009 to 6.4 million by 2025. A robust and forward-looking strategy to attract a significant proportion of these students to Canada will create new jobs and sources of prosperity, address key labour-force challenges and create new opportunities for Canadians in every region of the country.

2. A Comprehensive International Education Strategy for Canada

Focusing on Priority Education Markets

Canada's International Education Strategy, a key element of the Global Markets Action Plan, aims to help Canada build on its already strong advantages and become more prosperous, innovative and competitive by capitalizing on the vast opportunities that currently exist. The Strategy can help Canada retain and enhance its global leadership position. The Action Plan weaves the education sector and the Strategy into Canada's economic diplomacy and trade promotion activities.

The Advisory Panel and the Government of Canada recognize that much of the demand for international education will come from developing and emerging economies. Based on this reality, and to align with markets identified as priority under the Global Markets Action Plan, the Strategy focuses on:

• Brazil
• China
• India
• Mexico
• North Africa and the Middle East
• Vietnam

At the same time, Canada must maintain the advantage for attracting students it currently enjoys in countries such as France, the UK, Germany, Japan, Korea and the US, and be able to respond to future demand in emerging markets. For this reason, the Strategy will also ensure there is flexibility to accommodate innovative programs in both mature and developing markets.

Branding Canada to Maximize Success

Across the “brand spectrum,” Canada's brand is one of the most trusted in the world. From economic performance and leadership on the world stage, to expertise and know-how across key economic sectors, from safe, clean and vibrant communities to a highly skilled and multicultural workforce, Canada is known as a reliable partner. When it comes to international education, Canada is highly respected as a destination of choice.

International students recognize Canada's value proposition—a consistently high-quality education at an attractive price in a tolerant, diverse, safe and welcoming environment. In fact, recent foreign public-opinion research done by Ipsos Reid for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development found that international students recognize Canada's excellent integrated offer—not just to study, but also to work both while studying and after graduation, and to possibly immigrate to Canada after graduation.

The federal Edu-Canada pilot program, which ran from 2007-2012, helped coordinate, develop and market a strong, national education brand co-managed by CMEC in collaboration with the education sector.

The pilot program achieved significant results. By the end of 2012, Canadian education institutions, supported by Canada's network of embassies and consulates, annually participated in over 170 education-promotion events in 60 countries under the “Imagine Education au/in Canada” brand. Over the course of the pilot, the number of international students in Canada increased by 51 percent.

However, as the Advisory Panel report acknowledged, work to further Canada's brand as a leading destination for study and research must continue. The report stated that a “clear long-term strategy is needed to ensure that Canada maintains and increases its market share of the best and brightest international students and researchers.”

Under the new International Education Strategy, a new refreshed “brand” look will be developed for the use of governments and key stakeholders.

Branding materials will be developed and activities undertaken in conjunction with key partners in priority markets and include:

• Market plans focused on, and tailored to, each priority education market;
• Ensuring all marketing materials—both digital and traditional media (e.g. print flyers, digital and social media, etc.)—are customized to resonate with each key market and audience at home and abroad (e.g. potential students, parents, counsellors);
• Improved coordination of marketing efforts and objectives among governments and stakeholders;
• Ensuring resources are allocated primarily to priority markets; and
• Re-allocating resources to key posts in Canada's diplomatic network, including economic diplomats dedicated to achieving Canada's key education objectives within those markets.

As with the Global Markets Action Plan, the Strategy will follow a flexible approach that will be adjusted regularly in light of global trends and emerging opportunities.

To maximize impact, branding activities will be developed and executed in a rational and value-conscious way, leveraging the investments made by all partners, including the provinces and territories, and educational institutions and associations.

Setting Targets to Attract International Students

Under the Strategy, the Government of Canada will work with the provinces and territories, Canadian educational institutions, and other stakeholders to double the size of our international student base from 239,131 in 2011 to more than 450,000 by 2022 (without displacing Canadian students). Increasing the number of international students to more than 450,000 will create new sources of jobs, economic growth and prosperity in every region of the country.

Strengthening Institutional Research Partnerships and Educational Exchanges, and Leveraging People-to-people Ties

Canada's International Education Strategy aims to increase the number, breadth and depth of active collaborations between Canadian and foreign postsecondary institutions and research centres, and to position Canada as a country of choice for both academic recruitment and partnerships. Deeper links between research institutes and the attraction of researchers will help strengthen Canada's innovation edge and competitiveness—keys to success in today's highly competitive, knowledge-based economy. The Government of Canada will continue to support institutional partnership-building by collaborating with stakeholders on various activities and initiatives. Key areas of focus will be:

• Student and faculty exchanges;
• Student and faculty mobility;
• Joint research;
• Joint curriculum development;
• Joint course delivery; and
• Joint academic and skills-development programs.

The Strategy will also leverage Canada's alumni networks abroad to help broaden and deepen our strategic relationships.

To keep Canada at the forefront of maintaining, creating and enhancing strategic institutional partnerships, under the Strategy, the Government of Canada will work with partners and stakeholders to better track and follow the development and expansion of international relationships in the education sector.

In addition, international education expands our people-to-people ties—ties proven to boost political, economic, social and developmental relationships. Under the Strategy, these crucial links will be encouraged, supported and leveraged to advance Canada's trade and investment objectives in priority markets, along with the commercial interests outlined in the Global Markets Action Plan.

Supporting Activities and Leveraging Resources to Maximize Results

As the Government of Canada works alongside its partners within the international education community in this country, it is also ensuring a coordinated approach at the federal level. The newly restructured Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, together with the International Development Research Centre, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, Industry Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada and other federal departments and agencies will work together to advance this country's international education agenda. Many key delivery programs across the federal government are already in place.

CIC's International Student Program

To address student-mobility issues, Economic Action Plan 2013 invested $42 million over two years to increase the capacity of the Temporary Resident Visa Program and meet growing demand from visitors, temporary workers and international students coming to Canada for both short-term training and long-term degree and diploma programs.

Under upcoming reforms to the International Student Program, the provinces and territories will designate which educational institutions qualify to receive international students, based on a set of minimum standards. These changes will strengthen the world-class reputation of Canada's post-secondary education system, as it strives to become ever more competitive in the global search for talent.

Additionally, it will soon become easier for those international students attending designated educational institutions to work during their studies. International students are a future source of skilled labour, as they may be eligible after graduation for permanent residency through immigration programs, such as the Canadian Experience Class (introduced in 2008). International students are well positioned to immigrate to Canada as they have typically obtained Canadian credentials, are proficient in at least one official language and often have relevant Canadian work experience.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as other education stakeholders, provide a significant number of international scholarships and bursaries to deserving scholars and researchers. Scholarships in all disciplines and at all levels of education respond to international students' interests (as well as to the interests of Canadian students), promote the human capital of both developing and developed countries, and reflect Canada's international priorities and engagements. Scholarship recipients bring fresh ideas to Canada and learn of opportunities in Canadian industry and the job market.

In addition to existing scholarship programs, Economic Action Plan 2013 allocated $13 million over two years to the Mitacs Globalink Program, which attracts promising international students to Canadian universities and enables Canadian students to train abroad. A competition for the Globalink Research Award was recently launched for students in Canada. The award offers senior undergraduate and graduate students at Mitacs' full- and associate-partner universities the opportunity to participate in 12- to 24-week research projects supervised by professors at accredited universities in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam—priority countries under the Strategy.

The total value of international scholarships at the federal level during fiscal year 2013–14 exceeded $13 million. Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada offers over 700 scholarships to students in Latin America and the Caribbean, the US, China and the Francophonie. In addition, doctoral and post-doctoral awards (such as Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, which exceeded $10 million in 2012) are available to talented Canadian and international students.

As part of the Strategy, the Government of Canada will use and coordinate enhanced marketing and branding efforts to promote a more comprehensive and coordinated picture of scholarship opportunities in Canada and abroad. Canada will also work with foreign governments to provide reciprocal scholarship programs that include opportunities for Canadian students and researchers.

New Support for Canada's International Education Strategy

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive international education strategy, the Government of Canada is committed to ongoing investment to ensure objectives are achieved. The Strategy is firmly rooted in the federal government's focus on creating jobs and economic opportunities, and its commitment to returning to balanced budgets in the short term. Indeed, by making the right investments and working with the right partners, the Strategy will create thousands of new jobs and add billions of dollars to our economy over the long term.

As approved in Economic Action Plan 2013, funding of $5 million a year ongoing will be dedicated to supporting the objectives of the International Education Strategy. This investment will be primarily dedicated to efforts in priority markets.

3. A Pan-Canadian Partnership to Secure Canada's Long-Term Prosperity

Under the Strategy, the Government of Canada will work with the provinces and territories, CMEC and the various stakeholders within Canada's international education community to communicate a consistent message, align activities and achieve common objectives.

Aligning Efforts with those of the Provinces and Territories

While the Government of Canada already works actively and collaboratively with the provinces and territories on international education, the Strategy will improve strategic coordination and leverage existing resources to their fullest extent. Examples include:

• The National Education Marketing Roundtable, chaired by Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, which includes 60 education-sector stakeholders, with provincial and territorial representatives as observers;
• The implementation of a joint work plan established by the Federal-Provincial Consultative Committee on Education-Related International Activities; and
• The Advisory Committee on International Students and Immigration, which engages stakeholders in immigration matters related to education.

Under the Strategy, discussions will be held with the provinces and territories to organize joint “education and knowledge missions” to priority countries.

Additionally, close collaboration with the provinces and territories will be critical to implementing key aspects of the plan, such as the development of a refreshed brand, increasing the number of international students in Canada, identifying key education-related event opportunities, enhancing education-related visa processes, and securing multifaceted bilateral agreements with priority countries that focus on all aspects of education and research.

Strengthening Relationships with Key Industry Stakeholders

A World of Learning: Excerpt from the Canadian Bureau of International Education's 2013 Report

“Levels of international student satisfaction remain high; our surveys in both 2012 and 2013 found that approximately nine out of 10 respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with their experience in Canada. Ninety-six percent of students indicated they would definitely or probably recommend Canada as a study destination. Increasingly, Canada appears to be the first country of choice among students.”

The Government of Canada is committed to working with its key stakeholders in the international education sector to advance shared goals. Currently, the National Education Marketing Roundtable, which includes some of the sector's most important stakeholders, gauges ongoing client satisfaction and solicits constructive advice on matters related to international education. Roundtable members include:

• CBIE
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
• Association of Canadian Community Colleges
• Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne
• Polytechnics Canada
• CEGEP International
• Languages Canada
• Canadian Association of Public Schools International
• National Association of Careers Colleges

Canada is also a pioneer in online education and offers a wide range of courses to students throughout the world. A plethora of online open courses influences the global provision of education and Canadian institutions are on the digital forefront of the use of such technology. For example, the Canadian Virtual University provides single-window access to the online courses of many of Canada's leading education providers. The government will work with Canadian online-education providers to foster the increase in the number of international students participating in such Canadian offerings.
New Commitments to Strengthen Key Relationships

• Under the Strategy, the Government of Canada will consult the more than 60 stakeholders represented in the National Education Marketing Roundtable, including provincial and territorial observers, to ensure that the Roundtable fosters the broad partnership needed to expand Canada's international education sector.
• At the same time, the Government of Canada will consult regularly with the Canadian Consortium on International Education—comprised of this country's largest education stakeholders—to coordinate efforts.
• The Government of Canada will establish a Trade Commissioner presence within the Consortium to promote ongoing dialogue as the Strategy is implemented.
• The Government of Canada will support an event-management system to better coordinate events staged by various stakeholders.

Strengthening Canada's Education Engagement in the World

The diplomacy of knowledge

“The process of uncovering, sharing and refining all kinds of knowledge across disciplinary boundaries and international borders is something I call the diplomacy of knowledge. As a student of history, I understand that civilization's greatest advances often came not wholly from within certain disciplines but at the intersections of different disciplines. While cross-disciplinary action can be conducted locally, regionally and nationally, it's most potent when we cross international borders and cultivate interactions among teachers, students, researchers and others in different countries.”

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, address to Fulbright Awards, Boston, May 2013

The Strategy's branding campaign and priority-market plans will continue to foster relationships with high-quality global institutions and key influencers in education by building strategic government-to-government partnerships.

Canada is well positioned to build on its key strengths in research and innovation through existing mechanisms such as international Memoranda of Understanding and other instruments of cooperation. Specific education-related initiatives currently underway with priority countries include:

• Through Canada's Strategy for Engagement in the Americas, the Government of Canada has launched key initiatives such as the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program and the Conference of the Americas on International Education.
• As part of the government's India engagement strategy, the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnership to Accelerate Transformation and Sustainability leverages support from stakeholders in both countries to facilitate the bilateral exchange of research and create valuable learning opportunities, while generating positive economic and social benefits for both countries.
• Federal mechanisms, such as Canada-Brazil Framework Agreement for Cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Canada-India Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, facilitate student and researcher mobility.
• Canada participates in Brazil's Science Without Borders program, which provides opportunities for Brazilians to study in Canada (in English or French), as well as to conduct research and pursue private-sector internships. “This Brazil program is really a game-changer,” says Margaux Béland, vice-president of Canadian partnerships for the Canadian Bureau for International Education, the largest of several implementing agencies in Canada.
• Canada has similar agreements under the Canada Mexico Partnership, the Canada ASEAN Education Forum (November 2013), the Canada China Scholars Exchange Program and a separate S&T and education agreement with India.

In cooperation with provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders, the Government of Canada will seek to strengthen existing and develop new strategic instruments of cooperation with priority countries to enhance research collaboration, two-way student mobility and knowledge exchange. Canada has much to share with its trading partners.

Canadians Teaching the World

Canada is highly regarded for its strong education model at all levels. Canada is known for its excellence in teacher training, capacity building and knowledge transfer, and for close institutional linkages with industry, which help produce a highly skilled workforce. Many of Canada's education institutions, including Canada's polytechnics, are expanding their industry-training programs abroad. Emerging countries increasingly see Canada's community colleges as models for addressing skills shortages and the needs of a growing young population seeking employment.

According to a recent report by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, just as our mining, agriculture and forest sectors look beyond our borders, so do Canada's universities. And Canada has earned its place in the global community. Whether it's from innovation in nanotechnology, quantum computing, understanding the human genome or digital media, we have caught the eye of the world.

International partnerships in research and innovation are vital to building prosperity in the new knowledge-driven economy. Accordingly, we must harness this attention and build on our reputation to take full advantage of emerging opportunities.

Through the Strategy, the Government of Canada will continue to develop the export of education know-how by seeking opportunities to promote the sector and by supporting the marketing efforts of Canadian stakeholders. The government will also support efforts to develop pathways for international students to pursue other Canadian educational opportunities.

The Government of Canada can capitalize on existing federal initiatives such as the Technology and Innovation Strategy and most importantly, the Global Markets Action Plan. Indeed, all education-related activities will mirror the Government of Canada's new focus on trade promotion. Ensuring that all of Canada's diplomatic assets are harnessed to support the pursuit of commercial success by Canadian companies and investors includes helping our world-class educational institutions that operate abroad, as well as those that attract job- and prosperity-creating students to Canada. Canada's diplomatic network will have a crucial role to play both in priority education markets and in countries where Canada enjoys a clear competitive advantage in the education sector.

4. Performance Measurement

The International Education Strategy aims to achieve the following goals:

• Double the number of international students in Canada by 2022 (from the level of 2011).
• Increase the number of international students choosing to remain in Canada as permanent residents after graduation.
• Develop and regularly update country strategies for priority markets in coordination with the Global Markets Action Plan.
• Allocate resources to priority markets and to key embassies within those markets.
• Develop innovative programs for both mature and developing markets.
• Regularly review strategy and adapt to meet developments and opportunities.
• Monitor and evaluate progress on doubling number of students at midway point in 2018.
• Promote an increased number of international partnerships between Canadian institutions and their international counterparts.
• Build strategic partnerships with key countries.
• Develop an enhanced marketing and branding plan to better resonate in priority markets.
• Leverage Canada's bilingual, multicultural identity in marketing efforts and in building strategic partnerships.
• Leverage alumni networks.
• Highlight Canada's French-language strengths to increase Canada's share of the international francophone student market.
• Strengthen coordination among governments, with CMEC and stakeholders.
• Work with online educators to foster more uptake by international  students.
• Create an embedded trade commissioner position within the Canadian Consortium on International Education (CCIE).
• Strengthen in-market support for education clients, including through increased market intelligence and clients' access to it.
• Promote two-way student and research mobility.
• Strengthen cooperation to leverage scholarships in order to achieve Strategy goals.

Measuring Success

Canada is an acknowledged world leader when it comes to post-secondary education. As a dynamic sector of the economy, education employs thousands of Canadians across the country and generates countless opportunities in terms of research and innovation. International students are a key to our success as is the ability of our own students to study abroad and bring back new ideas and discoveries.

In 2014, we stand at an important crossroads in terms of ensuring our continued advancement as an education leader in the world and we must seize our competitive advantages in a strategic, collaborative and measurable way.

To ensure that Canada's International Education Strategy delivers what it sets out to achieve, the Government of Canada will develop and apply performance measures including targets for the numbers of incoming and outgoing students, and bilateral agreements, along with web and social-media metrics, and stakeholder and public-opinion research. Baselines, targets and achievements will be established and monitored in partnership with the provinces and territories, educational institutions and other stakeholders.

“Canada's International Education Strategy takes a critical step forward. It will significantly improve our capacity to be competitive in attracting international students at all levels of education, with all of the benefits that this will bring to Canada. But, importantly, it also points to a broader vision of the value of international education for Canada and for our partners around the world, as international education builds the diplomacy of knowledge and gives the next generation of Canadian and international students the tools they need to contribute to global society in meaningful ways.”

Karen McBride, President and CEO, Canadian Bureau for International Education