Advocates for post-secondary students in B.C. are calling for a limit on international tuition increases for B.C. universities.
Aran Armutlu, chairperson for the B.C. Federation of Students, announced a new campaign called Fairness for International Students at Camosun CollegeB次元官网网址檚 Lansdowne campus on Wednesday morning.
The campaign is in response to extraordinary increases in 2018 by the University of Victoria and Kwantlen University, and points out that while domestic tuition fees are limited to a two per cent increase, there is no such limit in place for international tuition increases in the province. UVic voted to raise its international fees 20 per cent this year and Kwantlen 15 per cent over the next two years.
WeB次元官网网址檙e out at today launching our Fairness for International Students campaign. WeB次元官网网址檙e calling on tuition fee regulations to ensure BC remains a desirable destination for International students.
B次元官网网址� BCFS (@TheBCFS)
ItB次元官网网址檚 all part of the funding model in B.C., where international tuition has become a major revenue stream for universities and colleges, said Armutlu.
B次元官网网址淪ince 2006 average tuition fees have increased by 64 per cent in B.C.,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f international students continue to pay as much as five times the amount of tuition fees, and are only offered sub-par support services on campus, then international students will choose a province thatB次元官网网址檚 more affordable, and a country thatB次元官网网址檚 more competitive.B次元官网网址�
International students are the third biggest revenue generator in B.C., bringing in $3.1 billion, behind only wood and mineral exports. International education is also recognized as one of seven major industry sectors in B.C. with agri-foods, mining, forestry, natural gas, technology and transportation, he said.
鲍痴颈肠B次元官网网址檚 shows domestic student tuition as $6,428 for two semesters of standard undergraduate classes compared to $22,783 for international students.
Those figures jump to $9,262 domestic and $28,103 international for 鲍痴颈肠B次元官网网址檚 undergraduate business program, while figures do range slightly depending on programs (all figures include $180 dental and $180 extended health fees). It should be noted there is a bigger gap in undergrad programs, and a smaller gap for grad programs, such as 鲍痴颈肠B次元官网网址檚 Masters of Business Administration program, which costs $10,485 domestic for two semesters compared to $12,876 international.
International students are a big part of our system and our economy. There needs to be fairness and stability for students and for BC. Looking forward to working towards a renewed approach for international education.
B次元官网网址� Aran Armutlu (@AranTheArmenian)
UBC Okanagan in Kelowna currently charges $5,280 to domestic students for two semesters for a fine arts/sciences undergrad compared to around $36,000 to $38,000 for international students starting in 2018.
Like many universities, UBC-O has grandfathered international tuition fees for students who started in 2014, 2015, 2016 or 2017.
As a fifth-year business management undergraduate student at UBC-O, Amal AlhuwayshilB次元官网网址檚 tuition is grandfathered at about $25,000 per year.
But thatB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址楤and-Aid solutionB次元官网网址� and it has to stop, she said.
B次元官网网址淚ncreases are voted by the board of governors, why do they have the power to vote on tuition increases and why isnB次元官网网址檛 this regulated across the province?B次元官网网址� Alhuwayshil asked. B次元官网网址淚t was increased to nine per cent this year, whatB次元官网网址檚 to stop them from raising it more next year?B次元官网网址�
The oldest of eight siblings, Alhuwayshil came here curious to see how life is on the B次元官网网址渙ther side of the world.B次元官网网址�
She is uncertain as to whether sheB次元官网网址檇 like to stay in Canada beyond her education but said going back to Saudi Arabia with fluent English and a degree from a Canadian university is a major competitive advantage.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 why international students come here, to get that Canadian degree,B次元官网网址� she said.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Advanced Eductaion said a tuition cap could create a situation where public post-secondary institutions are not able to recover the full cost of international studentsB次元官网网址� studies.
International students are expected to pay the full cost of their education B次元官网网址� no provincial funding goes to support international student tuition, the statement said.
B次元官网网址淲e know that affordability is a huge issue that affects all students in British Columbia,B次元官网网址� said Minister Melanie Mark. B次元官网网址淭he previous government was focused on simply increasing the number of international students, neglecting this complex situation.B次元官网网址�
Mark said her office will review the report from the B.C. Federation of Students for input into their upcoming strategic framework.
