By: Svetlana Soloveva
An increased population of international students benefits the country, Humber advisors say.
The advisers are going to focus on top business talent and international students.
Internalization is the right move because it benefits Canadian culture, says the associate director at the International Centre at Humber.
“International students bring diversity to campus life and enhance the student experience for domestic students,” says Alexander Prokopenko.
Writing Centre coordinator at Humber says there are also economical benefits of the increase in foreign students.
“Let’s say that students who study here are from Malaysia,” says Franc Jamieson. “They do a program at Humber and have a good experience. And they go back to Malaysia for some starting position. At some point, several competitors are trying to get a contract with the Malaysian government towards the Malaysian company. One company from Canada, one from the States and one from Australia. The former Humber student in position of power remembers the experience in Canada and chooses Canadian business.
University of Waterloo student Anita Chen says she chose Canada because it is a very advanced country.
“I really appreciate the educational system in Canada,” says Chen. “We have the choice and freedom to switch our major, etcetera. That is definitely a shining point.”
The numbers of international students at Humber are up 30 percent this year over 2015.
About 3,400 international students are enrolled at Humber in the 2014-2015 academic year. The students come from over one thousand countries, including Japan, China, Russia, Ukraine and Jamaica.
International Centre annual report
The growth in international students from year to year does present challenges, according to an international student advisor at Humber, Laurie Bradford.
“It is very busy for us particularly during the first couple of months of start up because international students have more needs than domestic students,” she says. “Everything is new for them. How do I open a bank account? How do I take the bus here? They have lots of challenges to overcome and adopt.”
However, Bradford says helping students is the best part of her job.
“I think everybody does this because they love their job. So it’s not difficult when we get busy. We are just busy, not anymore,” she says.
The International Centre provides quality services and support programs, including on-campus orientations, The Passport to Success, monthly events, tips and workshops.