Examining the benefits of international students
Representatives from College of New Caledonia, University of Northern British Columbia and B.C. Council for International Education (BCCIE) held a meeting of the minds Friday to discuss the economic, social and cultural benefits that international students bring to communities in the North.
Following a reception Thursday at CNC, UNBC hosted a one-day conference, panel discussion and workshop which heard from education and community leaders from across northern B.C..
As well, Initiatives Prince George took part in hosting the event which included input from international student alumni from CNC and UNBC.
What did they learn? Trevor Corkum, BCCIE director of communications, told the Free Press besides the many benefits to the students themselves, having international students in our midst is a big boon for the local and provincial economy.
“B.C. is one of the leading destinations for international students coming to Canada. In 2010, there were 94,000 international students in this province at all levels of education including K through 12, secondary school and university. They brought $1.8 billion into the B.C. economy. That includes money spent on tuition, books, food, cars, accommodation, travel and personal spending in the communities where they live.”
International students spend about $24 million annually in northern B.C.
The large number of international students has also meant the creation and saving of hundreds of jobs in the province, 250 in the region, he said.
Tourism also benefits, Corkum said, because international students typically invite over their friends, family members and relatives to visit, especially during holidays.
As well, there’s better cross-cultural understanding.
“The students become ambassadors all over the region which has economic, cultural and social benefits,” he said. Graduating international students who qualify could apply for up to 325,000 jobs in this province.
“Down the road they may be able to fill labour shortages in B.C.”, Corkum said.
Carolyn Russell with UNBC’s International Studies program (the program has 35 international partnerships in 20 countries) says it’s important to remember what international students bring to our domestic students.
“More and more students who come from non-traditional or rural backgrounds are getting to travel, they can learn about other countries from the international students who go to school here.”
In 2009, there were 400 international students studying at UNBC. Homestay aspects of the international students’ time spent here, which includes learning English from their host families, enrich the community as a whole, Russell said.
Barbara Old, CNC’s dean of community and international education, agrees.
“International students bring so much to the community both financially and in terms of culture,” she said.
According to an April 7 CNC news release, the college hosted 251 international students in 2009/10. The majority of the international students, 178, came from Asia while 129 were from China, 28 were from Korea and seven from Japan. Saudi Arabia is the next largest group with 47 students. CNC also hosts many students from Africa, Europe and South America.
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