UPEI increases international student attraction efforts
The University of Prince Edward Island is building on its reputation as one of Canada’s top undergraduate institutions by focusing on international student recruitment as a top priority. According to the Canadian Bureau of International Education, UPEI has led all Canadian universities in international student growth since 2008. One in five UPEI students now comes from outside of Canada. Now, with competition to attract international students increasing around the world, UPEI is upping its recruitment efforts in key international markets, and working to make it easier for international students to stay and work here after they graduate.
Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), together with the Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning, today announced government support for UPEI’s international student attraction and retention efforts. ACOA is providing $493,631 under its Business Development Program and the Province of PEI is providing $52,790, through the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning to assist PEI’s post-secondary institutions in their student attraction and retention efforts.
This assistance from the federal and provincial governments will help the University of Prince Edward Island to attract foreign students through targeted advertising and participation in international education fairs. The assistance will also enable the university to focus on helping foreign students integrate into Canadian academic life by improving language and other study skills, and by creating a new international student liaison position to assist students during their study and help them integrate into PEI’s workforce after graduation. This liaison person will also work with students at Holland College and College Acadie on a part-time basis.
The attraction and retention of skilled and educated immigrants is a key component of the Atlantic Growth Strategy, a collaborative approach to building a stronger economy in Atlantic Canada. Immigration is key to building strong Atlantic communities and can play a significant role in meeting skill shortages that are holding back economic development across the region.
Quotes
“I applaud the University of Prince Edward Island for playing such a key role in our economy, and for taking a progressive view towards growth. By attracting students from over 70 countries around the world, UPEI has already shown strong leadership in this area. I am especially pleased to see the renewed focus on integrating these bright young minds into our workforce, which can only boost our economy over the long term." - Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown
“International students bring diversity to our Island classrooms and contribute to our province’s overall economic growth and long-term sustainability. Adding new cultural lenses to classroom discussions heightens the overall student experience at our post-secondary institutions and encourages respectful dialogue and critical thinking.” - The Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning
"UPEI has been extremely successful in attracting students from around the world. Not only does this help us overcome challenging regional demographics and create positive impact on the economy, but this important diversity adds so much in terms of cultural exchange and learnings among all of our students. We thank the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning for supporting our strategic efforts to recruit in new areas and to retain international students in our region upon graduation." - Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, UPEI
