A message from Fiona Allan, Vice President, Academic:
Further to President Kennedy’s recent update on the federal government’s sweeping changes to Canada’s International Student program, the College has finalized a list of NC programs that are eligible for Post Graduate Work Permits (PGWPs) based on the most recent Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) announcement.
The list has also been posted for international applicants to ensure that they can make informed choices when selecting a Niagara College program. The list also indicates programs that, while PGWP-eligible, are not open to international applicants at this time due to capacity or regulatory requirements.
PGWPs allow international graduates to work in Canada for a set amount of time after graduation. They are a key driver of demand among international applicants and they support our economy, as international college graduates play an important role in addressing workforce needs in key industry sectors in our community.
The changes to PGWP eligibility are the latest in a series of policy moves announced by the IRCC over the past year and are intended to align eligible programs with national labour market needs. Colleges and employers are united in their concern that the use of national data rather than provincial and regional data precludes programs that are essential to addressing local labour needs.
Combined with reductions in international study permits, changes to PGWP eligibility will also have a significant impact on our enrolments and budgets in the years ahead. We will continue to advocate strongly for program additions to the PGWP-eligible list to fill critical workforce needs, and as President Kennedy indicated, our rapidly shifting landscape will require renewed efforts in student recruitment and retention.
The full list of Niagara College’s PGWP-eligible programs can be found here. If you have questions regarding the list, please contact your Dean or Senior Director.
