Canada has emerged as a top country in the list of favored destinations for immigrants for the purpose of migration or higher studies.
A report by Education.com at the end of last year ranks Canada among the top ten places to study for international students. The ranking is not without reason. The strong infrastructure, modern curriculum and well-equipped campuses of Canadian universities make it a choice destination to study abroad.
Reasons to study in Canada
- Numerous research opportunities
- Migration after completion of the course
- Vibrant campus environment
- International students can work during their course
- Successful internships
In the ranking for 2020 by Education.com Canada is followed by Australia and then by Germany and Switzerland.
The Canadian government realizes the contribution of international students to the economy. There are more than 400,000 international students in the country who contribute around 22 billion dollars to the economy annually.
A white paper written by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), the post-secondary education organization recognized the importance of students in Canada’s economic recovery after the pandemic. According to Denise Amyot, president and CEO of CICan, “Colleges and institutes are ideally placed to support Canadians and help their communities recover in the months ahead.’’
The white paper recognizes the contribution of international students in meeting the innovation and skill development needs of local employers.
International students who work here have the possibility of immigration after completing their course. They can apply for a PR visa once their course is over.
The Canadian government offers options for international students to stay after their course and gain some work experience. The IRCC provides a Post-Graduate Work Permit Program. Under this program, international graduates can get an open work permit valid for three years. They can work for any employer in this period. This also gives them the skilled work experience which is crucial to the success of their PR visa application.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit or PGWP is crucial for international students to gain the Canadian work experience which is a significant factor when applying for permanent residence.
Migrant friendly country
Canada also scored high on the Migration Policy Index brought out by the Migration Policy Group for its friendly and progressive immigration policies.
Canada is planning to welcome 1,233,000 new permanent residents over the next three years to help propel an economic recovery after the negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. It will be focusing in high immigration targets— more than 400,000 new permanent residents in the next three years. Canada wants migrants with skills and experience to close the skills shortage in its industries.
Potential immigrants are only too eager to migrate to Canada for various positive reasons. These include:
Efficient immigration system: Canada has numerous immigration programs to suit various requirements. The streamlined immigration process helps to recruit skilled foreign workers and facilitates their integration in the Canadian society.
Job opportunities: The Conference Board asserts that Canada’s economy could grow by 6.7 per cent in 2021 and by 4.8 per cent in 2022.
The following sectors are expected to have around 15,000 job openings across Canada over the next five years.
- Healthcare
- Business and finance
- Engineering
- Technology
- Legal
- Community and social service
There is a scarcity of labor in the economic sector as Canada is one of the developed nations. To fill this void, the government has set a goal of welcoming 1 million foreigners as permanent residents to Canada by 2021. The goal for 2021 is to hire 341,000 skilled young workers as citizens.
Fortunately, many of the occupations in demand for the next five years provide great earning opportunities and, due to labor shortages, employers would need qualified employees. The government has begun initiatives for faster visa processing to achieve this goal.
Multicultural society: Nearly 20% of the population in Canada are of foreign origin which makes it a truly multi-cultural society. Big cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal have significant percentage of immigrant population. The diverse nature of the population indicates the inclusive nature of Canadian society.
Canadian residents have embraced multiculturalism where people from different cultures, ethnic background, religion and heritage live in harmony.
Safe country: Canada ranks sixth in the 2020 Global Peace Index released by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The countries are ranked on political stability, diplomatic relations, ongoing conflicts, terrorism impact, and other factors. Canada has a strong gun control policy.
These are the major reasons why Canada tops the list of favorite destinations for migrants for overseas work or study. Immigrants who move to Canada are only too happy to continue staying here.