A consortium of all major educators has been formed to strengthen Canada’s efforts in encouraging more international students into the country. The agreement, signed in Ottawa last week will see a major marketing campaign, hoping to bring in the best and brightest international students to their universities.

The Canadian Government and provincial authorities began work on this campaign several years ago, incorporating a number of colleges and universities to develop a strategy. The consortium members include the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Canadian Association of Public Schools – International, the Canadian Bureau for International Education and Languages Canada.

Faced with huge competition from countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, collective action was required. This new consortium hopes to improve the results of marketing efforts promoting Canada as a destination of choice for international students by drawing on the strengths of individual members.

They have wasted no time in getting started- with their focus set on India. Last week the Canadian and Indian prime ministers signed an agreement to increase the higher education ties between the two countries.  Also a two-day workshop sponsored by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada was hosted last month aimed at making India their top priority, with over a third of Canadian universities in attendance.

The reasoning behind the increased interest in Indian students is simple, reports The Globe and Mail. India is home to a very large population of under 25 year olds, and the Canadian universities that are short of students (and funds) need to take advantage of this. Pawan Agarwal, author of a book on Higher Education in India, explains to The Globe and Mail that it is not a secret that with little knowledge of higher education opportunities in Canada, most international students have their sights set on the USA. And if Canadian schools are hoping to draw in more Indian students, they need to make themselves “more visible”.

Are you a prospective international student living in India? Are you aware of the opportunities to study in Canada? If so, please leave your comments below.