Outbound mobility ÔÇ£vital toolÔÇØ for CanadaÔÇÖs future
A “carefully crafted and adequately funded” strategy to more than double the number of Canadian students abroad has been proposed in a report released by the University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs.
The Global Education for Canadians report, which compares the outbound mobility of students from major destinations as part of their undergraduate program, found Canada sat ahead of only the UK, with 11% of its domestic students going overseas.
Without action, the report argued, the current level of students going abroad threatens to push Canada further behind other countries, with fewer citizens having international experiences and connections, leaving it unprepared for future challenges.
“If we fail to act, these nations rather than ours will produce the next generation of leaders across all sectors,” it noted, adding, “[study abroad] must be seen as a vital tool to equip young Canadians from all walks of life for success.
“Their future, and Canada’s future, depends on it.”
Among the challenges identified, the report highlighted changes to the nature of work, such as increased automation and a higher need for soft skills; a shift in the purchasing power of developing economies over established economies; and increasing levels of intolerance.