The International Education Practitioner Program, first announced as a “key component” of the government’s International Education Strategy in 2021, is designed to strengthen the international education program in Saskatchewan.
“The International Education Practitioner Program will deliver international education training to the post-secondary education sector to support a consistent level of understanding and knowledge of international engagement across the province,” advanced education minister Gene Makowsky said.
“This program builds capacity within the sector to host international students and helps meet commitments in Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan by positioning the province as a study destination of choice.”
Some 78 employees of post-secondary education institutions, nominated to participate in the program, are expected to complete the program by March 2023.
The Canadian Bureau for International Education has come on board to deliver the training at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
Courses will cover information on student recruitment and admission practices, international student services and supports, international relations and partnership development practices, and international student mobility specific to Saskatchewan.
“CBIE, Canada’s national voice of the international education sector, is delighted to partner with the government of Saskatchewan in the design and delivery of this innovative and unprecedented capacity-building initiative targeting international education practitioners across the province,” its president and CEO Larissa Bezo said.
“The international education sector is a critical contributor to provincial growth strategies across the country and we applaud the government of Saskatchewan’s vision to standardise and further professionalise this important sector.”
University of Saskatchewan acting director of Strategic Enrolment Management Pirita Mattola hopes the program will provide practitioners with “tremendous opportunities to share their experiences, continue learning as professionals and build stronger networks across our province”.
“[The program will] play a key role in contributing to our collective competitiveness”
“[The program will] play a key role in contributing to our collective competitiveness and responsiveness in a changing international education environment,” she added.
Prior to the pandemic, international students contributed more than CAN$252 million annually to Saskatchewan’s economy.
Under the province’s 2021 strategy for international education, institutions are to “set targets around the number of international students they hope to attract based on their capacity”, as they are best suited to do so, the document from November detailed.
