This report provides recommendations for how Canada can better prepare for the coming era of closer engagement with China. Specifically, it looks at what Canada can do to support Canadian youth in developing the types of China competencies that will be valuable to their future employers.

The report is based on a series of discussions – in Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver – from June 15 to 21, 2018. The discussions were co-hosted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and Global Affairs Canada’s International Education Division. Connecting Canadian Students and Graduates with China-Related Careers summarizes key points raised during the discussions, and shares participants’ observations of where Canadian youth engagement with China has been effective and where there is a need for a broadened approach.

Part of that broadened approach would include the following:

• Increasing the number of Canadian youth who go to China through a variety of outbound mobility programs (study abroad, volunteer opportunities, internships, etc.);
• Getting a better understanding of the link between the China competence needs of Canadian employers and the learning and professional development outcomes of outbound mobility programs to China;
• Encouraging students and young professionals to utilize resources available to them in Canada to build their China competencies; and,
• Engaging Canadian youth in networks that might connect them to China-engaged employers.

Note: The French-language version of the report is available here.

APF Canada is grateful to Global Affairs Canada’s International Education Division for its generous financial support for this discussion series. The views expressed in the summary report are not necessarily the views of Global Affairs Canada.