Bryce Loo, Associate Director of Higher Education Research, WES, and Rasha Faek, Managing Editor

Larissa Bezo, President and CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education, received the GLOW ED – Global Women in Education Influential Women in International Education Award.

As Canada’s international education landscape evolves, the sector is navigating a period of uncertainty shaped by shifting government policies, economic pressures, and growing demand for higher education seats. These changes have raised critical questions about Canada’s ability to attract and support international students while fostering an inclusive and sustainable environment for their success. Despite the challenges, the importance of international education as a tool for global collaboration remains clear, with an urgent need for innovative strategies to both support and retain international students.

Larissa Bezo, President and CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), has been leading the charge in these discussions. Her organization, which represents Canadian post-secondary institutions and stakeholders in the international education sector, recently conducted a comprehensive survey on the experiences of international students in Canada. The findings, alongside insights shared at CBIE’s annual conference in early November, offer a timely reflection on the current state of international education in Canada and highlight the steps needed to ensure the country’s continued leadership in this field.

WENR sat down with Bezo, the recipient of this year’s GLOW ED (Global Women in Education Influential Women in International Education) award, to discuss the survey results, the implications of recent policy shifts, and how Canadian institutions can better support international students amid an evolving global landscape.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

The recent survey on international students in Canada identified key challenges in the international education landscape. Based on its findings, how do you foresee these challenges evolving, and what are the long-term implications for both students and Canadian institutions?

Let me take a step back about 12-13 years ago when we introduced the International Student Survey to better understand the experiences of the growing international student population in Canada. This initiative aimed to keep students at the core of internationalization efforts by capturing their voices through both quantitative and qualitative data. The survey explores everything from students’ decision-making process in choosing Canada, to their academic experience, community life, and post-graduation plans.

Looking back to 2021, the survey revealed the significant impact of the pandemic on international students, including mental health challenges and discrimination. At that time, we found that about 15 percent of students faced complex vulnerabilities—such as financial difficulties, harassment, or mental health struggles—and were aware of support services but were not using them. This raised concerns about cultural barriers to accessing help.

Fast-forward to 2023, while we were emerging from the pandemic, the global landscape had shifted with ongoing geopolitical tensions, conflicts, and migration changes. These new challenges impacted the international student experience. For the first time in our surveys, we saw a decline in students’ perceptions of the quality of their education in Canada and their sense of safety in communities. Previously, during the pandemic, Canada had been viewed very positively in terms of safety and being welcoming, so this shift is significant.

However, there is a silver lining: More students are now taking advantage of the support services offered by institutions. This suggests that efforts by universities and colleges to encourage the use of these services are working, but the increasing demand also points to ongoing challenges.

Housing continues to be a major issue for international students, with the majority reporting difficulties securing accommodation. Additionally, employability remains a concern, particularly for female international students, who report more barriers in securing jobs and facing bias from Canadian employers.

Despite these challenges, international students’ desire to stay in Canada after graduation remains strong, with many intending to pursue post-graduate work permits and permanent residence. They still see a connection between their academic experience and the potential to build a future here.

The long-term implications for Canadian institutions involve addressing these vulnerabilities—especially related to mental health, discrimination, and employability—and ensuring that support systems are accessible and effective. Additionally, there’s an urgent need to protect and enhance Canada’s reputation as a destination for international students. With recent geopolitical tensions and policy shifts, Canada must clearly communicate its commitment to international students and ensure that the opportunities it offers remain attractive. This is essential for retaining international talent and continuing to foster a thriving, diverse student body.

The survey highlighted several factors impacting the international student experience. In your view, what do Canadian universities and colleges need to do better to support international students, particularly in areas like mental health, affordability, and career opportunities?

We’re seeing a growing recognition that institutions need to focus more on outcomes, particularly post-graduation. While Canadian universities and colleges already do a great job providing a high-quality education, there’s an increasing demand from students—both international and domestic—to see a return on their investment. Learners want to feel confident that their education will lead to successful career opportunities.

Institutions are increasingly focused on preparing students for the labour market and helping them transition into post-graduation life. This is a global trend in the international education sector: There’s a stronger emphasis on employability and helping students forge connections early in their academic journey. The goal is not just to secure any job, but one that aligns with students’ career aspirations and helps them grow professionally.

We’re seeing more thoughtful approaches in this area, with institutions working closely with employers and community organizations to support students’ transition into the workforce. This is crucial for ensuring that international students are well-prepared for their next steps and that their educational experience leads to real-world success.

What role do you see the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) playing in supporting students and institutions through this transition period?

CBIE plays a multi-faceted role. As a national association representing education institutions, we’re here to support their efforts through advocacy and by providing professional development for leaders and international education practitioners. This ensures that our sector stays on top of emerging trends and has access to the latest research, which ultimately helps improve student support.

At the pan-Canadian level, CBIE also convenes strategic conversations on key issues impacting international students, both current and future. For example, in May, we organized Canada’s first National Dialogue on International Students to bring together stakeholders from all sectors—government, business, education, and social support. The goal was to foster sustainable, ethical practices for supporting international students and to discuss how to better integrate these efforts across the country.

One of our key initiatives is the establishment of a pan-Canadian council to continue these strategic conversations and integrate perspectives across Canada. We’re also focused on building an evidence base to inform policy decisions and improve practices in the sector. For instance, our ongoing research projects, such as one with the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HECQO) and the city of Hamilton, explore innovative ways to support international students’ integration into the labour market after graduation.

Lastly, we believe it’s crucial that students themselves have a voice in these discussions. One of our recommendations from the recent report is to establish a national International Student Advisory Council. By capturing and elevating student perspectives, we can ensure that their needs are at the forefront of decision-making, guiding practices and policies that will help them thrive. This is something CBIE is committed to moving forward with to ensure that students are always at the heart of our efforts.

Some argue that certain policy changes have led to increased competition for limited spots in some programs, which of course will affect international students. What’s your take on this issue, and what steps can be taken to ensure that international students aren’t negatively impacted by this?

This is a very significant challenge, and you’re right. With a finite pool of opportunities, especially under the current framework with caps and ceilings, there are more limited options for international students. Before the introduction of these caps, many institutions were focused on diversifying their international student populations, as historically key markets like China and India were dominant sources. Institutions were committed to this diversification as part of their broader commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and to meaningful global engagement.

The challenge now is balancing these commitments with fiscal constraints and policy realities. There’s still plenty of room for international students in Canada, but the bigger challenge is communicating this to students—ensuring that they know that Canadian institutions continue to welcome them and that there are ongoing efforts to promote access to opportunities. Unfortunately, amidst the policy changes, the message has been lost, leaving students with the impression that Canada is no longer open to international talent, which isn’t the case.

Our work now is to rebuild trust with prospective students, demonstrating that Canada remains open and committed to welcoming international students, despite the policy changes. It’s especially challenging in an environment where new announcements are made regularly, which can lead to confusion for students who might feel that Canada is closing its doors. We’re working hard to get a more balanced narrative out, ensuring that students understand that there is still space for them on Canadian campuses.

You’ve mentioned quite a bit about the need for partnerships and collaborations with the Pan-Canadian Council, some of the projects, for example, with HECQO, and so forth. Is there anything else that you’d say could be done in the way of partnerships and collaboration within the sector, as well as with government and the private sector, that would help to be more effective in supporting the success of international students in Canada?

There is an ongoing need to connect all those dots, as you’ve mentioned. The challenge is that while CBIE and other stakeholders are eager to contribute, not all of the answers and steps can be driven from just one side of the equation. A deeper engagement is required, particularly between federal and provincial governments. What we really need is a more holistic approach across the entire sector to truly leverage the benefits for both Canada and the students who choose to come here, or who may consider Canada in the future.

This is the piece that we haven’t fully figured out in a coherent way. In other countries, there’s more coherence because there’s a central table that integrates these issues cohesively. It’s certainly more challenging in a federation like Canada for obvious reasons, but I still believe it’s doable. It’s a complex situation that requires a broader range of voices and institutions at the table, but we need to continue building consensus and a shared understanding about why this is such a vital pathway for Canada and why it provides meaningful future opportunities for international students.

At CBIE, we try to convene conversations through our conferences and dialogues, but we can’t build this alone. We don’t have jurisdictional responsibility for many of these issues, so we work very closely with provincial and federal governments, including many departments within the federal family. However, we keep urging them to come together in a more cohesive way. This is the piece we’re trying to address right now—ensuring that all the relevant stakeholders come together in a more integrated, unified approach.

You have touched on this a little bit as well, but I would love to get any further thoughts you have on what Canadian institutions could do to further differentiate themselves as top destinations for international students.

I think our institutions have a real opportunity here, and many are already starting to lean into this. They can make their commitments to students clearer and more explicit. This includes not only the high-quality education they offer but also the full range of supports available to students. Institutions can do more to show how they will embrace and support international students when they choose to come to Canada.

These supports are broad, and institutions serve as anchors in their communities. Many are already engaging with local stakeholders to create a robust, supportive learning environment for students. A key part of this is for institutions to hone their ability to communicate these efforts clearly and thoughtfully. There’s a lot of creative and meaningful work happening within our institutions, but it often goes unheard because we’re focused on broader policy changes.

There’s a lot of thoughtful consideration given to international students, but these efforts are sometimes unnamed or unrecognized. By making these supports more explicit, institutions can really differentiate themselves. When students are considering applying to a particular institution and community, they need to see that there are clear benefits and an enriching experience waiting for them. This clearer communication of the value proposition will serve to set Canadian institutions apart as top destinations for international students.

You’ve already spent many years in international education. How have you seen the role of women evolve in this field?

It’s interesting because I’ve been privileged to contribute to international capacity development, and from a Canadian perspective, we take gender equality very seriously and aim to integrate and advance this work. I’ve also had the privilege of being involved in the Canadian international education sector and seeing the tremendous role women can play at all levels of leadership, from the front lines to senior roles. While I don’t have specific statistics, I know from personal experience that many women are actively engaged in shaping the sector.

An important aspect of this, both in my own work and in how we welcome students, is the opportunity we have to demonstrate through action the values that drive our work, such as gender equality, respect for human rights, and a commitment to ethical practice. These values should permeate every decision we make—how we hire, how we promote, how we engage with students, and how we shape our policies. A gendered lens on policy decisions can reveal how different groups are impacted, and this awareness is critical in making our institutions truly inclusive.

That said, I think there’s still significant work to be done for women in our sector. I’ve been fortunate not to encounter glass ceilings or walls, but the reality is that these barriers do persist, especially in academia. For example, there was a publication last year by Bessma Momani from the University of Waterloo that explored the barriers that women still face in Canada’s academic world. I wouldn’t want to suggest that we’ve overcome all of these obstacles—far from it.

In international contexts, sometimes cultural norms and assumptions come into play, and even women in senior leadership roles are treated differently. I’ve certainly encountered this, and navigating these challenges can be tough. But it’s important to acknowledge these issues and use our voices to bring attention to them. We must continue to create spaces for women and marginalized groups to have access to leadership opportunities.

At CBIE, we have an almost exclusively female secretariat, which isn’t by design, but it reflects the passion of the individuals who are drawn to the mission. Despite this, we’re still committed to creating spaces for open and honest conversations about the barriers that remain. While we’re privileged to act both locally and globally in international education, it’s essential that we hold ourselves to a higher standard in Canada to ensure that progress is truly being made. We still have work to do, and we must continue striving to be a good example of how change can happen.