THUNDER BAY — The man in charge of recruiting international students for the Lakehead District School Board says the program is growing, and he believes it can still ultimately reach its target.
When the program was launched four years ago, eight students from overseas enrolled in the board's high schools and elementary schools.
By this fall, the number grew to 28 students from half a dozen different countries, including China, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Spain and Ukraine.
They are spread among the board's three high schools.
Two more students, from Japan, may arrive for the second semester.
That still leaves the program well short of the goal of 50 enrolled students by the fifth year.
But Steven Johnson, International Student Coordinator for Lakehead Public Schools, says he has set a personal target of 50 to 60 students in the next two years.
Johnson's background is business rather than education.
He feels being raised and educated in Thunder Bay has provided him with the kind of experience necessary for the job.
"I felt like I had a good feel for the city and how I could promote it to students, and grow our awareness in different markets. Who else better to sell the city to prospective students than someone who grew up here through the public system and the university?" he said in an interview.
It's a full-time job for Johnson.
He's responsible for recruitment efforts, education agent/industry partner liaison, student relationships, registration and finances, and developing up-to-date marketing materials.
Recruitment involves a lot of travel to far-flung destinations.
"It's an interesting industry where there's a lot of relationship-building. When you're working with agencies, sometimes around the world, it takes one to two years of nurturing those relationships with agents before they consider you a destination," Johnson said.
He took on the position about 18 months ago, but believes the connections he has established in that period are starting to show good results.
"Our application rates are increasing right now, so next year we should be up and over 30 [students] and a couple of smaller groups will be coming for short-term stays as well," he said.
One group of 15 to 20 students, accompanied by four teachers, is scheduled to arrive from China.
Johnson said even if their participation is more limited than the full-time students, it's another way to measure the success of the program.
Tuition and other fees are currently about $13,000 per student, rising to over $14,000 next year.
Even with only 28 students enrolled, the revenue for the board is more than enough to cover its costs, leaving a balance that can be applied to some other board programs.
In 2016, the board estimated that an enrollment of 20 students would cover the recruiting budget of $180,000.
However, Superintendent of education Sherri-Lynne Pharand stressed at the time that the program is not just aimed at offsetting declining school enrollment.
Johnson agrees there's a lot more to be gained, such as "introducing new, diverse cultures in our schools and having our students learn about what's going on in the rest of the world. I think the long-term goal is to encourage some of our students to study abroad, learn about other education systems and learn the culture."
As for the students from overseas, he said, the board tries to give them a taste of northwestern Ontario outside the classroom as well, through a range of recreational and cultural activities.
The visitors stay with host families who are screened and interviewed by the board's partner, Canada Homestay Network.
CHN is the legal custodian to the foreign students, and its local manager works closely with Johnson to match students with Thunder Bay families.
Hosts receive a modest monthly stipend to cover their additional expenses such as groceries.
"It's enough to support the student for the month, but we're trying to find families that want to do it for the right reason, and not for the money," Johnson said.
The Lakehead board is in discussions with Lakehead University and Confederation College about working more collaboratively on foreign student recruitment
Johnson said "It's a really exciting industry to be working in. Getting the chance to meet students from all over the world is a great opportunity not only for our students but for the entire community. I can't wait to see it grow and prosper here."
