Private/public partnerships to attract international students in Canada

Canada has been noted for significant increases in international student enrollment in recent years. A policy that has contributed to the increase has been a partnership that allowed private institutions to join with public universities in granting degrees. As a result of the private/public partnership, 5,000 more international students attended classes at private institutions and received their degrees from the public partner in 2015-16.

The carrot? Private universities do not have the same ability to offer work permits for international students to stay in Canada after graduation - the public partner can. The government has now placed a moratorium on the strategy citing a lack of "tools to monitor the quality of the student experience at private-branch campuses, including whether they are meeting academic standards, providing support services and whether students are satisfied with the program."

The scheme appears to have been initiated to fill the gap created by the disproportionate decline of young adults in the coming years in Ontario, which is likely to impact private institutions more than publics. From a governmental point of view, creating incentives for international students to study in Canada is another benefit, especially when coupled with the opportunity to retain them in the Canadian workforce after graduation.