Colleges in the province are partnering with private institutions to offer courses in southern campuses in an effort to boost revenue. These arrangements, however, raise concerns over students’ pathways to permanent residency.
Colleges in the province are partnering with private institutions to offer courses in southern campuses in an effort to boost revenue. These arrangements, however, raise concerns over students’ pathways to permanent residency.
Ontario’s colleges are forming private-public partnerships to bolster their financial stability. These collaborations – while advantageous – also present a mix of challenges.
Many northern Ontario colleges are reaping significant financial rewards from these arrangements. In the case of Northern College, nearly 60 percent of its total revenues come from international student programs. The additional income is crucial for the colleges as they strive to expand and enhance their offerings.
Concerns surrounding partnerships
However, a report from the Senate of Canada has raised concerns regarding the growing number of international students and the limited availability of permanent residency slots.
This situation poses challenges for students like Guneet Singh Bhullar, Saksham Sharma and Khushdeep Sharma, who aspire to establish businesses after graduation.
These students encounter obstacles in obtaining permanent residency, which could have been more straightforward if they had studied at the primary campus in northern Ontario, making them eligible for programs such as the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program.
Don Curry, an immigration consultant based in North Bay, advises his clients to consider the RNIP as a less competitive alternative to the Express Entry program.
Another pressing issue is housing. Last year, international students at Northern College’s Timmins campus encountered difficulties securing accommodation, often resorting to temporary arrangements.
Education Strategy Associates President Alex Usher points out that northern colleges, by establishing satellite campuses in cities such as Toronto, are effectively transferring their housing challenges to southern Ontario.
Curry highlights that despite the enrollment of thousands of international students, very few choose to remain in the northern region after graduation. This phenomenon raises questions about community integration and the long-term benefits for both colleges and students, resulting in a “northern diploma without a northern experience.”
