B.C. Strengthens Quality Standards For International Education

BC has introduced new measures to help safeguard international students in the province.

“International students come here for a good education, but too many are being exploited or taken advantage of,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

“That’s why we’re introducing more stringent requirements for institutions and robust safeguards to protect international students against bad actors, provide them with a better path to success, and make sure B.C. continues to attract the talented students we need to fill significant gaps in the labour market and drive our economy forward.”

The new rules will help prevent institutions from taking advantage of international students and will eliminate private institutions’ ability to host international students if they are unable to meet the provincial standards for quality education.

Key changes include more frequent inspections of private post-secondary institutions to ensure the new standards are met and that students are properly supported; higher standards for private degree programs, including higher assessment criteria for degree quality, demonstrated labour-market need for graduates and appropriate resources, and student supports.

The federal government recently announced limits on international student enrolment at post-secondary institutions, and the Province says it is working to align with the new requirements.

B.C. has approximately 545,000 post-secondary students, which includes domestic and international students in the public and private sectors.

Of those, more than 175,000 are international post-secondary students from more than 150 countries.

To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.