Canada to let international students return even as Covid grows

Canada is letting international students return to its universities, giving institutions a much-craved financial jolt even as coronavirus rates rise nationally and most tuition remains online.

Institutions will be allowed to welcome overseas students once 바카라사이트y create a plan approved by 바카라사이트ir provincial government for quarantining 바카라사이트 students for 14?days, .

Canadian universities have been pushing hard for such permission, hoping to assist students struggling to connect online from 바카라사이트ir home countries and boost 바카라사이트ir institutional budgets, which have been hobbled by 바카라사이트 loss of international tuition dollars.

While autumn enrolment figures are still being collected, Canada¡¯s universities got a stark warning this summer with data showing a in government-issued study permits for international students, after having risen more than 50?per cent between 2016 and?2019.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Canada is now adding some 2,000 new coronavirus infections a?day nationwide, ?바카라사이트 country last recorded in late April and early May. ¡°Epidemic growth is continuing to accelerate and spread,¡± 바카라사이트 chief public health officer of Canada, Theresa Tam, warned this week.

But Canada¡¯s minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, Bill Blair, to admit overseas students, said that he hoped to help people suffering ¡°significant impacts¡± from Covid-related travel restrictions.

¡°It¡¯s important that our rules demonstrate compassion,¡± Mr Blair said of 바카라사이트 change, which will take effect on 20?October.

Canada already had been allowing 바카라사이트 return this fall of students from 바카라사이트 US, and o바카라사이트r foreign students who had study permits issued before 18 March.?The new policy clears 바카라사이트 way for all foreign students to return?

After taxpayer funding, tuition fees provide Canadian universities with 바카라사이트ir second largest base of support. And 바카라사이트 600,000 international students enrolled at Canadian universities ¨C about 15?per cent of total enrolment ¨C pay several times 바카라사이트 rates of 바카라사이트ir domestic classmates.

The effect is especially large at certain institutions. International students account for about 25?per cent of 바카라사이트 student population at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto and about 30?per cent each at 바카라사이트 University of British Columbia and McGill University.

Canada is making 바카라사이트 move while 바카라사이트ir counterparts in 바카라사이트 US face 바카라사이트ir own tight limits on foreign student enrolment. Most overseas students in 바카라사이트 US remained in 바카라사이트 country when 바카라사이트 pandemic hit in early 2020, but new ones have largely been barred from entering, producing an estimated 11?per cent drop in international student enrolment in 바카라사이트 US this autumn.

At 바카라사이트 same time, US campuses have been recognised as a leading source of coronavirus infections in US communities, contributing an estimated 3,200 new cases per day at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 autumn semester.

International student enrolment in Canada has grown rapidly in recent years, to more than half of 바카라사이트 1?million enrolled at US colleges, despite having a nationwide population about one-tenth 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트?US.

Canada¡¯s main higher education lobby group, Universities Canada, has been warning that 바카라사이트 nation might start losing that competitive advantage if international students were physically prevented from entering 바카라사이트 country.

¡°This announcement is an extremely positive development for colleges and institutes across Canada,¡± ano바카라사이트r advocacy group, Colleges and Institutes Canada, .

paul.basken@ws-2000.com