Specialists in global support services for students, Student VIP International, has introduced the Remote Study Health Program for postsecondary institutions in Canada which allows international students to access 24/7 multilingual counselling while remaining physically-abroad.
The Canadian government has allowed international students to study remotely without impacting their post-graduate work permit eligibility, resulting in about 50% of international students enrolled at some postsecondary educational institutes across Canada studying online from their home countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Remote Study Health Program is available to any postsecondary institution in Canada”
According to Student VIP International, the biggest gap that remote online study has caused for international students in their home country is the complete loss of mental health counselling, and Canadian laws and regulations do not allow for Canadian mental health providers to provide services to students outside of their governing province.
However, the Remote Study Health Program is unique to traditional Student Assistance Programs as counselling is provided by counsellors located in the home country of the student where available.
Without access to on-campus counsellors, students would be required to rely on counselling services in their home countries, it explained.
“This is particularly problematic for international students who reside in countries where there is no access to counselling, and countries where mental health is extremely taboo due to stigma, laws and even ramifications,” said Samantha Morneau, director of Student VIP International.
The Remote Study Health Program provides value not only to the students but to the institutions by augmenting postsecondary administrators’ ability to showcase their efforts to enhance the remote learning offering for students globally, a statement from the company explained.
As of September 1, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia has implemented the Remote Study Health Program for all of its international students studying in their home country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Remote Study Health Program is available to any postsecondary institution in Canada and can be customised to suit specific needs.
