Dharmendra Pradhan Meets Delegation Of 24 Canadian universities To Boost Higher Education Ties
The Canadian universities are willing to set up international campuses, strengthen academic, research and innovation capacities, talent development, says Union Education Minister
NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has met a delegation of academic leaders from 24 leading Canadian universities led by Amb Christopher Cooter, High Commissioner.
The meeting aimed to deepen academic and research engagements with Indian HEIs and further strengthen India-Canada cooperation in higher education.
Pradhan posted on social media platform X that the Canadian universities were willing to set up international campuses, strengthen academic, research and innovation capacities, talent development and building workforce of the future, as well as create innovative models for advancing the long-term educational agenda.
According to official data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the country recorded a nearly 60% decline in new international student arrivals in 2025 compared to last year. The number of new arrivals fell by about 1.32 lakh within a year, the change reflecting the impact of sweeping reforms to student and temporary worker programs introduced since late 2023.
Delighted to meet the delegation of academic leaders from 24 leading Canadian universities led by Amb Christopher Cooter, High Commissioner, @CanadainIndia.
Appreciate their keenness to deepen academic and research engagements with Indian HEIs and further strengthen… pic.twitter.com/U5FeiDeYo9
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 4, 2026
In early 2024, the federal government introduced an annual limit of 3.60 lakh study permits nationwide to “stabilise growth” and address pressures on housing and infrastructure.
In 2025, the cap was further reduced by 10%, bringing down allocations across provinces and territories. Alongside this, Ottawa made it mandatory for every acceptance letter to be verified through an official process to curb fraud and unauthorised enrollments.
The government also increased financial requirements for study permit applicants — a move aimed at ensuring students are better prepared to meet living costs in Canada’s high-inflation environment.
These changes, coupled with the slower processing of applications submitted under earlier rules, have significantly reduced new arrivals this academic year.
The government has emphasised that the goal is not to restrict genuine talent but to make immigration “sustainable and better aligned with labour market needs.”