Building on Success: Canada's International Education Strategy (2019-2024)
Executive Summary
International education makes a large and growing contribution to Canada’s prosperity.
The new International Education Strategy builds on the attributes that make Canada a powerhouse in international education: high quality schools and programs of study in both English and French; peaceful, welcoming and diverse communities; an enviable quality of life; opportunities to work and start careers; and pathways to permanent residency.
To ensure a sustainable international education sector, the new Strategy will aim, over the next five years, to diversify the education sector, boost Canada’s innovation capacity, promote global ties and foster a vibrant Canadian economy.
The Strategy will also help ensure that Canada’s labour force has the needed skills and talent to enable Canada to compete successfully in global markets, creating middle-class jobs and fostering prosperity in communities across the country.
Canada’s new International Education Strategy has three key objectives:
- Encourage Canadian students to gain new skills through study and work abroad opportunities in key global markets, especially Asia;
- Diversify the countries from which international students come to Canada, as well as their fields, levels of study, and location of study within Canada; and
- Increase support for Canadian education sector institutions to help grow their export services and explore new opportunities abroad.
To implement the Strategy, the Government of Canada allocated $147.9 million over five years, followed by $8 million per year of ongoing funding.
International Education Strategy Initiatives
Global Affairs Canada
| Initiative | Objective |
|---|---|
| Targeted digital marketing strategy | Attract students from a wider diversity of countries to a greater diversity of schools and programs of study |
| Enhanced support by the Trade Commissioner Service | Greater support for education clients leads to increased sales and licensing of Canadian educational services and products abroad. |
| Additional scholarships for international students to study in Canada | Attract select students by targeting countries, programs and schools; strengthen bilateral relations |
| Consolidate existing scholarships under a cohesive, strengthened narrative | Attract additional international students; support Canada’s education brand |
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
| Initiative | Objective |
|---|---|
| Increased promotion of International Experience Canada (IEC) program | Greater awareness among young Canadians about opportunities to work and travel abroad through IEC |
| Expand Student Direct Stream to additional countries | Attract more international students from target countries. |
| Modernize immigration forms and processes | Improved client services for those who seek to visit or study, work or stay in Canada |
Employment and Social Development Canada
| Initiative | Objective |
|---|---|
| Outbound Student Mobility Pilot | Up to 11,000 more Canadians study and work abroad, acquiring the skills, intercultural competencies and international networks essential to their careers and economic growth, with financial support ranging from $5,000 to $10,000/year. |
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