Other Post-Secondary Education Initiatives
Since 2014, CAMET has operated as a lead regional Council in education with oversight responsibility for the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC).
Ministers are committed to sustainable and accountable high-quality post- secondary education systems in each province and continue to promote greater collaboration within the Atlantic region through dialogue with all stakeholders, provincially and regionally.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF POST-SECONDARY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
In February 2018, CAMET released a major study on the economic impact of international students attending Atlantic universities and community colleges. The study, The Economic Impact of Post-Secondary International Students in Atlantic Canada 2018, is an update and expansion of a similar study conducted in 2010 for CAMET.
The following are the major highlights emerging from the 2018 report:
- $795 million in output sales;
- $34,188 in average annual spending per international student in Atlantic Canada;
- $495 million in gross domestic product;
- $329 million worth of income (salaries and wages);
- 6,731 fulltime job equivalents;
- $22 million in tax revenues for the Atlantic provinces and the federal government;
- the program of study, the Canadian reputation, and the cost of education are the major reasons why international students were attracted to Atlantic Canada to study; and
- 65% of international students hope to stay and work in Atlantic Canada upon graduation.
The report also contains valuable information on students’ origins, field of study, attraction, retention, plans after graduation, work, and their overall student experiences. This type of information will assist and guide provincial governments, universities, and community colleges to design and implement support programs aimed at improving recruitment and retention of international students.
ATLANTIC STUDENT TRACKING
The Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET) is proceeding with the implementation of an Atlantic Student Tracking project which will provide access to standardized statistics that are accurate, timely, region- and province-customized, useful, and comparable. Analysis resulting from this initiative will lead to strategic policies that will enhance outcomes for students through improved transitions and pathways within and across public school, post- secondary education and the labour force; and that ultimately may lead to increased post-secondary education participation rates, and improved skills match between education and employment. Better data and analysis have a positive impact on government decisions by:
- Targeting programs and services to their intended recipients
- Evaluating the impact of government programs and policies
- Developing in-depth understanding of the unique pathways of sub-groups of students
- Fostering social innovation and continuous improvement
- Ensuring the investments in K/P-12 and post-secondary education are properly aligned and produce meaningful and measurable results.
The proposed initiative will describe the pathways of students from public to post- secondary education to the labour force through a combination of (when fully implemented): a core administrative data system linking Atlantic postsecondary and public education data; regional outcomes survey data; and pan-Canadian indicators.
The ultimate goal is to improve outcomes for students through improved transitions and pathways within and across public school, post-secondary education and the labour force; and that ultimately may lead to increased post- secondary education participation rates, and improved skills match between education and employment.