Carleton has tentatively decided not to enter a partnership with Navitas, according to provost and vice-president (academic) Peter Ricketts.
At the Nov. 25 Senate meeting, Ricketts presented his response to a working group’s recommendation against the private organization, which aids in the recruitment of international students.
A working group was formed to examine some of the pros and cons of a potential partnership, he said.
Carleton began considering the partnership after the academic plan “called for increased internationalization of the university,” according to an initial report from Ricketts’ office.
“Universities that have partnered with Navitas have seen a significant increase in their international enrolment,” Ricketts said. “But at this point in time, [the] decision is that it’s not the right option for us.”
Ricketts said one of the biggest concerns about partnering with Navitas is how it would affect their recruitment process. When Navitas partners with universities, it sets up a college where international students study for the first year and receive English language training and transitional support.
The students then enter into the university in their second year.
“That’s a very different way of doing things, especially in Ontario,” Ricketts said.
According to the most recent report, a partnership may make it more difficult to “ensure quality at the admission stage (before students enter into the college), and during the transition” to full academic studies at the university.
Carleton has one of the highest proportions of international students among Ontario universities, Ricketts said.
It has been “ramping up its direct recruitment efforts,” making contacts in different countries and working with both recruitment fairs and agents, Ricketts said.
Despite this, he said Carleton needs to do a lot more if it hopes to significantly increase the number of international students enrolled at the university.
In addition to the value that international students receive with an education from a Canadian university, Canadian students may also stand to benefit when international students are around, Ricketts said.
“I think it’s very important to be exposed to and mix with and engage with students from different backgrounds and different countries while [students] are at university,” Ricketts said.
The university itself also stands to benefit from a higher enrolment of international students, Ricketts said.
International students pay higher tuition fees than domestic ones. More international students also helps offset the current decline in domestic enrolment, Ricketts said.
“So, there is both a very strong academic quality aspect and there’s also a business aspect too,” he said.
Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and the University of Manitoba have experienced increased international enrolment and are currently partnered with Navitas.
At the moment, Carleton will start to look at other options but Ricketts said the university will revisit the possibility of a partnership should the need arise.
