A Need for Connection: What the Report Highlights

The CBIE report addresses core issues faced by international students, including isolation, challenges with labor market access, mental health support, and a lack of community integration. While Canada has long been a favored destination for international students, the path to creating a fully inclusive, supportive environment remains ongoing. Students arriving in Canada often lack the local connections, social networks, and career resources that could ease their transition and help them thrive.

This report underscores the need for universities to support students holistically, prioritizing community building and social integration as essential to student success. The CBIE calls for a focus on platforms and initiatives that connect students with one another—both international and domestic—thereby enhancing their academic journey and ensuring a positive and inclusive experience.

Why Community Integration Matters to Canadian Students and Universities

Implementing CBIE’s recommendations could profoundly impact both international students and Canada’s educational institutions. Community integration directly addresses issues of belonging, offering students a network of peers who understand their challenges and can share valuable insights on navigating Canadian academic and social life. The benefits strikes more than just the students, it enhances the appeal of Canadian universities as supportive, inclusive institutions that value diverse perspectives.

Through community integration, students have the opportunity to connect with Canadian culture and build friendships that often extend into professional networks. For universities, these efforts create a stronger, more engaged student body, promoting retention and long-term success. Importantly, international students contribute economically, socially, and culturally to Canada, and creating a welcoming environment enhances their likelihood to stay, work, and enrich Canada’s future workforce.

Goin’s Role in Enhancing Community Integration Across Canadian Universities

Since launching in Canada, Goin’ has focused on helping universities build student communities that create real connections. Our platform, designed to meet students' social and community-building needs, enables international students to connect with both local and global peers. With over 400,000 connections made through Goin’ in Canada alone—and millions globally—we’ve seen the difference a welcoming community can make for students starting fresh in a new country. Our partnerships with innovators like Humber College, the University of Toronto, and Mohawk College illustrate how community-focused platforms can transform the student experience.

At Humber College, students exchanged over 500,000 messages and formed 121,000 connections in the last cycle alone. The platform has become a vital tool for student engagement, creating a space where students feel connected and supported even before they step on campus. At the University of Toronto, over 20,000 connections have been made among international students from over 110 different countries, reflecting Canada’s diversity and offering students a truly global experience. Mohawk College has also seen great success, with 86% of students reporting that Goin’ helps them find answers to questions they would otherwise ask college staff. On average, each student at Mohawk has a network of 11 connections through Goin’, providing them with valuable peer support and reducing the strain on college resources.

In Canada, Goin’s platform has shown that 93% of students expressed that using Goin’ improves their sense of belonging and community, while 89% reported that Goin’ helps them with practical preparations. Additionally, 92% said the platform adds significant value to their overall experience, and 95% stated that it helps reduce anxiety around making friends. This early connection helps students feel more comfortable and supported, reducing feelings of isolation and anxiety as they transition into their studies in Canada.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Student Success in Canada

The CBIE’s National Dialogue on International Students report represents a promising step forward for international student success in Canada. As the recommendations continue to take shape, universities have the opportunity to set a new standard in community integration, creating a more holistic experience that will benefit both students and Canada as a whole.

At Goin’, we’re proud to contribute to this vision by creating student communities that build resilience, friendship, and future leaders. If you’re interested in learning more about how Goin’ can support your institution’s community-building efforts, feel free to schedule a meeting with us or leave your details, and we’ll be happy to help you drive meaningful connections for your students.