Canadian Report Calls for Doubling Foreign Students and Surge in Study Abroad

By Karen Birchard. With competition for the world's talent increasing, Canada should strengthen its efforts to recruit international students, with a goal of doubling their number within a decade, recommends a report released on Tuesday by an advisory panel to the Canadian government.
What's more, the report says, the country should significantly increase the number of Canadians studying abroad by providing financial aid, and the prime minister should play a leading role as the "unifying champion" for international education. The 122-page report, entitled "International Education: A Key Driver of Canada's Future Prosperity," says that international students are key contributors to Canada's economy. It offers 14 recommendations as a blueprint for attracting high-quality foreign students and internationalizing education. The government set up the five-member panel on international education last year. It was led by Amit Chakma, president of University of Western Ontario, and it consulted widely with international-education players in the country.