A new immigration "matchmaking service" in Canada will connect foreign job seekers and employers in a bid to boost skilled migration – a move that could benefit international graduates of Canadian universities. CIC believes the system will eliminate application backlogs. It is one of a raft of new measures designed to attract more foreign students to the country.
Visa processing delays are hampering international recruitment efforts across the tertiary, language and schools sectors in Canada, with one institution even claiming that visa barriers forced her to close her business temporarily. Immigration and Citizenship Canada blames a surge in demand for Canadian education, but others say spending cuts are at fault.
A raft of far-reaching proposals to overhaul K-12 level international education programmes in British Columbia, Canada – including a levy on foreign students – is being mooted by the provincial government. It says the reforms will protect the reputation of BC education abroad, but many in the sector complain they have not been consulted.
The Canadian government says it will make a record 10,000 skilled foreign graduates and workers permanent residents next year by reforming the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) visa programme – an increase from 7,000 last year and 2,545 in 2009. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney confirmed that plans to expedite permanent residency applications through CEC would come into effect from January.
Canada could soon pave the way for easy access for Mexican students after Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, affirmed recently that his government would "ultimately like to see visa-free travel with Mexico". There are clear signs that a relaxing of visa rules that were imposed suddenly in 2009 because of a hike in refugees is likely.
The latest survey of business trends among language schools and education agencies by ALTO has revealed mixed business fortunes among those canvassed about their Q3 results. UK-based language schools cited a drop in business; agencies in Colombia, Turkey, Nigeria and Russia were very upbeat about Q4 (although 42% of Spanish companies took a dim view).
Canada has welcomed 400 Brazilians to its public schools through a scholarship programme aimed at increasing English language ability of those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Brazil is said to be a "steadily growing market" for public schools.
Canada is the latest country to mandate a training programme for education agencies interested in gaining certification relating to their Canadian counselling skills. The Canadian embassy in Germany officially launched the Canada course for Education Agents at the weekend on the fringes of ICEF Berlin.
