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Keyano College is partnering with Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism (FMWBEDT) to recruit more international students. The $231,000 program, which is funded by a FMWBEDT development fund, will last three years.
The college currently has approximately 140 international students from 30 countries. These are students in Canada on a study permit, said Sandra Efu, Keyano’s director of student services, as opposed to someone with dual citizenship or permanent residency status.
“Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is a diverse community and we want to make sure that the college is reflective of that diversity,” said Efu in an interview. “But it goes beyond Keyano… making sure that we’re playing our part as the secondary institution of the region to support the overall growth and prosperity of our community is what it boils down to.”
Efu said Keyano will work with FMWBEDT on a campaign promoting the region for recruiters. These recruitment agencies will also travel to the region to understand Keyano and the community. The partnership will also have an incentives program for international student applicants.
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The college hopes to see results from the initiative by the Winter 2022 semester. Efu said the current number of international students will act as a baseline to measure success.
Kevin Weidlich, president and CEO of FMWBEDT, estimates the program will have an econominc impact of more than $3 million.
“So many of them will be looking for part-time jobs,” he said. “It also increases the demand for local housing.”
Having more international students at Keyano could also have an impact on college programming, said Weidlich.
“The other really long-term benefit is it allows us to market our region as a destination through yet another channel,” he said. “Now we can start to influence our reputation amongst the students from various locations and demographics around the world.”
lbeamish@postmedia.com
Keyano partners with FMWBEDT to recruit more international students - Fort McMurray Today
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