The University of Manitoba has over 3,000 international students from nearly 100 countries. These students bring different perspectives to our campus and contribute to the local economy.
To attract the best and brightest from abroad, our first step is the coordination of marketing and branding of Canada as a destination for international study. The economic impact of such investment is quite significant. International students contributed over $8 billion to the Canadian economy in 2010. Moreover, international students, upon graduation, form a highly trained pool of potential immigrants, and those who return to their home countries serve as an international network that can be leveraged by business and public sectors.
At the same time, we should enhance opportunities for Canadian students to enrich their education through programs for study abroad. These students gain a global perspective and are exposed to different ways of thinking. They develop knowledge of different cultural and business environments and, upon their return, increase Canada's international opportunities.
Finally, we would recommend that the government increase investments in aboriginal higher education. It's estimated that 1.5 million Canadians will be of aboriginal ancestry by 2026. One-third of aboriginal Canadians have not completed a high school diploma and only 8% of Canada's indigenous populations have earned a university degree. If this trend continues, many of Canada's aboriginal peoples will not have the opportunity to participate fully in the economy of tomorrow.
The University of Manitoba welcomes over 2,000 indigenous students totalling over 7% of our population. These are among the highest totals in Canadian universities. Although the majority of these students enter the University of Manitoba through the usual high school programs, the university has established a suite of access programs that provide support for those who need it.
Reaching students in the K-12 system well before they enter university is crucial. The university works with high schools to demonstrate not only the value of post-secondary education, but also its feasibility. We believe that such reach-back mechanisms can transform the post-secondary situation and the lives of many aboriginal Canadians.
The federal government needs to support these types of university programs that address the unique needs of Canada's indigenous populations, while improving accessibility and quality of education delivered at the primary and secondary schools.
Greater federal investments in family and community and financial support for aboriginal students are of the utmost importance. By training a highly qualified labour force able to meet the emerging needs of our economy, and through research and innovation, Canada's universities play an important role in enhancing Canada's international competitiveness.
The University of Manitoba encourages the government to build on measures outlined in budget 2012 and elsewhere by investing additional funding in university research through the granting councils and CFI; by investing in international education, both to attract top talent to Canada and to provide Canadians with opportunities to study abroad; and by making additional investments in programs supporting aboriginal education.
Thank you.