The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is tasked with facilitating the settlement of immigrants and refugees in Canada, aiming to promote successful integration into social, cultural, civic, and economic life. Its settlement programs are designed to eliminate barriers to participation by providing essential support services, including employment information, crisis counseling, childcare, language training, and guidance on life in Canada. However, despite international students constituting one of the largest immigrant groups in Canada, the IRCC’s settlement programs offer limited support for their specific needs. This lack of accountability and responsibility is particularly concerning given that the Canadian government benefits significantly from the tuition fees paid and labour provided by these students.
With the recent increase in South Asian international students and the lack of adequate government support, this group has become one of the most marginalized in Canada. Without tailored settlement programs to assist them, these students are vulnerable to various forms of discrimination from consultancy agencies, educational institutions, employers, landlords, and other fraudulent services. Many students find themselves sleeping on friends’ couches or spending nights in tents due to a lack of affordable housing. To save money, some skip meals, while others rely more on food banks. Additionally, many students are working extra hours for significantly less than minimum wage, making them susceptible to exploitation. As fraudulent activities targeting these students become more prevalent, anti-South Asian sentiments are also on the rise, further complicating their situation.
It is imperative to develop robust settlement programs tailored to support this demographic. Collaboration between the IRCC, provincial agencies, and local settlement organizations is essential to address the unique challenges faced by these students. Many South Asian-led non-profits currently lack the capacity to effectively assist newcomers, necessitating discussions about increased settlement funding and resource allocation.
Moreover, it is crucial to interrogate whether international students are receiving the “better” education they were promised. Many higher educational institutions fail to deliver the diverse and “internationalized” curricula that they advertise. Even prestigious universities often rely heavily on Western pedagogical frameworks, neglecting to incorporate inclusive perspectives. Private institutions, sometimes labeled “diploma mills,” frequently lack the necessary resources and campus facilities to provide a comprehensive educational experience, including extracurricular activities, leadership development, and networking opportunities.
This situation raises pressing questions regarding the quality assurance protocols for post-secondary institutions in Canada and their efficacy in ensuring high-quality “international” education, especially given the exorbitant tuition fees that these students pay. It is essential for all levels of government to engage in a dialogue about improving these protocols and addressing the systemic issues within the education system to better serve international students and fulfill the promises made to them.
Policy Recommendations
Develop Tailored Settlement Programs: Create specific settlement programs addressing the unique needs of international students, particularly South Asian students, to facilitate their integration into Canadian society.
Enhance Collaboration: Foster partnerships between IRCC, provincial agencies, and local settlement organizations to improve resource allocation and support for international students.
Increase Funding for Non-Profits: Allocate additional funding to South Asian-led non-profits to expand their capacity to assist newcomers effectively.
Create more collaboration with Community Organizations: Develop a community-institutions collaboration framework for creating support systems for international students.
Implement Quality Assurance Protocols: Establish rigorous quality assurance measures for post-secondary institutions to ensure they provide the promised diverse and inclusive education.
Evaluate Curriculum Diversity: Require educational institutions to regularly assess and enhance their curricula to include diverse perspectives and internationalized content.
Monitor Private Institutions: Strengthen oversight of private educational institutions to ensure they meet necessary standards and provide comprehensive educational experiences.
Support Extracurricular Opportunities: Encourage institutions to invest in extracurricular activities, leadership development, and networking opportunities for international students.
Facilitate Feedback Mechanisms: Implement systems for international students to provide feedback on their educational experiences, helping institutions improve their offerings.
Engage in Continuous Dialogue: Promote ongoing discussions among government levels and educational stakeholders to address systemic issues in the education system affecting international students.
