The Student Exchange:
China and Canada
Conny Lin, President, Graduate Student Society
University of British Columbia
Canada-China Academic Forum, 2012 Aug 2-4, Chengdu
International Students to Canada from China
(1994-2008)
25%
75%
China
All others
http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf
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
2%
all others
Canadian
98%
Global destinations for international students at
post-secondary level (2008)
http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf
Advantages: Canadians going to China
Educational
Cultural understanding
New language
Business/Economics
Emerging market and
economy, Job opportunities
Networking in Asia
Barriers: Canadians going to China
Language
Differences in culture
Financial support
Immigration restrictions
Suggestions and Possible Solutions
Policy
Education
• Loosening VISA
restrictions
• Government funding to
attract students
• Removing research
restrictions
• Researcher
collaborations
• More immersion and
language programs
• Exposure to crosscultural experiences
• Further develop predeparture preparation
sessions
• Varied programs (focus,
length)
The Student Exchange:
China and Canada
Conny Lin, President, Graduate Student Society
University of British Columbia
Canada-China Academic Forum, 2012 Aug 2-4, Chengdu