Although solely 2,181 Indian college students enrolled in universities throughout Canada in 2000, that quantity jumped to a mammoth 128,928 in 2021, a 5800% development within the final 20 years.
By 2023, the variety of worldwide college students in Canada stood at over 4,20,000, based on knowledge launched by India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs,
Indian college students made up 49% of all worldwide college students in Canada within the first half of 2024, based on authorities knowledge, a determine that has dropped by half when in comparison with 2023.
Although a diplomatic row between India and Canada led to the latter withdrawing dozens of diplomats from the South Asian nation, current coverage adjustments have led to many Indian college students steering away from the nation.
“We’ve got noticed a notable lower in submitted research allow functions from India, indicating a decline in curiosity amongst potential college students,” Priyanka Roy, senior recruitment advisor at York College, informed The PIE Information.
“Regardless of in depth efforts by establishments, together with hiring in-country representatives and implementing focused branding and advertising initiatives, this drop persists.”
In response to Roy, although the IRCC rules, adjustments in work permits, and political discord between Canada and India have contributed to a shift in attitudes, the establishment is taking proactive steps to handle the problems.
“We’re prioritising direct engagement with potential college students and their households by means of webinars, info classes, and Q&A boards,” stated Roy.
“Moreover, we’re strengthening our partnerships with faculties and steering counselors in India to make sure correct info reaches college students.”
With the Canadian federal election anticipated within the subsequent yr, the nation is grappling with a rising anti-immigration sentiment, the brunt of which is being confronted by worldwide college students.
Final month, the Canadian authorities introduced additional limits on worldwide research permits issued for the 2025 consumption.
We’re prioritising direct engagement with potential college students and their households by means of webinars, info classes, and Q&A boards
Priyanka Roy, York College
An extra 10% discount from the 2024 goal of 485,000 to 437,000 in 2025, which incorporates caps on grasp’s and doctoral college students, was introduced.
Much more just lately, the federal government launched new post-graduate work allow standards, stopping people graduating from college-level or sure college applications from accessing a PGWP, except their research align with the federal government’s new area of research necessities, subsequently making them eligible for PGWP alternatives.
Language necessities for all PGWP candidates have been additionally launched beneath the brand new measures.
Regardless of the current adjustments resulting in some uncertainty, Pranav Rathi, affiliate director, worldwide recruitment and market improvement, Fanshawe Faculty, stays considerably optimistic when contemplating the 5 broad areas of PGWP-eligible applications.
“A silver lining may very well be realised in high-demand areas, and whereas this contains STEM, it additionally contains development, trades, and well being care, all of that are areas the place schools excel,” stated Rathi.
“Whereas a graduate from a college credential is granted a PGWP whatever the research undertaken, the relevance of a level in lots of areas will restrict the power of the coed to safe employment instantly from greater training.”
With greater than half of its pupil cohort composed of worldwide college students, Fanshawe sees India as a key recruitment market and is prepared to keep up a robust presence there.
“Whereas particular adjustments could also be evolving, a number of strategic measures are being thought of and applied. To help applicant planning, we now have a turnaround time of 24 hours to problem provide letters and attestation letters for the market,” stated Rathi.
“We’ve got launched extra seats and new applications aligning with the labour market, which incorporates topics like STEM, well being and human service, meals expertise, development, and we proceed to work actively with our employer advisory our bodies.”
Although knowledge recommend the drop in numbers has impacted among the largest regional markets for pupil mobility to Canada in India, the downturn may very well be non permanent.
“The present decline is essentially as a result of notion of Canada’s model, which has been impacted by varied exterior components,” stated Rathi.
“Rebuilding this curiosity would require reshaping the narrative, emphasising that Canada stays totally open and welcoming to worldwide college students.”
In response to Saurabh Malhotra, CEO and founder, Scholar Direct, the drop in numbers from their largest market may additionally imply Canadian establishments can’t take India as a right anymore.
“There was a time when India was seen as a market Canadian establishments can take as a right. Although India stays a rustic with one of many highest visa approvals to Canada, we’ll see extra establishments courting real, high quality college students from India in the long term.”
Contemplating its place as the most important worldwide pupil cohort, Indian college students have been spearheading protests towards the Canadian authorities’s insurance policies.
Whereas lots of of them took to the streets of Ontario and different provinces in 2022 to protest deportation notices for alleged fraudulent paperwork, many are actually agitating towards adjustments associated to PGWP.
“Many college students who’re protesting now suppose that they don’t have the identical immigration pathways as earlier than,” stated Malhotra.
“Although that is due to among the fraud we’ve got seen previously few years concerning paperwork, it takes a number of years for the Canadian authorities to analyze such instances.”
Malhotra is anxious Canada has outsourced its model to companies which can be solely invested in sending college students to a vacation spot for immigration.
“It’s vital that Canada manufacturers itself as a research vacation spot, communicates with extra college students instantly, and understands their wants.”
Ajay Sharma, president and founding father of Abhinav Immigration Companies, recommended that such a decline in pupil mobility may very well be reversed as soon as the federal government achieves its immigration objectives.
“This (curb on worldwide college students) will all change in 2026 when the numbers of non permanent residents ratio to populations is predicted to be aligned with the federal government plans,” he stated.
“The stringent and sudden impulsive change in insurance policies – whichever the nation – supplies a short-term reprieve however damages the international locations’ medium to long-term demographic projections.”
