BC Elevates Protection for International StudentsWith 39% of the province’s post-secondary students being international students, the province of British Columbia plans to add additional safeguards to ensure international students succeed and thrive. Hereโs what you need to know.
๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ (๐๐๐) ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง:
Phase 2 of the International Education Framework updates the Provinceโs Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation, which all post-secondary institutions must hold to enroll international students. These updates include:
1. Requiring institutions deliver at least 50% of the program in-person to international students.
2. Having appropriate locations controlled by the institution.
3. Having staff to support international students.
4. Ensuring compliance with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reporting.
๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ (๐๐๐) ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐:
In addition to the updates to the designation, a new Education Quality Assurance (EQA) code of practice is being introduced to place a higher standard of protection and support services on institutes looking to admit international students.
๐๐๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐:
1. Clear and accurate marketing and promotional information.
2. Accountability for education agents.
3. Tuition transparency
4. Better information about student supports, including academic and housing support, well-being and health.
5. The new code of practice also places different requirements on public institutions, private degree-granting institutions and private training institutions.
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐:
1. Limiting international enrolment to 30% of an institutionโs total enrolment.
2. Providing tuition-fee transparency to prevent unexpected international student fee increases.
3. Requiring the development of new international education strategic plans, improved student services, housing supports, and standards to ensure Indigenous and domestic students are not displaced.
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐-๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐:
1. Labour market alignment for degree programs.
2. Requirements that institutions manage enrolment in a manner appropriate for their infrastructure, student resources and services.
3. Increased fees for existing application fees and fees for the conduct of review.
4. An additional annual fee for private and out-of-province degree-granting institutions.
๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐:
1. Requiring greater program content standards.
2. Improving protections for students at private training institutions, including:
a. More generous refund policies
b. Shorter maximum terms on contracts
c. Banning high-pressure sales
3. Increased fees for institutions regulated under the PTA will help expand the Provinceโs capacity to regulate and enforce higher standards.
4. Prohibiting high-pressure sales and recruitment tactics.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐
๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ.
Any change that focuses on improving the quality of education and future prospects of international students should be welcomed by the community. These changes should also be used by international students as a means to filter against possible schools to apply to. For instance, all BC post-secondary schools need to have staff to support international students. This is deemed crucial to their integration therefore when applying to schools, enquire as to what their support system is like. Likewise, make sure that at least 50% of classes are in person.
A free Moving2Canada account can help. We have created tailored checklists for international students, and we regularly share updates through our newsletters.