admin In a significant policy shift, Canada has recently declared a two-year cap on the intake of international students, signaling a firm stance on safeguarding the integrity of its international education system. The move comes in response to mounting concerns about certain institutions exploiting increased student numbers for financial gains, posing potential risks to the quality of education provided.
Under the new policy, Canada aims to limit the number of approved study permits to 360,000 for the current year, reflecting a substantial 35% decrease from the previous year. This decision has been prompted by the identification of “bad actors” or institutions that have been accepting international students without providing adequate support, leading to a need for stringent measures to ensure educational standards.
Addressing Infrastructure Pressures and Ensuring Accountability
The policy is also driven by the desire to manage the growth of international student numbers, which, when unchecked, exerts significant pressure on the country’s housing and healthcare facilities. To implement the cap effectively, the immigration department plans to allocate a portion of the limit to each province and territory. These regions will then distribute the permits among their designated universities, with the added requirement of an attestation letter confirming their capacity to accommodate incoming students.
Moreover, to maintain accountability, the study permit application process will now necessitate an attestation letter from a Canadian province or territory. Provinces have until March 31 to establish the process for issuing these letters. It’s crucial to note that the new policy excludes students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as those in elementary and secondary education. Current study permit holders are also exempt from the cap.
Additional Measures to Strengthen Educational System
In conjunction with the cap, Canada has introduced other measures aimed at enhancing the overall educational system. Institutions employing a private-public model will no longer allow their students to obtain a postgraduate work permit upon graduation. Additionally, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and
doctoral programs, signaling a comprehensive effort to maintain the quality and integrity of Canada’s international education landscape.
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