The toolkit, developed by SAIT’s International Centre and Career Advancement Services, draws on articles, literature reviews, research, and interviews with nine industry leaders to provide comprehensive insights and information on leveraging the benefits of international talent in the workplace.
The South Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) has launched a toolkit providing insights into the advantages of international talent in the workplace, along with guidance on overcoming common barriers in attracting, hiring, onboarding, and engaging diverse employees.
SAIT Toolkit goals
The toolkit aims to foster an inclusive environment that not only retains but also maximizes the benefits of a diverse workforce.
The toolkit, developed by SAIT’s International Centre and Career Advancement Services, draws on articles, literature reviews, research, and interviews with nine industry leaders to provide comprehensive insights and information on leveraging the benefits of international talent in the workplace.
SAIT emphasizes the importance of Canada’s International Education Strategy in ensuring the nation’s workforce is equipped with the necessary skills for global competitiveness.
Diversity and Inclusion
International students and graduates bring diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, providing unique perspectives, cultural competence, and global skills that enhance team diversity and performance.
Diverse companies consistently achieve higher economic outcomes than their less diverse counterparts. Research indicates that every 1 percent increase in ethnocultural diversity results in a 2.4 percent boost in revenue and a 0.5 percent increase in workplace productivity.
According to the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, international students and graduates contribute diverse knowledge, unique experiences, and fresh perspectives, fostering innovation, creativity, and improved problem-solving and decision-making within a team.
International students and graduates often bring global work experience, additional knowledge, and skills from their previous education, providing employers with a competitive advantage. Their resilience, adaptability, and ability to embrace change are honed through international experiences, contributing to a team’s agility in navigating challenges and market shifts.
Companies fostering diversity and inclusivity gain a competitive edge in attracting talent from diverse and domestic pools. Glassdoor’s 2020 Diversity Hiring Survey revealed that 76 percent of job seekers consider diversity important when evaluating companies, with 32 percent stating they wouldn’t apply to non-diverse companies.
Advantageous international talent
International talent provides a strategic advantage for organizations navigating a global economy. With global skills, diverse networks, cultural intelligence, and multilingual abilities, they contribute to an expanded customer base, new business development, and opportunities for global connections and collaborations in the future.
A 2021 survey by the Canadian Bureau for International Education revealed that 72.6 percent of international students plan to stay and settle in Canada after their studies. Additionally, 19.9 percent expressed uncertainty about their future plans, while only 7.4 percent indicated that they had no plans to stay.
IRCC’s new policy
Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller is setting into motion a series of policy reforms that are expected to impact international students in the country—among them an update to financial requirements and work hour limits. These changes are seen as pivotal for the students, educational advisors, and recruitment partners navigating the Canadian immigration landscape.
The key change is the increase in the minimum financial requirement for study permit applications, from CDN$10,000 to CDN$20,635, effective January 1, 2024. This adjustment, the first in nearly two decades, mirrors the escalating cost of living in Canada.
Historically, international students needed to prove they could support themselves with CDN$10,000 annually, aside from tuition and travel expenses. The new figure of CDN$20,635 more realistically aligns with current living expenses, addressing the gap between previous financial requirements and the actual cost of living in Canadian cities.
“The cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants has not changed since the early 2000s, when it was set at CDN$10,000 for a single applicant. As such, the financial requirement hasn’t kept up with the cost of living over time, resulting in students arriving in Canada only to learn that their funds aren’t adequate.
Importance of diversity during International Education Week
During International Education Week, from Nov. 13 to 17, various institutions organized an array of activities, highlighting the richness of global cultures and the importance of international education in today’s interconnected world.
The Community College Initiative Program played a pivotal role in this nationwide celebration. CCI partner institutions across the US hosted numerous events to mark IEW. These included cultural fashion shows, talent exhibitions, global food potlucks, and informative workshops.
The initiative provided a platform for exchange students to showcase their cultures and traditions, enriching the educational landscape for both international and local students. The diverse activities offered insights into the customs and traditions of students from around the globe, thereby strengthening community bonds and promoting cultural understanding.
