International Students: Recruitment, Retention and

Employment Integration Metropolis 16th National Conference

Gatineau QuebecMarch 2014

Dr. Nancy Arthur, Professor and

Canada Research Chair, Werklund

School of Education,

University of Calgary

Melissa Fama, Assistant

Director, NhQ, Immigration,

Citizenship and immigration

Canada

Miranda Cheng, Director, Centre for International

Experience, University of

Toronto

Dr. Dan Cui, Post-Doctoral Scholar, Werklund School

of Education, University of

Calgary

Workshop Presenters

International students who are pursuing employment and permanent immigration

Update on recent immigration policies regarding international students,

Strategies in higher education to support international students,

Views of international students and their accompanying partners regarding employment and social integration.

Topics

Views of International Students

Temporary sojourners Institutional revenue Problematic learners Problematic workers Problematic immigrants Homogeneous group Human capital Preferred immigrants

International Students: Did you know?

.8 million in 1975; 3.7 million in 2009; 8 million by 2025 USA, UK, Germany, France, Australia are top destinations China and India are top source countries Malaysia, Singapore, China are emerging destinations

Recruitment targets 5-25% >100,000 accepted in Canada in 2012 > 60% since 2004 Future increase of 2X International Education: A Key Driver of Canada’s Future Prosperity

International Students in Canada

$8 billion to the Canadian economy, increased from $6.5 billion in 2008

2011 - $10 million investment in international education strategy over 2 years

Increase recruitment 2X < 10 years

7% undergraduates; 20% graduates 1 in 5 IS in college or university previously

attended a private or public secondary school

iStudentCanada new website for educational programs

Research Questions

What helps or hinders international students to be successful in navigating the post-graduation transition to employment and permanent immigration?

How does international student experience translate to a career (dis)advantage?

Research from Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand

Motivating factors to stay in destination countries

Barriers within educational institutions Barriers in immigration policies Barriers in employer practices Barriers created by international students

Education to Employment

Employment opportunities Perceived market conditions Employment culture Gender norms in the workplace Work role opportunities Comparisons between home and host

cultures

Motivating Factors

What they want...

Services specific to international student needs

Services specific to needs at graduation Information on immigration process Help with job search process Concrete help to access local labour market Better understanding of cultural nuances

Doors open, doors shut Access to current information Help to know options Employers often not informed or

misinformed

Immigration Policies

Lack of knowledge about international students as a highly educated source of employees

Ethnocentrism in hiring policies and practices

Bias regarding linguistic diversity and accents

Investment in employment integration Assimilation versus integration of talent Need to document success stories

Employment Practices

School then work Networking skills Learn about local cultural practices Build resources while a student Engage in work/volunteer experience

programs Begin job search in advance of last semester Access available formal and informal support

systems

What International Students Can Do

Increase discourse about career development/employability

Work experience while in academic program Systematic efforts to engage international students

by academic staff, advisors, mentors Connection with experienced students Job search skills and workplace norms Policies focused on recruitment versus employment Adequate staffing of support services

Educational Institutions

Increase competition for international students

International students have increasing choices about where to live and learn and where to pursue permanent immigration

Our capacity to support social integration is critical for academic and employment success.

Recruitment, Retention, Employment and Social Integration