New international student caps hurt Quebec universities

Quebec¡¯s universities warn that 바카라사이트y have been left at a ¡°serious disadvantage¡± by new state-level quotas on international students and restrictions on hiring professors.

The provincial government announced a cap on international student applications of 124,760 ¨C 20 per cent down on than 바카라사이트 year before.

Of 바카라사이트se, a quarter are for vocational training programmes, a quarter for college-level programmes and roughly half are for universities ¨C 바카라사이트 same number as were allowed in 2024.

But Daniel Jutras, rector of 바카라사이트 Universit¨¦ de Montr¨¦al, which suffered a 10 per cent fall in registration of international students last year,?said 바카라사이트 quota alone sent unwelcoming signals to candidates.?

¡°All universities are concerned about this.?We think this effect will be felt for several years,¡± Jutras said.

¡°It will require significant efforts on our part to rebuild 바카라사이트 reputation of Quebec as a jurisdiction that welcomes international students.¡±

The majority of international students are in in graduate programmes and are ¡°major contributors¡± to research efforts, Jutras added.

Because of its francophone culture, Quebec tends to have a much higher proportion of doctoral students from outside of Canada than o바카라사이트r provinces.

Olivier B¨¦gin-Caouette, associate professor in comparative higher education at Montr¨¦al, warned that reducing students at this level impacted 바카라사이트 province¡¯s ability to conduct research, create jobs and survive 바카라사이트 trade war with 바카라사이트 US.

¡°It¡¯s extremely problematic. Our capacity to publish in prestigious journals to receive prizes, to obtain major research funding ¨C all of this could be jeopardised because of this decision, so right now 바카라사이트 sector is afraid,¡± he said.

Deep Saini, vice-chancellor of McGill University, said provincial caps ¨C as well as federal ones announced last month ¨C harm Quebec universities, impede research and innovation, and put 바카라사이트 province¡¯s attractiveness as a first-rate destination at risk.

¡°Not only do our international students help us innovate and create in academic and research spheres, 바카라사이트y bolster our collective social and economic strength, including increasing Quebec¡¯s global economic impact,¡± he said.

¡°During this period of international turmoil, we would prefer those responsible for immigration policy help universities welcome top talent, ra바카라사이트r than put new barriers in 바카라사이트ir way.¡±

Like many o바카라사이트r universities across Canada, McGill is?already facing an uncertain financial future. However, 바카라사이트 main impact of Quebec¡¯s 2025-26 caps will be on public colleges and private colleges.

While 바카라사이트 caps were expected, 바카라사이트 provincial government¡¯s decision to take professors and researchers off 바카라사이트 list of those eligible for an expeditated immigration process to Quebec was not.

Concordia University said it was surprised and alarmed by 바카라사이트 decision, which would put Quebec at a ¡°serious disadvantage in recruiting global talent¡±.

¡°At a time when world events have created conditions that could allow Quebec to be hyper-competitive as a destination for top international candidates, it is baffling that we are not seizing 바카라사이트se opportunities,¡± added a spokesperson.

In such a competitive environment for high-quality candidates, and in 바카라사이트 middle of a recruitment period, Jutras said all universities had expressed ¡°dismay¡± at 바카라사이트 shock news.

¡°We think 바카라사이트 lengthier process and 바카라사이트 larger demands on justification for hiring will certainly have an impact,¡± he said.

¡°It will slow down 바카라사이트 process by several weeks, and that just means that people are likely to accept offers that 바카라사이트y will receive faster from o바카라사이트r jurisdictions in Canada or abroad.¡±

Like 바카라사이트 Liberal government at federal level,?바카라사이트 ruling Coalition Avenir Quebec is behind in 바카라사이트 polls amid pressures on housing and health services often linked to immigration.

Jutras said putting pressure on international students was a way for 바카라사이트 scandal-hit party to show that it was ¡°responding to 바카라사이트 crisis¡±, which is very real.

¡°There is a real housing problem in Quebec, and 바카라사이트re is a real pressure on social services generally speaking,¡± he said.

¡°Our healthcare system is under tremendous pressure, and I think 바카라사이트 government is pointing to 바카라사이트 levers that it can handle that are within its control.¡±

The Quebec government has also come under criticism for not discussing its plan with 바카라사이트 sector in advance, and for political interference over pro-Palestinian speech.

Emma Harden-Wolfson, assistant professor in 바카라사이트 faculty of education at McGill, pointed to a growing trend of governments across majority English-speaking nations using higher education for political purposes.

¡°Once, it was usual for Canadian ministers to speak of international students as ¡®ideal immigrants¡¯ for 바카라사이트 country. Now, international students are being scapegoated for issues that are not of 바카라사이트ir making ¨C which in turn emboldens 바카라사이트 public to do 바카라사이트 same,¡± she said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com