As Canadian stakeholders enjoy a much-needed holiday after an unprecedented year for international higher education, The PIE spoke to industry leaders about their hopes, fears and predictions for 2025. Kicking off with minister Marc Miller’s announcement of international study permit caps on January 22, the year 2024 marked a dramatic break from Canada’s long-held habit of welcoming international students. During what sector leaders have called an “incredibly challenging” and “nightmarish” year, study permit caps were implemented not once, but twice, followed by a barrage of policies tightening PGWP requirements and closing visa processing paths, to name a few.
