The International Experience Canada research report for 2022 was released recently by IRCC. The Public Opinion Research Report comprised the opinions of 2,500 youth in Canada and more than 1,000 Canadian parents. Additionally, the opinions of 108 youngsters, and 39 parents, answering Bulletin Board questions were compiled. The compilation took place to evaluate the following-
- Previous international travel or work experience.
- Awareness of the International Experience Canada program along with desire and participation.
- An inclination to travel in the wake of Covid-19.
- The motivation to work or travel internationally and the advantages and hurdles of doing so.
- The different groups among the youth with their individualistic opinions.
International Experience Canada research findings
The major findings of the study research are as follows:
Covid-19
The research took place in 2022, with genuine concern of participants regarding Covid-19 risks. Additionally, there was a greater degree of concern for the Canadian youth’s mental health conditions and academic outcomes.
Contrarily, specific benefits related to the pandemic include a stable and slow life, with more virtual study and work options. Such things also helped participants get out of despair and loneliness.
Travel
IRCC reported on the current situation of travel and stated that the chief reason behind people not traveling was a financial burden. Broadly speaking, the pandemic ignited a desire in many individuals to travel more, whereas most individuals found themselves acting carefully due to the Ukraine-Russia war.
Contrarily, even young adults and Canadian parents considering their future travel plans showed excessive concern due to the rising pandemic. Moreover, international and domestic vaccines acted as a prominent factor in ensuring safe international travel. Additionally, there were quite a few hurdles related to the future of international travel. These barriers are related to finance, traveling cost, work responsibilities, and the duty to make international travel safer for children.
IRCCs research also focused on experiences related to Canadian youth’s international travel and their opinions about the benefits of such travel plans. The department emphasized the following key points:
- Canadian youth traveled mostly for entertainment or business purposes, and this accounts for 86 percent. This also implies that Canadian youth tends to experience at least a single international trip in their entire life.
- An estimation of around 40 percent of youth participants traveled abroad as volunteers, workers, or students.
- Students reported a few major benefits of international travel, including the chance to consider new cultural experiences, transform their life, and experience an adventurous life.
- Of all the surveyed participants, 64 percent believed in demonstrating their international experience before employers. However, just 53 percent of them truly stood by the perception that international experience enhanced their Canadian employment prospects.
International Experience Canada research- four major groups
Most importantly, the Public Opinion Research Report emphasized the opinions of those with hearing impairment and mobility issues, indigenous youth, women in STEM, and LGBTQ2+ youth.
The following key points gained prominence among the four groups:
- Youths having impairments had greater concerns about COVID-19 and the public health initiatives maintenance.
- Indigenous youth participants stated that COVID-19 made them more cautious about travel, and they believed it could enter their communities.
- Participants, such as the indigenous youth from northern or remote locations, gave reasons for community/family connections and distance to be major reasons behind no international travel.
International Experience Canada research- key findings
IRCC gained deeper insights into the adequate reasons from Canadian youth and parents about previous participation records. The department also got to learn about program awareness and willingness for future participation.
Youth
At least one among ten youth adults demonstrated a record of previous participation.
Program Awareness
Although the previous participants of IEC displayed satisfaction, program awareness was relatively low among the survey and Bulletin Board participants.
Eagerness to gain more knowledge
Approximately thirty percent of youth participants indicated a strong eagerness to gain more knowledge about the IEC program. They also showed interest in the forms of the internet, school, or spreading the word.
Future prospects of participating in the IEC program
Youth respondents who fall under the category of “likely to travel,” specifically for entertainment or business purposes after the pandemic, accounted for 75 percent. However, 39 percent even revealed that they would never travel to specific countries due to the pandemic.
On the other hand, around 34 percent of Canadian youth showed lesser concern for checking other countries’ Covid-19 rates. They didn’t need to see the Covid-19 rates turning to zero for them to travel across other countries.
Almost 30 percent of Canadian youth are likely to participate in IEC programs in the future.
Overall, 56 percent of youth participants lacked knowledge about beginning to work, volunteer, or study outside Canada. Interestingly, 49 percent of youth respondents also showed their concern about finding work abroad.
Parents
The parents participating in the survey can be classified into three categories:
Program Awareness
Overall, parents displayed a poor awareness rate of the program. However, they even informed me that they would learn about the IEC program by talking to other people.
Eagerness to gain more knowledge
Almost 44 percent of parents expressed an eagerness to learn more about IEC. Furthermore, they would gain more knowledge of the program through internet resources, information sessions of IEC, and schools.
Matter of concern
Approximately 63 percent of parents expressed their concern regarding specific places across the globe due to the pandemic. Conversely, 53 percent of the parents believed that they would help their child with international travel in case of work opportunities whenever it becomes safer to travel.
