INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

What is International Education?

For the purposes of International Education Week, "international education" may broadly include, but is not necessarily limited to:

• International students studying in Canada;
• Canadians studying and teaching abroad;
• International exchange of knowledge and research, of learning technologies and methodologies, and of faculty and staff of learning institutions;
• Internationalization of Canadian curricula and campus life; and
• Canadian contributions to improving the quality and accessibility of schooling in developing countries.

It may involve formal, non-formal or informal learning at all stages of the lifecycle. In short, international education speaks to a culture of Canadian learning immersed in a global setting. It is learning from, for and of the world beyond our borders.

What are the Benefits of International Education?

The positive impacts of international education are broad such as:

• International education develops internationally and interculturally knowledgeable graduates;
• International education creates an enhanced opportunity for research and learning;
• International education develops a worldwide network of academics and graduates;
• International education has a significant economic impact on the country and is a major Canadian service sector export; and
• International students return to their home countries with an understanding of Canadian people and culture – the foundation for future academic, political and economic linkages.