With its long history of immigration, Canada has become a favored destination for families and individuals seeking greener pastures abroad. And as the government promotes the education sector as part of its economic development program, the influx of international students has grown consistently.
The appeal of Canada is clear. Its schools and universities are recognized around the world for their excellence. The country possesses natural beauty and a clean environment. Its society is welcoming and culturally diverse.
Among the fastest-growing groups of international students in Canada, whether those seeking secondary education or post-graduate studies, are the Chinese.
“China and our partnerships with Chinese institutions are very important to us. We see ourselves as a gateway to the Asia Pacific. The past couple of years have really highlighted the fact that we’re all in this together globally,” said Shaheen Nanji, executive director of SFU International, located in British Columbia.
“We were one of the first universities in Canada to develop a partnership with a Chinese university and that was back in the 1980s. Since then, we’ve been building connections in China in a variety of ways, like joint research and joint degree programs for 27 years,” Nanji added.
In the last few years, the effort to promote Canadian education around the world has spread to preparatory schools, which are highlighting the benefits of gaining an early head start, securing a stable career and setting down roots in the country.
In the federal and provincial level, the Canadian government and its institutions is committed to the common objective to provide quality education to all its students, both local and international, despite the tough challenges posed by the global pandemic.
“Our strategy is to let the people around the world know that we are here to help them. At the end of the day, good service and a good product always go a very long way,” said Livia Castellanos, executive lead of International Education at the Ministry of Advanced Education of Saskatchewan.
