Policy Resolution – Experiential Learning as Educational and Cost of Living Supports for International Students

In October 2024, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce gained the support of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce delegates at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and Policy Conference for the following resolution:

Experiential Learning as Educational and Cost of Living Supports for International Students

Issue

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that international students will be able to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week starting in September 2024. The Federal government temporarily waived the previous 20-hour cap on work hours for international students during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease labour shortages, that waiver expired Tuesday, May 24, 2024.

           Quote: “Canada’s rules need to be aligned or we will find our programs attracting more and more applicants whose primary intent is to work and not studying,”
-Minister Miller.^[1]

Background

On January 22^nd, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that Canada will reduce the number of new international student permits by 35 per cent this year as part of a temporary two-year cap on foreign enrolment.^[2] In 2014 the number of international permits was at 330,000. By 2022, however, that number had risen to 805,000. This rapid increase has been cited as demonstrative of a situation where we may have started with the understanding that “Canada could offer a high-quality education at a globally competitive price in a safe country that valued international students”, but numerous examples exist in which necessary and expected supports, such as adequate housing, educational facilities, and applicable uses for degrees did not live up to this foundational belief.^[3]

A 2023 survey of students reports that “Most of the surveyed students had at least some concern about their ability to pay for housing and related costs”. This was especially the case amongst “international students, who were far more likely than their domestic counterparts to say they were extremely concerned 25% vs 8% about their ability to afford for housing, utilities, and other related costs.”^[4]

We know that for decades, Canadian universities have been “advocating an assortment of beyond-the-classroom learning models – from research assistantships through service learning and cooperative education placements.”^[5] Experiential learning is an “umbrella term used to describe an array of approaches to practice-based education, usually involving student placements in a workplace or organization in their field of study.”^[6]

The incorporation of experiential learning applied in addition to an international student’s 24 working hours can address the primary education needs, while simultaneously providing paid hours to sustain themselves and further career development.

We look to our institutions with long standing records of educational excellence to continue to develop experiential learning as independent study opportunities for both domestic and international students. By including faculty and staff, proper planning can assure alignment of necessary educational requirements including program evaluation, course presentation, industry of employment specific literature review, or self-reporting criteria.

Should the Federal government offer the regulatory opportunity, this form of educational work placement for international students would still require special permits on the part of provincial and territorial governments in addition to regular study permits.^[7]

The business community benefits by training the workforce of the future, creating connections and identifying future talents, and introducing their employees to different perspectives and worldviews.

Recommendations

That the Government of Canada:

1. Create a waiver available to students pre and post-entry in which up to 16 hours a week of paid employment for international students (off-campus during the school term) beyond the 24-hour restrictions can be considered for educational programing as an independent study credit: experiential learning.
2. Work in alignment with the Provinces and Territories to assure the necessary permits pre and post-entry for international students to participate in this form of educational experiential learning paid employment.
3. Present this restriction waiver opportunity to universities and colleges (Educational Institutions) as preparation to develop and offer experiential learning up to 16 hours per week as part of an independent learning course credit or course project.