Quinte News had the chance to speak with the Senior Vice-President of Strategic Planning & Institutional Effectiveness at Loyalist College, Deanne Saunders, looking back at 2024.
Earlier this year, the federal government announced a cap on the number of new international study permits being issued leading to fewer international students coming to Canada.
Saunders tells Quinte News that it saw a decrease of 25% in international student enrolment for the fall 2024 term between the Belleville and Port Hope campuses.
The college did see an uptick, however, in the number of domestic students enrolled.
“I’m thrilled to share that we’re up by about 18% in terms of our new domestic students, which for us is really meaningful,” Saunders tells Quinte News.
“Of course, it reflects the fact that we’re offering responsive in-demand programs that meet the needs of our regional learners. So a great sign for the college.”
When asked about the increase and if there would be more of a focus on domestic recruitment of students, Saunders says that it has been a mandate of the college for the last several years.
“I think we’re just seeing the fruits of our labour and the investments in domestic student recruitment,” Saunders said .
“We’re constantly looking at our program mix and adding programs that are in demand, that are responding to broader trends in terms of labour market needs, but also working very closely with our industry partners to make sure that we’re mounting programs that address their needs, which then, in turn, provides more capacity for additional students.”
Loyalist College also has a Toronto campus, but due to the new rules regarding the cap on international students, had to “effectively shut it down” and not accept new students.
“The last cohort entered in the spring, in May, and so we are simply teaching out those students and ensuring that they receive the education that they’re seeking from Loyalist and that they receive their credential in line with the progression of their programs,” Saunders said.
She says the timeline for those students to meet their academic requirements is scheduled to be completed by December 2025.
