A new website to entice more international students to stay in Greater Montréal
Some 32,000 international students currently enrolled at Greater Montréal schools, colleges and universities can now turn to a brand-new website (www.ichoosemontreal.com) for information on immigration and life and work in Québec and Greater Montréal.
The new platform is part of an extensive information campaign spearheaded by Montréal International, in cooperation with the Québec Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI), to entice more international students to turn their temporary study stay into a permanent life in Québec.
“The Government of Québec is determined to step up its efforts to retain as many international students as possible in the province. They have a Québec degree, speak French, and are already familiar with our society and culture. They are the best we can get and we want them to choose Québec as their permanent home,” said Kathleen Weil, Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness.
According to Montréal International, key job-creating industries in Montréal rely primarily on a skilled workforce. Such industries include information and communications technologies, video games, special effects, finance and aerospace. “These industries have an annual growth rate of up to 25%,” said Hubert Bolduc, President and CEO of Montréal International. “They are growing fast while the population is declining. That’s the challenge we need to deal with in our modern economy.”
Greater Montréal: Here to stay
The new ichoosemtl.com platform features a host of articles, testimonials, targeted events and promotions that showcase everything Greater Montréal has to offer. International students can also find a whole range of resources on immigration and life and work in Québec, along with some great tips from former international students who have chosen to stay here.
Students can also sign up to receive a personalized newsletter with suggested activities, exclusive offers and additional information for a successful life and career in Montréal. Facebook and LinkedIn pages have also been set up to make it easier to share information.
Montréal International’s information campaign includes activities with its network of partners to connect international students with the job market and show them the advantages of living in Montréal; and the development of promotional and information tools that can be used by other agencies, in other areas of Québec. This campaign will complement MIDI’s international student retention strategy—I am staying in Québec. Montréal International is also collaborating in information sessions on the immigration process offered by MIDI.
