VOICES AT WORK:The Rights of International Students To Work Off-Campus
- 主题发起人 苦逼热狗
- 开始时间
- 注册
- 2002-10-12
- 消息
- 47,111
- 荣誉分数
- 2,376
- 声望点数
- 393
BACKGROUND
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), currently, over 100,000 international students are enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions (Citizenship and Immigration Canada. http://ww.cic.gc.ca [10 June 2001]). Despite this significant presence, there is little awareness of their experiences or recognition of their important contribution to Canadian society. The purpose of Voices at Work is to fill this vacuum by creating awareness about the difficulties encountered by international students in Canada. Despite the existence of a variety of organizations specialized in promoting international learning, such as the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CIBE) and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), the voices of international students have seldom been heard. Voices at Work is the first research of its kind, entirely realized by international students on international students. It provides a first-hand examination of the experience of international students in Canada as seen by international students. It voices the plea of international students to the Federal government to be given equal educational opportunities and living standards by removing the existing off-campus employment restrictions. Voices at Work attempts to paint a truer picture of international students in Canada. Their image is permeated with numerous stereotypes and generalizations based on assumptions about their wealth and social status that can negatively distort the perception Canadians have. Misconceptions generally stem from the fact that, among the basic requirements for obtaining a student authorization, potential international students are required to prove that they have enough money during their stay in Canada to pay for international tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation for themselves and accompanying dependents (Citizenship and Immigration Canada. http://www.cic.gc.ca [10 June 2001]). With international student fees at an average cost of $10,000 a year, all international students are believed to be coming from extremely wealthy families. The reality is that only a small number of international students are actually wealthy, while the vast majority are either sponsored by their middle-income families or talking out loans from their own governments, and struggle to get by on a daily basis (CBIE,1999).
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), currently, over 100,000 international students are enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions (Citizenship and Immigration Canada. http://ww.cic.gc.ca [10 June 2001]). Despite this significant presence, there is little awareness of their experiences or recognition of their important contribution to Canadian society. The purpose of Voices at Work is to fill this vacuum by creating awareness about the difficulties encountered by international students in Canada. Despite the existence of a variety of organizations specialized in promoting international learning, such as the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CIBE) and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), the voices of international students have seldom been heard. Voices at Work is the first research of its kind, entirely realized by international students on international students. It provides a first-hand examination of the experience of international students in Canada as seen by international students. It voices the plea of international students to the Federal government to be given equal educational opportunities and living standards by removing the existing off-campus employment restrictions. Voices at Work attempts to paint a truer picture of international students in Canada. Their image is permeated with numerous stereotypes and generalizations based on assumptions about their wealth and social status that can negatively distort the perception Canadians have. Misconceptions generally stem from the fact that, among the basic requirements for obtaining a student authorization, potential international students are required to prove that they have enough money during their stay in Canada to pay for international tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation for themselves and accompanying dependents (Citizenship and Immigration Canada. http://www.cic.gc.ca [10 June 2001]). With international student fees at an average cost of $10,000 a year, all international students are believed to be coming from extremely wealthy families. The reality is that only a small number of international students are actually wealthy, while the vast majority are either sponsored by their middle-income families or talking out loans from their own governments, and struggle to get by on a daily basis (CBIE,1999).
- 注册
- 2002-10-12
- 消息
- 47,111
- 荣誉分数
- 2,376
- 声望点数
- 393
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES
Previous research projects have failed to effectively voice the concerns of international students in Canada, and reinforce the reality that international student issues are not adequately addressed, especially in regard to off-campus employment restrictions (Sefa Dei, 1992). Restrictions placed on international students by the Federal government impact negatively on them by undermining their ability to support themselves during their stay in Canada (CBIE, 1999). In addition to financial constraints, off-campus employment restrictions compromise the quality of the education pursued by international students. Limited on-campus employment opportunities coupled by the lack of practical school-related work experience reduce significantly the value of the education and quality of life for international students in Canada.
Canada benefits directly from having international students enrolled in its post-secondary institutions. International students pay an average of $10,000 per year in tuition fees at the undergraduate level, and between $10,000 and $13,000 per year at the graduate level. Including their living expenses, international students bring into the Canadian economy $2.7 billion per year, which makes them “Canada’s hidden export” (Parliament of Canada, Standing Committee on citizenship and Immigration. http://www.parl.gc.ca/ [26 April 2001]). Continuous involvement in international education produces additional economic benefits. Shared and enhanced development of cross-cultural knowledge and human resources represent important strategies to improve global competitiveness and innovation (The Conference Board of Canada, 1999).
The contribution of international students goes beyond numbers or financial benefits. They enrich the Canadian academic and cultural life by increasing diversity on University campuses and by sharing different ideas and values (Diambomba, 1993). Demographically, international students represent a category of desirable immigrants equipped with a Canadian post-secondary education as well as an in-depth understanding of Canadian society. In a survey conducted by the CBIE in 1999, 19% of all international students said that they planned to stay permanently in Canada upon graduation, a fact that would positively meet Canada’s efforts to attract the 250,000 immigrants per year that are needed to sustain its economy (CBIE, 1999).
The existing off-campus employment restrictions for international students need to be removed if Canada wants to keep benefiting from their presence. Australia, France, the United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom allow international students to work off-campus up to 15-20 hours a week during school and unrestricted hours during the holidays (AUCC, 2000). Canada is the only English-speaking country that imposes off-campus work restrictions on international students and, as a result, the rates of student inflows are rapidly declining (The Conference Board of Canada, 1999). With Voices at Work, international students appeal to the Federal government to stop treating them like “cash cows”, and to start considering them like human beings.
Previous research projects have failed to effectively voice the concerns of international students in Canada, and reinforce the reality that international student issues are not adequately addressed, especially in regard to off-campus employment restrictions (Sefa Dei, 1992). Restrictions placed on international students by the Federal government impact negatively on them by undermining their ability to support themselves during their stay in Canada (CBIE, 1999). In addition to financial constraints, off-campus employment restrictions compromise the quality of the education pursued by international students. Limited on-campus employment opportunities coupled by the lack of practical school-related work experience reduce significantly the value of the education and quality of life for international students in Canada.
Canada benefits directly from having international students enrolled in its post-secondary institutions. International students pay an average of $10,000 per year in tuition fees at the undergraduate level, and between $10,000 and $13,000 per year at the graduate level. Including their living expenses, international students bring into the Canadian economy $2.7 billion per year, which makes them “Canada’s hidden export” (Parliament of Canada, Standing Committee on citizenship and Immigration. http://www.parl.gc.ca/ [26 April 2001]). Continuous involvement in international education produces additional economic benefits. Shared and enhanced development of cross-cultural knowledge and human resources represent important strategies to improve global competitiveness and innovation (The Conference Board of Canada, 1999).
The contribution of international students goes beyond numbers or financial benefits. They enrich the Canadian academic and cultural life by increasing diversity on University campuses and by sharing different ideas and values (Diambomba, 1993). Demographically, international students represent a category of desirable immigrants equipped with a Canadian post-secondary education as well as an in-depth understanding of Canadian society. In a survey conducted by the CBIE in 1999, 19% of all international students said that they planned to stay permanently in Canada upon graduation, a fact that would positively meet Canada’s efforts to attract the 250,000 immigrants per year that are needed to sustain its economy (CBIE, 1999).
The existing off-campus employment restrictions for international students need to be removed if Canada wants to keep benefiting from their presence. Australia, France, the United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom allow international students to work off-campus up to 15-20 hours a week during school and unrestricted hours during the holidays (AUCC, 2000). Canada is the only English-speaking country that imposes off-campus work restrictions on international students and, as a result, the rates of student inflows are rapidly declining (The Conference Board of Canada, 1999). With Voices at Work, international students appeal to the Federal government to stop treating them like “cash cows”, and to start considering them like human beings.
- 注册
- 2002-10-12
- 消息
- 47,111
- 荣誉分数
- 2,376
- 声望点数
- 393
METHODOLOGY
This project was conducted at Carleton University and at the University of Ottawa between January and April, 2001. After having assessed its validity through a preliminary test on three Carleton international students, a questionnaire containing thirty-three questions on the effects of employment restrictions was circulated among international students on both campuses. Approximately 400 surveys were randomly handed out to Carleton students and approximately 50 to students from the University of Ottawa: the distributing process was facilitated by the cooperation of both International Student advisors (ISAs) and the assistance of the on-campus, student-run International Students’ Centres. By the end of April, 267 completed questionnaires were returned by Carleton students and 24 by international students at the University of Ottawa, with response rates of respectively 66.75% and 48%. Given the limited resources available and the difficulties in reaching out the international students, these response rates can be considered an impressively successful achievement as well as an outstanding demonstration of international students’ concern with off-campus employment restrictions.
This project was conducted at Carleton University and at the University of Ottawa between January and April, 2001. After having assessed its validity through a preliminary test on three Carleton international students, a questionnaire containing thirty-three questions on the effects of employment restrictions was circulated among international students on both campuses. Approximately 400 surveys were randomly handed out to Carleton students and approximately 50 to students from the University of Ottawa: the distributing process was facilitated by the cooperation of both International Student advisors (ISAs) and the assistance of the on-campus, student-run International Students’ Centres. By the end of April, 267 completed questionnaires were returned by Carleton students and 24 by international students at the University of Ottawa, with response rates of respectively 66.75% and 48%. Given the limited resources available and the difficulties in reaching out the international students, these response rates can be considered an impressively successful achievement as well as an outstanding demonstration of international students’ concern with off-campus employment restrictions.
