The immigration rules have been tweaked so as to coax foreign students into enrolling themselves into Conestoga College and other institutions, despite the fact that countries have restricted travel so as to minimize the spread of coronavirus.
Conestoga College was expecting the spring semester to have about 2,500 lesser international students post the pandemic outbreak. At present, it expects even a lesser number of enrolments. The college has been reducing the staff, postponing renovations post the closing of borders by Canada, thereby preventing students without visas from entering the country. Foreign students who are already in Canada can stay.
Colleges and universities depend a lot on those foreign students who are able to pay more tuition.
The Union of Public Service Employees Ontario which represents the faculty of Conestoga institution and many other community colleges has stated that there is a possibility of a post-secondary education disaster. Prior to the tweak in immigration rules, there was an expectation of the international enrolment numbers dropping in spring as well as in September. The loss on international students would form a substantial financial loss, as international students pump in approximately $22 billion every year into the economy.
What Revisions are Made for International Students Seeking Admission in Canadian Universities?
According to the revision that has taken place in the immigration rules, international students might enroll in any Canadian school as well as undertake remote studies in their respective home countries in case the virus has shifted the classes to online formats. As per the government, in such a situation, foreign students can start their classes even though they reside outside Canada and they can complete about 50% of the program in their home country itself in case they are unable to travel to Canada at the earliest. A lot of the enrolment into Conestoga is international.