The Student Exchange: China and Canada

1. The Student Exchange: China and Canada Conny Lin, President, Graduate Student Society University of British Columbia Canada-China Academic Forum, 2012 Aug 2-4, Chengdu

2. International Students to Canada from China (1994-2008) http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf

3. http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdfhttp://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf

4. Canadian students in China • 1973 - first group of 20 Canadian students on the Canada-China Scholars Exchange Program, a reciprocal agreement • Approx. 224,000 international students in China now, about 5,000 are Canadian • Canadians going to China has increased 16% annually in the past decade • Chinese Government Scholarship Program increasing funds for international students

5. Global destinations for international students at post-secondary level (2008) http://www.opencanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Flows-of-People-and-the-Canada-China-Relationship-Kenny-Zhang.pdf

6. Advantages: Canadians going to China Educational Business/Economics • Emerging market and economy, Job opportunities • Cultural understanding • Networking in Asia • New language

7. Barriers: Canadians going to China Language Differences in culture Financial support Immigration restrictions

8. Suggestions and Possible Solutions Policy Education More immersion and language programs Exposure to cross-cultural experiences Further develop pre-departure preparation sessions Varied programs (focus, length) • Loosening VISA restrictions • Government funding to attract students • Removing research restrictions • Researcher collaborations

9. The Student Exchange: China and Canada Conny Lin, President, Graduate Student Society University of British Columbia Canada-China Academic Forum, 2012 Aug 2-4, Chengdu