The Student Exchange: China and Canada

Conny Lin, President, Graduate Student SocietyUniversity of British Columbia

Canada-China Academic Forum, 2012 Aug 2-4, Chengdu

http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf

International Students to Canada from China (1994-2008)

http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf

Canadian students in China• 1973 - first group of 20 Canadian

students on the Canada-China Scholars Exchange Program, a reciprocal agreement

• Approx. 224,000 international students in China now, about 5,000 are Canadian

• Canadians going to China has increased 16% annually in the past decade

• Chinese Government Scholarship Program increasing funds for international students

http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf

Global destinations for international students at post-secondary level (2008)

Advantages: Canadians going to China

Cultural understanding

New language

Educational Business/Economics

Emerging market and economy, Job opportunities

Networking in Asia

Barriers: Canadians going to ChinaLanguage

Financial support

Differences in culture

Immigration restrictions

Suggestions and Possible Solutions

Policy

• Loosening VISA restrictions

• Government funding to attract students

• Removing research restrictions

• Researcher collaborations

Education• More immersion and

language programs• Exposure to cross-

cultural experiences• Further develop pre-

departure preparation sessions

• Varied programs (focus, length)

The Student Exchange: China and Canada

Conny Lin, President, Graduate Student SocietyUniversity of British Columbia

Canada-China Academic Forum, 2012 Aug 2-4, Chengdu