British Columbia Plans to Attract More International Students

Photo: British Columbia

Becoming a hot-spot for international students can do wonders for a local economy, which is what Premier Christy Clark wants British Colombia to become.

Premier Clark has recently unveiled her jobs plan, which aims to bolster Canadian immigration by adding as many as 9,000 jobs and pumping USD$500 million into the economy over the next four years.

The plan is called Canada Starts Here and states that, “In 2010 alone, international students spent more than $1.8 billion in British Columbia, supporting 22,000 jobs and generating $70 million in government revenue. That makes international education B.C.’s fifth largest export – with an almost unlimited potential for growth.”

BC will follow the lead of Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops to target major countries like China, India, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. The goal is to grow the province’s international student presence by 50 percent over the next four years, which adds up to 47,000 more students living, studying and contributing in British Columbia.

“This approach will ensure that all communities and institutions have an opportunity to benefit. And we will introduce new regulations or legislation to expand and enhance our quality assurance for the sector, ensuring those who come to B.C. receive the best education and experience possible.”

Schools mentioned: Thompson Rivers University