International student policy has challenges

“When it came to the effects of the federal government’s decisions, we were not overexposed,” explains Dr. Michel Beaulieu, Provost and VP, Academic for UNBC. “Like many institutions, it peaked a bit in 2023 at about 20 per cent of our entire student population were international, coming from not just one country, but a multitude of countries. From around the world.”

And that was a strategic decision on the part of the university, which says there are some policy elements to the program in general that lead to where they are today and it’s called “conversion.”

“So one of the things that occurs with the allotment that institutions are provided is it’s based upon applicants,” says Dr. Beaulieu. “So once you’ve made an offer to an international student, if they come or they don’t come, you’ve used your allotment.”

While the university’s strategy was established prior to the federal government’s decision, will it change moving forward?

“We’re actually looking at the challenges that we’re all facing as an opportunity to sort of rethink our processes, look at how we can better sell our programing, say, for a better word, but also how we can look at and much more focus on not just UNBC, but all of northern British Columbia as a destination for international students.”

He says part of the rationale behind that direction will be to address some of the workforce and professional needs in the region moving forward.

by Cheryl Jahn

International student policy has challenges

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