The number of international students in Canada has steadily increased over the last decade, contributing approximately $22 billion to the Canadian economy, and an estimated $5.1 billion in annual revenues to Canadian universities.

Pegged by the federal government as a key source of talent for the growth and sustenance of the Canadian economy, international students are sought to relieve our national demographic imbalance created by an aging population and declining birth rates.

Canada’s International Education Strategy also seeks international students to address our skilled labour shortages.

The question, however, is not whether international students are needed, but rather if they are valued.

Read the full article written by PhD candidate Isaac Garcia-Sitton on The Conversation Canada website.