College Students Support Internationalization in Post-Secondary Education

TORONTO, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - College students across Ontario support the premise of internationalization, and understand the importance of the Ontario Government's recent announcement of funding for 75 PhD scholarships. Ontario college students, however, do not support the narrowness of the selection as it does not allow for the eligibility of college or university disciplines or a variety of programming.

"Our membership remains concerned about opposing political parties' short sightedness and divisiveness surrounding the issue," replied Justin Fox, President of the College Student Alliance (CSA). "Attempts to pit domestic students against international students are not supported by the membership of the CSA."

To date international students enrolled in Ontario Colleges pay nearly three times the amount of tuition as domestic students do, and face more financial barriers than domestic students in areas such as health plan costs, student services and work visas. 

"The new scholarships should be open to international students who wish to pursue a college as well as a university education and funding should be spread across all study disciplines," said Jim Robeson, Director of Advocacy for CSA.

Ontario college students are asking the Premier to increase funding for all students and to place ceiling on tuition fees across the board, assisting all who seek post secondary education—domestic and international alike. Keeping international intellectual talent in Canada, in Ontario, following graduation is a key element in the future success of our province.

The College Student Alliance (CSA) is an advocacy and leadership organization representing over 135,000 full time Ontario college and college-university students. www.collegestudentalliance.ca

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