According to the report revealed in the recent intra-country movement, the majority of foreign students want to stay in the same country where they receive their first study permit
A non-profit organization, the Conference Board of Canada undertakes research related to societal challenges, business performance, and public policy. Provincial governments can improve international student retention in their provinces or territories through specific measures. Still, there has already been substantial progress in this direction, notes the Conference Board of Canada.
Now let’s discuss the key findings of this research.
The location of the settlement one year after the expiration of the first study permit
The majority of students who studied in any of the 10 provinces or three territories in Canada opted to remain there following the expiration of their first study permit.
In Quebec, retention rates were the highest (about 85%), while in Manitoba and Alberta, the rate was over 80%. Between 70% and 80% of employees were retained in five provinces. Among them are British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Newfoundland & Labrador. In addition, 60% to 70% of overseas students were enrolled in Canada’s final two provinces (Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick), as well as the three territories.
According to the Foreign students’ intra-country movement report, over 75% of retained international students remained in-province/in-territory to continue their education in all 13 distinct areas.
Location of job three years after first study permit expires
In spite of the fact that foreign students’ first study visas had expired three years ago. An assessment based on where they filed their taxes was consistent with the one above (after one year).
Another way of putting it is that most foreign students are still working in Canada three years after they graduated. They choose to continue living in the province where they originally studied. Nine out of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories had more than 50% of their foreign students stay in their home province or territory. However, except for Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, which are all in the Atlantic provinces.
Québec and Alberta, the two provinces with the highest one-year retention rates, experienced the highest retention rates after three years.
Interprovincial/territorial retention recommendations
In order to promote retention, post-secondary education should coordinate skill development with regional labor market needs. The Conference Board of Canada, as well as provides persistently strong provincial funding to these institutions. So that they can continue providing quality education to students.
International students may also be persuaded to remain in their provinces if we provide more Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) slots and enhance settlement services that are provided to these foreign nationals.
