B.C. sets higher standards, strengthens protections for international students

Press Release

July 15, 2024

VICTORIA – The Province is strengthening supports to ensure the highest quality education for international post-secondary students.

“We welcome international students to B.C. and we want them to have a great experience when they arrive here, anchored by quality education and supports that are meaningful, relevant and will set them up for further success,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “That’s why we are building on the enhancements we made in January to ensure that international students coming to B.C. are successful, supported and protected.”

The Province is introducing new protections for international students by setting higher standards and more rigorous requirements for institutions enrolling international students. Among these protections is a new Education Quality Assurance (EQA) code of practice, which will require institutions to meet higher standards for student support and protection in order to be eligible to enrol international students.

New strengthened standards include:

• clear and accurate marketing and promotional information;
• accountability for education agents;
• tuition transparency; and
• better information about student supports, including academic and housing support, well-being and health.

“Our commitment is clear: we’re dedicated to upholding the integrity of B.C.’s education sector and protecting international students,” said Ravi Parmar, Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials. “I want international students to know that we’ve got their back.”

The new measures include guidelines for public institutions, as well as targeted measures for private institutions.

Some of the guidelines issued for public institutions include:

• limiting international enrolment to 30% of an institution’s total enrolment;
• providing tuition-fee transparency to prevent unexpected international student fee increases; and
• requiring the development of new international education strategic plans, improved student services, housing supports, and standards to ensure Indigenous and domestic students are not displaced.

The EQA designation certifies that institutions meet or exceed the institutional quality assurance standards set by the Province and is required for all public and private institutions enrolling international students.

“International students come to British Columbia hoping for a great education experience and many hope to enter the workforce after they complete their studies,” says Prince Solanki, an international student from Camosun College and external executive with the student society. “Ensuring students have access to a range of services and supports along the way is critical to ensuring they succeed and thrive. The strengthened standards being introduced by the B.C. government are one more welcome addition to strengthen the protections offered to international students like me.”

The second phase of the International Education Framework builds on measures introduced in January 2024, which paused the growth of institutions offering international education and strengthened oversight of private training institutions, including increasing inspections, strengthening and publishing compliance and enforcement actions, and setting higher standards for distance delivery.

Quick Facts:

• B.C. has approximately 553,000 post-secondary students, which includes domestic and international students in the public and private sectors.
• Of those, more than 217,600 are international post-secondary students from more than 150 countries.
• Approximately 111,900 international students in B.C. are at public post-secondary institutions and approximately 105,700 international students are at private post-secondary institutions.

Learn More:

To learn about the first phase of the International Education Framework, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024PSFS0002-000094

To learn about attestation letters for international students, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024PSFS0006-000270

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
Media Relations
604 209-7629

BACKGROUNDER

What to know about the new measures taken

Phase 2 of the International Education Framework will raise education quality and integrity standards and strengthen protections at post-secondary institutions enrolling international students.

Changes to the Province’s Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation, which all post-secondary institutions must hold to enrol international students, include:

• requiring institutions deliver at least 50% of the program in person to international students;
• having appropriate locations controlled by the institution;
• having staff to support international students; and
• ensuring compliance with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reporting.

The new EQA code of practice that EQA-designated institutions must agree to improves protections for students by requiring clear and accurate marketing and promotional information, accountability for education agents, tuition transparency, housing assistance, academic supports, and student health and safety.

Not abiding by the code of practice could result in an institution losing its EQA designation and no longer being able to accept international students.

Private degree-granting institutions will see changes, including:

• labour market alignment for degree programs;
• requirements that institutions manage enrolment in a manner appropriate for their infrastructure, student resources and services;
• increased fees for existing application fees and fees for the conduct of review; and
• an additional annual fee for private and out-of-province degree-granting institutions.

New measures for private training institutions will set a higher bar to be designated under the Private Training Act (PTA), including:

• requiring greater program content standards;
• improving protections for students at private training institutions, including:
  • more generous refund policies;
  • shorter maximum terms on contracts; and
  • banning high-pressure sales.
• increased fees for institutions regulated under the PTA will help expand the Province’s capacity to regulate and enforce higher standards; and
• prohibiting high-pressure sales and recruitment tactics.

Contact:

Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
Media Relations
604 209-7629

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