OP-ED: Welcoming International Students in Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS - As school resumes, affordability and housing are top of mind for students. Particularly, international students face increased struggles as newcomers without pre-existing support networks. International enrolment has jumped 67% since 2017 with 1 in 4 students in Nova Scotia being from outside of Canada, yet supports for these students haven’t kept pace with growth.
International student contributions comprise much of the $1.5 billion in export revenue generated by Nova Scotian universities, with 83% of Canadian international graduates hoping to stay and work here. Over 75% of Canadian international students work in-study, mediating shortages in sectors like construction and healthcare. Despite their contributions to a province facing housing and healthcare crises while pursuing population growth, supports for international students remain limited.
The lack of standardized recruitment practices warrants inconsistent pre-arrival information in addition to unpredictable tuition costs. Barriers persist in accessing experiential learning, culturally relevant supports and provincial healthcare, and despite being told to find housing pre-arrival, institutional support for off-campus housing is largely non-existent.
Gone are the days when we could say, “figure out housing on your own”. Students must be adequately housed in order to pursue their education. So, institutions must take responsibility for increasing international support through measures like Off-Campus Housing Offices, tenancy education and institutional student housing plans. But addressing student housing must be a collaborative effort with all orders of government; across Canada, we've seen the consequences of growing international enrolment without proactive involvement and planning with all stakeholders.
While universities must do more, the province is uniquely positioned to develop best practices for consistent, proportional supports - or at minimum, informed decision-making. Models to explore include Colleges Ontario’s sector-wide standard for ethical recruitment practices, agent training and housing and employment support. The province could also lead development of an International Education Charter with buy-in from municipalities, institutions and stakeholders.
International students make integral contributions to society, and we need better support systems to ensure they thrive. The province and Nova Scotian universities are renegotiating their five-year Memorandum of Understanding dictating funding, fees, and accountability. Proactive, consistent, high-quality international student support must be top of mind to grow our economy, strengthen our workforce, and drive innovation.
Matt Doyle is the Chair of Students Nova Scotia, and VP External with the St. FX Students’ Union. Students Nova Scotia is the largest student advocacy group in the province, representing over 20,000 postsecondary students at Acadia, Cape Breton, St. FX and Saint Mary’s Universities.