INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS GRAVITATING TOWARD ATLANTIC PROVINCES EDU INSTITUTIONS

A recent news article published in the PIE News indicates a substantial increase in international students enrolling in Atlantic Canada Universities and Colleges. The report shows a growth of 15.5%, to put that. In total, reported numbers were to the tune of 21,812, as per preliminary findings. These numbers come from sixteen universities across Atlantic provinces comprising full-time students with valid Study Permit visas enrolled in the 2022-23 school year.

The message coming out of the Atlantic provinces to international, national, and regional stakeholders is that “Atlantic Canadian campuses are welcoming, safe and secure,” as per the report. The credit to increase international student enrollment in Atlantic provinces is  “collective commitment to programs, policies, the University’s mission that the students and their families is widely understood”  per vice-chancellor of St. Thomas University, Dawn Russell.

According to the reports, the growth of international students directly relates to the “strong connection between the universities and successful regional and provincial population strategies. Full-time students now make up 2/3’s of the entire student body at Cape Brenton alone, per Mr. Alex Usher, President of Higher Education Strategy Associates. What does this mean to the international student community in the Atlantic provinces and prospective students planning to enroll in AAUs? A straightforward reason: Atlantic provinces are giving preference to the graduates from the Universities located in the areas a priority in getting Canadian Permanent Residency under the PNP nomination program. More than 65% of international students studying in the Atlantic Provinces wanted to make it their home province

The historical challenges faced by the Atlantic provinces to attract and retain new immigrants, which would translate to the economic growth of the Atlantic provinces, now have found a formula in the shape of international students. With an expected demographic change in the age group of 18 to 25 years all over Canada, Atlantic Provinces are keen to increase their fair share by promoting education to international students at universities located within the Atlantic Region, as reported in the article.

Leading the pack among the Atlantic Universities for enrolling international students are as follows:

1. Cape Brenton University, Sydney, NS, increased by 67.6%
2. University of Moncton, New Brunswick, increased by 21.2%,
3. University of New Brunswick, NB, increased by 22.7%
4. University of Prince Edward Island, PEI, increased by 15.7%
5. Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, increased by 11.5%
6. Combined 10 Universities in Nova Scotia, NS, increased by 14.5%

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Source: THE PIE NEWS, News and business analysis for Professionals in International Education, Nov. 2, 2022, by Viggo Stacey