CIMM – Recognized Institutions Framework – February 28, 2024

Key Facts and Figures

• The number of international students coming to Canada has significantly increased over the last five years.
• In 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received over 914,000 new study permit applications compared to 713,000, in 2022, which represents a 28% increase in one year.

Key Messages

• The rapid and drastic increase in the number of international students in Canada has resulted in student vulnerability and greater risk of fraud and exploitation by bad actors, which erodes program integrity and Canada’s reputation. To help address these issues, IRCC is looking to adopt a Recognized Institutions Framework.
• The Framework would benefit post-secondary Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) that set a higher standard for services, support and outcomes for international students. Redacted
• Institutions would be assessed according to an index of measures drawing on IRCC and Statistics Canada data as well as data collected directly from eligible DLIs. These measures would be based on immigration and program integrity objectives rather than education quality which is the purview of the provinces and territories.
• Adopting such a Framework is meant to incentivize DLIs to improve the supports they offer to their international students. In combination with other new measures, the Framework should help us better select and retain those who are best suited to meet the needs of Canada’s economic and immigration goals.

Supplementary Information

• The Framework is not intended to replace the existing Designated Learning Institutions Framework.