Canada’s higher education leaders have gathered in Ottawa to chart a new course for international education amid shifting policy, economic, and demographic pressures.
The 3rd Annual University Presidents’ Roundtable on Internationalisation, hosted by ApplyBoard in partnership with the Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) on 27 October, brought together more than 20 university presidents, policy thinkers, and sector leaders to debate what “the best and the brightest” truly means for Canada’s future as a global study destination.
The closed-door meeting came at a pivotal time for Canadian universities, which are grappling with declining international student numbers following major changes to federal visa policy. ApplyBoard projects that recent government measures will trigger deeper drops in new international enrolments than those experienced during the pandemic shutdown.
“Canada is suffering from those decisions”
Speaking at the roundtable, Benoit-Antoine Bacon, President of the University of British Columbia, said the consequences of recent reforms extend well beyond university finances.
“We’re in a global race for talent and we need to put our best foot forward to attract the best to Canada,” he said. “Universities are suffering, but the real issue is that Canada is suffering from those decisions.”
Beyond recruitment: collaboration and national strategy
The discussion, framed by opening analyses from ApplyBoard Co-founder and CEO Meti Basiri, HESA President Alex Usher, and RBC Senior Vice President John Stackhouse, focused on how Canada can align its international education goals with long-term national priorities in innovation, skills, and values.
Participants — including representatives from Universities Canada, CBIE, and the Business + Higher Education Roundtable — called for stronger coordination between universities, governments, and industry. Several advocated for the creation of a ministerial-level strategic body to guide a national approach to international education and ensure the system remains globally competitive.
“We’re in the world series now”
Usher cautioned that Canada’s former advantages — from an easy visa system to a soft-power reputation as a friendly, safe study destination — are no longer enough.
“We’re not going to return to the years of an absurdly favourable student visa system or the cuddly national image of the 2010s,” he said. “The situation we are in now requires genuine engagement overseas, deeper understanding of local markets, and stronger relationships. We’re in the world series now, toe-to-toe with global competitors.”
Technology, transparency and trust
Basiri highlighted the growing importance of technology and innovation in maintaining Canada’s edge.
“Today’s students have more choices and more tools than ever to achieve their study abroad dreams,” he said. “To stay competitive, institutions and governments must embrace innovation and leverage technology to deliver transparency, efficiency, and trust throughout the recruitment and enrolment journey.”
The event closed with a networking reception where leaders discussed opportunities for future collaboration — signalling a shared recognition that Canada’s international education success will depend not only on attracting “the best and brightest,” but on defining what that means for the country’s long-term social and economic future.
