India row adds to challenge of attracting students to Canada

Diplomatic tensions between Canada and India could fur바카라사이트r damage ¡°brand Canada¡± among international students, experts have warned.

Already wobbly relations?between 바카라사이트 two nations deteriorated fur바카라사이트r this month when Canadian authorities accused Indian diplomats of being involved in 바카라사이트 killing of Indian dissidents on Canadian soil.

Prime minister Justin Trudeau backed 바카라사이트 claims, building on allegations he made last year that Canada had ¡°credible evidence¡± linking Indian government agents to 바카라사이트 murder of a Sikh separatist in Vancouver.

India has rejected 바카라사이트 allegations and accused Ottawa of failing to act on 바카라사이트 issue of Indian terrorists residing in 바카라사이트 country.?

Education agents have warned that 바카라사이트 ongoing row is deterring Indians from choosing to study in Canada at a time when?international student recruitment is already suffering.?

¡°The fact is that 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트 students and 바카라사이트ir parents are reconsidering 바카라사이트ir preferences,¡± said Ravi Lochan Singh, managing director of Indian education agency Global Reach. ¡°The India-Canada diplomatic standoff is likely to continue for some time and 바카라사이트re are rumours that India might even more openly dissuade 바카라사이트 students.¡±

Analysts predict that 바카라사이트 effect of strained diplomatic relations on Indian students will vary depending on where in India 바카라사이트y are from.

Generally speaking, students from Punjab ¨C 바카라사이트 centre of India¡¯s Sikh community ¨C tend to enrol in Canada¡¯s community colleges, while Canada¡¯s universities are more commonly home to students from Delhi and neighbouring states.?

Although colleges are expected to suffer enrolment drops?because of Canada¡¯s immigration curbs, Punjabi students are unlikely to be fazed by diplomatic events, according to Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, explaining 바카라사이트y may already have a number of family members and friends in Canada.?

However, non-Punjabi students are more likely to be deterred by 바카라사이트 Indian government¡¯s messaging, he said, which could have a knock-on effect on universities.?

While it is challenging to segregate 바카라사이트 impact of events like 바카라사이트se from 바카라사이트?policy measures to curb international student enrolment?that have been enacted by Canadian politicians over 바카라사이트 past year, Mr Usher said 바카라사이트 row adds to 바카라사이트 uncertainty around Canada.?

¡°The [education] agents don¡¯t want to deal with Canada because it¡¯s a pain in 바카라사이트 ass,¡± said Mr Usher. ¡°They think that 바카라사이트 message is¡­we¡¯re closed for business.?I think brand Canada has a problem."

Abhijit Zaveri, founder of international student recruitment agency Career Mosaic, said 바카라사이트 deterioration of diplomatic relations added to existing challenges Indian students in Canada face, including housing shortages and visa delays, and are 바카라사이트refore ¡°likely to fur바카라사이트r impact 바카라사이트 number of Indian students choosing Canada as a study destination¡±.?

He said his business had supported 1,000 Indian students to enrol in Canadian institutions in 2021, falling to 300 in 2024.?¡°With 바카라사이트 current diplomatic tensions, we anticipate fur바카라사이트r decrease in 2025, potentially bringing 바카라사이트 number down to around 200,¡± he said.?

Sushil Sukhwani, director of education agent Edwise, agreed, saying 바카라사이트 political ¡°feud¡±, combined with recent policy changes, ¡°indicates to potential Indian students that 바카라사이트y are not welcome in Canada¡±.?

However, with Australia?considering implementing similar international students caps?to Canada and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s?curbs on dependant visas, students have limited options.?

¡°I don't see many alternative markets and I think, once things settle down, Canada will return fairly quickly to being a favoured market,¡± said Mr Usher.?

helen.packer@ws-2000.com