Steinbach MLA and Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced that the province has introduced two new pathways for international students under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The International Student Entrepreneur Pathway and Graduate Internship Pathway are now open to international student graduates in Manitoba.
“By providing students a fast track to nomination for permanent residency, we hope to attract and retain more talented innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world,” said Goertzen. “International students bring new ideas, global connections and an entrepreneurial spirit to our province and when they create opportunities for themselves, Manitoba becomes more competitive and innovative.”
The International Student Entrepreneur Pathway will help graduates establish and operate a business in Manitoba. To be eligible, a student must complete a minimum two-year program at a Manitoba post-secondary institution, invest in and actively manage a business. Under a two-year pilot program, entrepreneurs accepted through this pathway will receive a temporary work permit.
The Graduate Internship Pathway is open to international students who complete a master’s or PhD degree program at a Manitoba university and a qualifying internship supported by Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization that builds partnerships between universities and industry and receives funding from the Manitoba government.
“Manitoba’s Graduate Internship Pathway is a significant step in attracting, developing and retaining the best talent from around the world,” said Alejandro Adem, CEO and scientific director, Mitacs. “Mitacs is proud that our programs can support this endeavour, which in turn leads to economic growth in the province.”
The minister noted the province anticipates more than 70 graduates will qualify for the Graduate Internship Pathway in 2018-19.
The provincial nominee program was created in 1998 to attract job-ready skilled workers and business investors to Manitoba. In April 2018, the province announced an International Education stream with a Career Employment Pathway for graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, as well as waived the six-month waiting period for students to apply to MPNP when they find long-term employment in their high-demand occupation.
Information about MPNP is available at www.immigratemanitoba.com.
