Auditor general flags concerns over international student enrolment, finances at UWindsor

University of Windsor has committed to making changes after a financial review by the Auditor General of Ontario scrutinized the school's governance structure, financial planning and heavy reliance on international students from a few countries.

The Nov. 30 report, in which the Auditor General of Ontario (AGO) reviewed four universities across the province, provides 14 recommendations to the University of Windsor that range from tracking progress of international students post graduation to improving the structure of its board. 

Despite the school taking in an increasing number of international students and gaining more revenue from them, the AGO found that those students have "consistently lower" graduation rates than domestic students. 

But they had higher graduation rates of those at other universities audited by the AGO. 

This past year, the AGO said that the majority of students were accepted from India and China. The report notes that this increases the risk of external factors, like a "global economic downturn or foreign policy shift," impacting the school's finances. 

In an interview with CBC News, the University of Windsor's VP of finance and operations Gillian Heisz said that the school has already pinpointed 20 countries it hopes to recruit students from and has implemented certain strategies. But it said it likely won't see the benefit of these initiatives for a couple of years. 

Over the last five years, the University of Windsor's international enrolment increased by 33 per cent, with its proportion of revenue from international students more than doubling from 9.6 per cent to 20.9 per cent. 

At the same time, the AGO said that the university did not keep an up-to-date record of international students' post-graduate progress or location, which could help it "adjust its program offerings, improve its recruitment efforts and help in promoting the university." 

Heisz said that this lower rate is specific to undergraduates, so they are improving supports within certain faculties. 

"If you're a student in the faculty of engineering for example you can now access an international student expert right in your faculty, in your building. You can also access mental health support right in your building ... we're adding a lot of international student lounges," said Heisz. 

She added that the university is also helping students through scholarships and bursaries. 

Mohammad Shafkat Shahriar, a graduate international student at the university, said he's always felt well supported at the school, but that he was surprised to hear that the rates of graduation for international students was lower than others. 

He also agreed that the school should better track student success post-graduation. 

"If someone is tracking the international students success in future, obviously we as international students will feel at home here," he said.