ARCHIVED – Evaluation of the International Student Program

Evaluation Division
Research and Evaluation
Evaluation of International Student Program
April 2015

This report presents the results of the evaluation of the International Student Program (ISP). The evaluation was conducted in fulfillment of the requirements under the Treasury Board of Canada Policy on Evaluation, and focuses on activities undertaken, outputs, and immediate outcomes achieved from 2009 to 2013, as well as the introduction of new regulatory changes in 2014. The data collection for this evaluation was undertaken by the Research and Evaluation Branch of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), between February and September 2014.

Evaluation of the International Student Program (PDF, 954.46KB)

Table of contents

• List of acronyms
• Executive summary
• Evaluation of the International Student Program—Management Response Action Plan
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Evaluation Purpose
  • 1.2 Program Profile
    • 1.2.1 Policy and Program Context
    • 1.2.2 Partners and Stakeholders
    • 1.2.3 Profile of International Students
    • 1.2.4 International Student Program Costs
• 2. Methodology
  • 2.1 Evaluation Scope
    • 2.1.1 Calibration
  • 2.2 Evaluation Issues and Questions
  • 2.3 Data Collection Methods
    • 2.3.1 Document Review
    • 2.3.2 Administrative Data Analysis
    • 2.3.3 Interviews
• 3. Findings: Relevance
  • 3.1 Continued Need for the International Student Program
  • 3.2 Alignment with Government of Canada and CIC Priorities
  • 3.3 Alignment with Federal Roles and Responsibilities
• 4. Findings: Program Management Outcomes
  • 4.1 Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
    • 4.1.1 Coordination within CIC
    • 4.1.2 CIC Engagement with Other Federal Government Departments
    • 4.1.3 CIC Engagement with Educational Institutions
    • 4.1.4 CIC Engagement with Provinces and Territories
  • 4.2 Facilitation of Work Opportunities and Transition to Permanent Residency
    • 4.2.1 Work Opportunities for International Students
    • 4.2.2 Transitioning to Permanent Residency
    • 4.2.3 Program Issues, Data Gaps and Unintended Impacts
  • 4.3 Addressing Issues Identified in the Previous ISP Evaluation
    • 4.3.1 Application Processing
    • 4.3.2 Program Integrity
• 5. Findings: Processing Outcomes
  • 5.1 Student Entries
  • 5.2 Timeliness of Application Processing
    • 5.2.1 Comparison of Processing Time with Competitor Countries
    • 5.2.2 Variability of Processing Times
  • 5.3 Impact of Modernization Initiatives
  • 5.4 Consistency of Decision-making
  • 5.5 Maintaining Program Integrity
    • 5.5.1 Procedures in Place for Supporting Program Integrity
• 6. Findings: Resource Utilization
  • 6.1 ISP Costs for Fiscal Years 2009/2010 to 2012/2013
  • 6.2 Temporary Resident Business Line Cost Comparison, Fiscal Years 2009/2010 to 2012/2013
• 7. Conclusions and Recommendations
  • 7.1 Relevance
  • 7.2 Performance
    • 7.2.1 ISP Policy and Governance
    • 7.2.2 Minor Students and Custodianship Requirements
    • 7.2.3 Coordination and Information-Sharing within CIC
    • 7.2.4 Processing Times and Modernization Initiatives
    • 7.2.5 Data Gaps
• Appendix A: 2010 International Student Program Evaluation Management Response Action Plan
• Appendix B: Bibliography
• Appendix C: International Student Program Logic Model
• Appendix D: Evaluation Framework

List of tables

• Table 1-1: International Student Program Costs, FY 2009/10 to 2013/14
• Table 2-1: Evaluation Questions
• Table 2-2: Completed Interviews
• Table 2-3: Interview Data Analysis Scale
• Table 4-1: Number and Percentage of International Students with Work Permits During their Studies, 2009-2013
• Table 4-2: Number and Percentage of International Students with Work Permits in the Year Directly Following their Studies, 2009-2013
• Table 4-3: Number of International Students Transitioning to Permanent Residency by Immigration Classes, 2009-2013
• Table 5-1: Student Entries and Number Present at December 1, Study TRVs Approved
• Table 5-2: Demographic Profile of Student Entries, 2009-2013.
• Table 5-3: Processing Times for 80% of Study Permits and Study TRV Applications, 2009-2013
• Table 5-4: Processing Times for 80% of Study Permits and Study TRV Applications by Application Method, 2009-2013
• Table 5-5: Approval Rate for Study Permit Applications, 2009-2013
• Table 6-1: ISP Costs, FY 2009/2010 to FY 2012/2013
• Table 6-2: Cost per Decision for TR Lines (CIC and OGD costs), FY 2009/2010 to FY 2012/2013

List of figures

• Figure 5-1: Processing Times for Study Permit Applications by CIC Office, 2013

List of acronyms

CBSA

Canada Border Services Agency

CCIE

Canadian Consortium for International Education

CEC

Canadian Experience Class

CIC

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

CPC

Case Processing Centre

CPC-V

Case Processing Centre - Vegreville

DFATD

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

ESDC

Employment and Social Development Canada

FOSS

Field Operations Support System

FY

Fiscal Year

FTE

Full Time Equivalent

GOC

Government of Canada

GCMS

Global Case Management System

IES

International Education Strategy

IRPA

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

ISP

International Student Program

O&M

Operations and Maintenance

OGD

Other Government Departments

PR

Permanent Residency

TBS

Treasury Board Secretariat

TR

Temporary Residency

TRP

Temporary Resident Program

TRV

Temporary Resident Visa

VAC

Visa Application Centre

VESPA

Visa Exempt Study Permit Abroad

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