In a recent episode of the Illuminations podcast, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia (York University) discusses the impact of Canada’s changing international student system on continuing education (CE) divisions. She highlights how the rapid rate of federal policy change has introduced significant administrative burdens for CE divisions as they race to track new requirements and assist anxious students. Brooks-Cappadocia underlines that because of these changes, some international students are pursuing studies in other countries, which ultimately hurts Canada’s economy by limiting the pipeline of skilled workers. She recommends that CE divisions double-down on providing student support, strengthen employer partnerships to ensure that programs align with industry needs, and work with community agencies to ensure smoother pathways for international talent.
