Canada’s university programs up international component
By Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
AUCC survey reveals increases in most aspects of
internationalizing higher education, but more support needed to ensure
competitiveness in today’s global knowledge economy
OTTAWA (September 13, 2007) —
Canadian universities responded to student
demands by expanding the international focus of degree programs over the past
six years, but a lack of financial support for internationalization and a
coordinated federal strategy continue to be the main obstacles to success,
according to a survey released today by the Association of Universities and
Colleges of Canada.
While the survey indicates increased
institutional funding toward internationalization efforts and a general move
toward including it as a mainstream component of Canadian universities’ overall
strategies, the country needs to build on the progress made over the past six
years to close the gap to competitors, which also continue to step up their
efforts in this critical area.
“Canadian universities continue to broaden
their internationalization activities because it furthers their goal of
providing a high quality education that ensures graduates develop critical
skills they need in the global knowledge economy,” said AUCC president Claire
Morris. “Despite encouraging signs, some persistent challenges remain, such as
scarce finances and the need for a coherent strategy. It is clear that we need
to commit more resources to expanding internationalization in Canadian
universities further to help keep our country competitive over the long term.”
Conducted in 2006, the survey gathered data on
several key facets of internationalization at 64 Canadian universities: student
mobility, internationalization of the curriculum, international development
cooperation, and delivery of education products and services abroad. The last
survey of this type was completed in 2000. Internationalization is the
integration of an international and intercultural dimension into teaching,
learning, research community functions of an institution.
The results underline Canada’s progress on the
international stage in some key areas but also the need for more support to take
Canadian universities’ efforts to the next level.
For example, while there was an increase in
Canadian student mobility between 2000 and 2006, Canada’s performance pales in
comparison to many similar OECD countries. Only 2.2 per cent or about 18,000
full-time students participated in a form of study abroad for credit in 2006.
Although this was an increase from about one percent six years ago, one European
Union program alone, called Erasmus, has helped more than 1.2 million students
on that continent study abroad since 1987.
Some of the other key findings of the survey
include:
81 percent of institutions provide some form
of financial support for Canadian students wishing to study abroad for credit,
up 18-percent since 2000
the number of full-time visa students on
Canadian campuses almost tripled between 1996 (25,500 ) and 2006 (70,000)
69 percent indicated that they offer
scholarships especially targeted to international undergraduate students, an
increase of 33 percent from 2000
62 percent offer targeted scholarships for
international graduate students, up 24 percent from 2000
61 Canadian universities included an
international focus in a total of 356 programs at all levels of study in 2006
66 percent reported enrolment increases in
internationally oriented degree programs, such as international business,
affairs/relations and development
75 per cent of Canadian universities deliver
education and training programs outside Canada and more than two-thirds
actively market education products and services in other countries.
-30-
The AUCC 2006 internationalization survey
update.
More key findings...
AUCC is the voice of Canada's universities. It
represents 92 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and
university-degree level colleges.
For additional information on this release and
AUCC, please contact:
Jeff Pappone
Media relations officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
(613) 563-3961 ext. 330
E-mail:
jpappone@aucc.ca
Source:
http://www.aucc.ca/publications/media/2007/int_survey_09_13_e.html
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