FRANCAIS

December 05, 2003

Manitoba’s post-secondary institutions have signed memorandums of agreement with the province to begin implementing a two-year pilot program allowing international students to work off campus, Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford announced today.

"This pilot program benefits all parties: international students, post-secondary institutions and the province," McGifford said. "Students will acquire Canadian work experience and develop closer ties to the communities in which they study. The province and post-secondary institutions will share the benefits of being more attractive to international students. The richer their experiences in Manitoba, the more international students become ambassadors of all our province has to offer."

This joint federal-provincial program was unveiled Oct. 31 as one of several new tools designed to help make Canadian educational institutions destinations of choice for international students.

Under existing rules, international students can only work on campus at the post-secondary institution they attend. The Manitoba pilot project will permit full-time international students to apply for an open work permit after completing one year of study at a public college or university. The permit will allow them to work off campus for a maximum of 20 hours a week during the regular academic session and full-time in summer and winter vacation periods.

Working closely with post-secondary institutions, Manitoba Advanced Education and Training will ensure the pilot project is implemented in a consistent manner provincewide. Public post-secondary institutions will monitor student compliance with project guidelines. Manitoba Labour and Immigration will act in an advisory capacity and facilitate communications with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. An advisory committee with federal, provincial and institutional representation will manage the pilot and provide ongoing evaluation over the next two years.

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