CBIE Proposes 'Center of Excellence' to Revive Canada's International Education
The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) has proposed the creation of a 'Center of Excellence' to bolster international education research and coordination. This comes amidst significant impacts on the sector due to recent policy changes by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
CBIE president Larissa Bezo highlighted the serious and long-lasting effects of IRCC's policies over the past 20 months. The introduction of study permit caps in January 2024 led to plummeting approval rates and increased processing times. Consequently, the total number of study permits issued in 2025 is expected to fall far below the government's target, following a 48% reduction in 2024. In the first half of 2025 alone, application volumes were down by roughly 50% compared to the previous year.
New international student arrivals have also taken a hit, declining by 71% between January and June 2025. Bezo testified that Canada is no longer competitive in attracting global talent due to these policy changes. The sector has seen significant closures and job losses, with Canadian institutions announcing 35 site closures, 863 program suspensions, and the loss of over 10,000 jobs since fall 2024. Furthermore, Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) approvals are predicted to fall by 30% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Bezo called for a period of government policy stability and predictability to allow the education sector and Canada's global brand to heal. She also noted that 88% of recent survey respondents cited post-study work opportunities as a top concern when choosing a study destination.
The proposed 'Center of Excellence' aims to enhance global talent strategies through collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based policy development. However, the CBIE president's testimony underscores the urgent need for policy stability and predictability to reverse the declining trends in international education and restore Canada's competitiveness in attracting global talent.
