The college school year is winding to a close. For me, this will be a year that I remember forever. I was lucky enough to be able to go on a semester abroad and experience a new part of the world for the first time. The same goes for many international students attending Fanshawe College. Lobke D’Haens is a student from Belgium attending the Broadcasting – Radio and Media Production Program at Fanshawe. She mentioned just how important this experience has been for her.
Lobke D’Haens is a student from Belgium attending the Broadcasting – Radio and Media Production Program at Fanshawe.
“I say it now and I don’t think it will ever change for me till the day I die. My years here at Fanshawe now as an international student but also when I was here just on exchange… that period is one of the most beautiful times in my life,” said D’Haens.
D’Haens is graduating after this term, but things are likely to change soon. Access to a similar experience will be a lot harder to come by. Fanshawe College had one of the highest admission rates of international students at Ontario colleges. Since a cap on the number of international students allowed into the country was put in place in early 2024, the college has seen a large slump in international admissions. This has now led to Fanshawe’s current deficit crisis.
It will not only affect those students now unable to get an opportunity but also may close doors for domestic students looking to study abroad. The Global Skills Opportunity grant I received to help me be able to afford to go abroad is no longer available to students going forward, with Fanashawe covering the shortfall with a smaller amount. More measures like this could be implemented or services even eliminated as more cost cutting measures are put in place over the next few years.
D’heans says more awareness may help keep the options more open.
“I think it’s weird first of all that here in Canada they don’t really talk about the possibility of it as much because at my school back home”
“ it it’s something that is literally on the list of stuff when they do like an open house and it’s like in the list of opportunities that you would get through your program,” said D’Haens
The Fanshawe International Office located in E building. (XFM News/Will Bruce)
These combined factors have also put a lot of extra stress and stigma around international students. Some are concerned about if they would be able to continue finishing their programs or have the ability to try something new. Even though the options may seem rough at the moment, D’Haens advocates for those who are interested to take the initiative and go for what’s available.
“Don’t immediately let something bring you down because they’re like, ‘Oh no, you’re not made for that.’ Or I don’t know. ‘I don’t think you’re outgoing enough for that.’ Like no, just if you want to go to let’s say Columbia, then go to Columbia.”
“Like there’s so many options out there, it doesn’t need to mean now that Fanshawe has stopped doing that what they did before, that necessarily means that it’s not possible anymore,” said D’Haens.
