New Legislation To Attract Foreign Students To Manitoba

17 Dec 2013

The CIEAP (Canadian International Education Advisory Panel) has recommended raising the number of foreign students to Canada from 265,000 in 2012 to over 400,000 within 10 years.

Though there has been a progress in the recent years, the size of the overseas student population in Manitoba still lags behind other provinces. For instance, out of the foreign student population in Canada, B.C accounted for 25 per cent while Manitoba claimed only 3 per cent.

However, due to a new legislation, Manitoba has an advantage in attracting more international students by showing that the province provides highest quality education which is maintained by strict standards. In the Manitoba legislature on 5^th December, 2013, the International Education Act, Bill 44, was given royal assent. Acting as a seal of quality, the legislation will show prospective foreign students and their families that Manitoba provides education worth investing in.

The International Education Act will instill a code of conduct for establishments that educate foreign students, creating high standards across Manitoba. This will establish requirements on course quality, recruitment methods and student supports and will plan to prevent deceptive or misleading conduct in relation to foreign students.

It will also mean an education provider must be approved to enroll foreign students in Manitoba. Lists of non-complying recruiters and providers will be made public.