Canada's universities call for international education strategy

OTTAWA, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - The number of international students enrolled in Canadian universities increased 10 percent this year: a trend that enriches the learning experience for Canadian students, builds global links for Canada and generates economic activity in communities across the country.

"Canada is a nation built on linkages around the world. The increased presence of international students brings both immediate and long term benefits," said Paul Davidson, President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Today, AUCC released the fourth brochure in a series that examines in the value of a university education. Value of a Degree in a Global Marketplace shows that international student enrolment in Canada's universities has risen for the 15^th year in a row. There are now 90,000 full-time international students studying at Canadian universities - triple the number of students who came to Canada to study in 1998.

Despite this success, international competition to recruit top talent is intensifying. The United States, United Kingdom and Australia are all outpacing Canada. In 2008, the United States attracted nearly half a million international students; the United Kingdom attracted three times that of Canada with 306,000; followed by Australia with 181,000 international students - double the number of international students studying in Canada.

"Canada needs a national strategy and government investment to aggressively build Canada's brand and to help attract the best and the brightest students from around the world," said the AUCC president. "These graduates will help build international, economic, diplomatic and cultural ties and contribute to Canada's competitiveness in the global market." In recent months, Canada's national education stakeholders have formed a marketing consortium, and all of Canada's premiers have identified the need for an international marketing strategy as a key priority.

To download Value of a Degree in a Global Marketplace, go to www.aucc.ca/value.

AUCC is the voice of Canada's universities. It represents 95 Canadian public and not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

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For interviews and information, contact:

Mélanie Béchard
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel: [phone], ext. 306
[email protected]