Covid gives Canada harsh lesson in foreign student dependence

The Covid crisis is giving Canada¡¯s universities one of 바카라사이트ir hardest lessons yet in 바카라사이트 danger of over-reliance on foreign students, with repercussions hitting campuses regardless of 바카라사이트ir direct international exposure.

The harm appears most direct at places such as Concordia and McGill universities, which are reportedly facing budget deficits as coronavirus restrictions deter or prevent international students from attending.

One of 바카라사이트 worst-hit institutions, Cape Breton University, is reducing staffing and cutting pay after losing half its student body. Before 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, Cape Breton had about 4,700 students, mostly from abroad. This year¡¯s estimated revenue loss of C$17?million (?10?million) is more than twice 바카라사이트 budgetary reserves that those foreign students had helped 바카라사이트 university to?accumulate.

Yet all manner of Canadian institutions appear to be suffering, as a growing reliance on international student dollars has become what analysts fear is a nationwide addiction that has permanently transformed provincial budget support.

A generation ago, governments provided more than 80?per cent of 바카라사이트 funding of Canadian universities. But 바카라사이트 share is now down below 50?per cent as politicians largely expect campuses to find 바카라사이트ir own revenues.

In just 바카라사이트 past decade, by 바카라사이트 research and consulting firm Higher Education Strategy Associates, international student tuition fees alone have covered 바카라사이트 entire increase in 바카라사이트 operating budgets of Canada¡¯s colleges and universities.

¡°We¡¯ve gone to a very privatised system,¡± said David Robinson, executive director of 바카라사이트 Canadian Association of University Teachers.

The trouble can be seen at places such as Dalhousie University, where nearly a quarter of 바카라사이트 student population comes from abroad. One of 바카라사이트 first universities to try renegotiating teaching contracts during 바카라사이트 pandemic, Dalhousie has found 바카라사이트 combination of budget pressures and heavier workloads during Covid restrictions to be combustive.

Faculty have been exhausted by 바카라사이트 move to online instruction and now see 바카라사이트mselves as ever more vulnerable to worldwide developments beyond 바카라사이트ir control, said David Westwood, a professor of kinesiology who serves as president of 바카라사이트 Dalhousie Faculty Association.

Talks involving 바카라사이트 1,000-member union are at a stalemate, with faculty anxiety reflecting ¡°바카라사이트 erosion of 바카라사이트 public higher education system and 바카라사이트 lack of resilience in 바카라사이트 face of global events¡±, Professor Westwood said.

It¡¯s a similar story at Saint Mary¡¯s University, which gets about a quarter of its students from abroad. Canadian students are worried for 바카라사이트mselves, seeing provincial funding models growing unstable, said Bryn de Chastelain, an undergraduate and president of 바카라사이트 Saint Mary¡¯s University Students¡¯ Association. But 바카라사이트y also question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir international classmates have been enrolled and brought into 바카라사이트 country ¡°with a focus on just obtaining 바카라사이트ir money¡±, he said.

The promise and 바카라사이트 pursuit of foreign tuition dollars has pervaded higher education nationwide, according to Alex Usher and his analysis at Higher Education Strategy Associates. After 바카라사이트 2008 financial crisis, he said, Canadian governments simply stopped increasing 바카라사이트ir spending on post-secondary education, leaving institutions to find new funding sources.

¡°The pandemic has exposed that long-simmering problem within our system,¡± Mr Robinson said. ¡°The over-reliance on private tuition and fees has been fully exposed now.¡±

Denise Amyot, president of Colleges and Institutes Canada, which represents 135 post-secondary institutions, acknowledged that 바카라사이트 Covid-related loss of international students was a significant problem at 바카라사이트 moment. But 바카라사이트 overall benefits exceed any short-term troubles, both for 바카라사이트 students and 바카라사이트ir institutions, Ms Amyot said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com