Canada should Invite more International Students to boost the Economy- suggests a Report

As per the statistics is concerned about the number of Indian students immigrating abroad on student visas, USA tops the chart with about 80,000 students in a year on an average with Australia coming second with about 40,000 students and then UK with 25,000 students a year. Canada however lags behind with about 4000 Indian students per year. A recent report suggested that to overcome the trend, Canada should invite more international students to study in Canada.

While many foreign universities are encouraging more and more Indian students to come and study in their premises, Canadian universities however takes on a very small portion of international students than other foreign universities abroad. Quoting that professor Mr. R.M. Touhey who published a study on this subject titled, “A New Direction for the Canada – India Relationship” analysed that Canada is lagging behind in taking sufficient number of international students than other developed countries. In the study he also revealed that the international student industry is worth approximately $300 billion dollars.

In his report, Prof. Touhey explained that Canada needs to take a notice of what Australian economy has accomplished by inviting more and more Indian students to study in Australia. The nation dramatically increased the number of Indian students in schools from 800 students in 1994 to 40,000 in 2008. All their advertising efforts and the “Brand Australia” campaign directed by the Australian Indian Council remain a success.

Further Prof. Touhey elaborated that the increasing number of Indian students in Canada would benefit the Canadian economy in enormous ways. Apart from just economic profit, the country could also promote in short term and long term political benefits. As Canada has been looking for making up deals with India in nuclear industry therefore politically speaking it would be a benefit to Canadian people.

The report outlines three such areas that should be emphasized to develop an underdeveloped and under-articulated relationship:
Canada must strengthen its meagre public diplomacy/advocacy efforts in India. A Canada-India Council that will work to enhance the flow of knowledge and people between Canada and India needs to be created. Such an organization would facilitate advocacy and Track Two efforts with other interested organizations.

Post-secondary linkages with Indian students, universities and colleges must be strengthened. To achieve this goal, the federal government should consider the following: Closer coordination with the provinces and higher-education sector actors engaged in India alongside the creation of a federally-funded program to develop and enhance bilateral education dialogue and linkages. Increased levels of federal funding for international scholarships that are available for Indian students. Conducting a national mapping study to identify the main academic institutions operating in India and catalogue their successes and failures to date.
Canada and India should bolster their nascent science and technology (S&T) linkages through the following means: Increased funding for the current Canada and India S&T program. Long-term funding stability. Develop an S&T India Program led by the National Research Council to strengthen capacity building in India, particularly amongst higher education facilities.

________________________________

For more information regarding immigration please visit our website- http://www.angadinfo.com/ or write to us on media@angadinfo.com