UPEI international student number hits milestone

A renewed push on international recruitment at the University of Prince Edward Island has allowed the school to enroll a record number of foreign students in 2014.

Sixteen per cent of the student body in 2014 are international students, up from 11 per cent in 2012. That puts P.E.I. in the top three provinces in the country for hosting foreign students.

Barbara Campbell, director of the international relations office, said the small size of the school and of Charlottetown play a role in recruitment.

“People get to really appreciate the intimacy of their learning environment as well as living here,” said Campbell.

“The people in the Superstore seem to know the international students when they're shopping for groceries. So that type of thing, I think, gets shared word of mouth.”

Migel Spencer arrived at UPEI from Jamaica last week to study business administration. Spencer said studying on the Island gives him a unique edge for his future.

“I want to enter into international business and this is a perfect medium to learn another culture,” said Spencer.

UPEI has a goal to make the student population 20 per cent international in the next few years, with a particular focus on India, Brazil, Turkey and Eastern Europe.

Campbell is one of three people representing UPEI currently at a trade and education summit in India, which starts Wednesday.