Premier Christy Clark wants to increase the number of international students who study in B.C. by 50% within four years, she announced September 20.
International students generate 22,000 jobs and bring an estimated $1.25 billion into the provincial economy. Clark said 10% increase in the number of those students translates into 1,800 new jobs and $100 million to provincial GDP.
“Our universities are job creators,” Clark said. “We are setting clear targets to dramatically increase the number of international students coming to B.C. These students will also help build strong relationships between B.C., Canada and the rest of the world.”
Clark aims to achieve her goal by:
- creating an international education council to build strong relationships in countries such as China, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia;
- leveraging B.C.’s trade offices to help connect international students to B.C.’s educational opportunities;
- working with communities to prepare them to welcome students from abroad;
- strengthening the province’s education quality assurance designation; and
- sending more B.C. students overseas to prepare them to work in a global economy.
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: GlenKorstrom