It was also revealed that the total number of study permit holders in Canada as of 31 December 2016 was 414,946, up from 351,330 (an 18% increase) in 2015. China and India are the largest growth markets.
CBIE has rolled out a nationwide communications campaign, Learning Beyond Borders, to encourage students to study abroad.
Competitive fees and attractive post-study work options are some of Canada's most magnetic features drawing international students to its shores. Word of mouth recommendations, however, remain powerful influences.
Delegates at the CBIE conference were challenged by colleagues to better enable routes between study in Canada, with students wanting "more mobility and modularity" in terms of access, but also needing better support post-study too in finding employment.
The University of Calgary has been commended for its internationalisation strategy in this year’s CBIE Excellence Awards, which also included the second ever Founders’ Award for Excellence in International Education.
Canada's CBIE has launched a national dialogue that will build the foundation for a campaign to encourage students to study abroad, including a national roundtable convened by the Governor General.
The number of Canadian students studying abroad has dropped for the third year in a row, according to data released by CBIE, despite a large-scale survey showing almost 90% of students are interested in studying abroad.
The number of international students in Canada rose by 8% in 2015. However, figures indicate that growth has been dented by challenges in key source markets and slowing growth overall.