NORTHERN COLLEGE
Northern College and BorderPass Announce Partnership to Advance International Student Supports and Sustainable Growth

Northern College and BorderPass unveiled a strategic partnership that promises to advance international student success and regional growth by providing Northern applicants and students access to an advanced digital platform and innovative international student support strategies.

This partnership leverages Northern's commitment to exceptional and seamless student experiences and BorderPass's cutting-edge technology to achieve sustainable growth and set a new standard for educational excellence and operational efficiency in Northern Ontario.

International applicants and enrolled students at Northern College will receive access to BorderPass's comprehensive suite of services, including expert guidance from Canadian immigration lawyers and experts to streamline their study permit applications, along with robust support in visa applications, housing, and long-term planning toward permanent residency.

This collaboration ensures a "wraparound support" structure that enhances student well-being and academic success, while also strengthening Northern's commitments to successful employment outcomes, community integration, and responsible growth and planning. Highlighting this commitment are the recommendations of Northern's quality assurance audit under the SPIEQAA (Standard of Practice for International Education Quality Assurance Audit). Northern College volunteered to be one of the initial colleges piloted for establishing and assessing wraparound supports for international students with its participation in this audit.

To further expand international student support, health insurance for students will be enhanced and made more affordable, including 24/7 multi-language support with access to a vast global network consisting of 1.3 million facilities and virtual healthcare.

"By partnering with BorderPass, we're emphasizing proactive strategies to further our vision of growing the North sustainably and fostering an environment of empowerment through learning," stated Mitch Dumas, Northern College President & CEO. "This partnership illustrates our commitment to continuing to  improve the experience of international students as soon as they apply, and work through the process of attending our College. Finding efficiencies, improving operational certainty, and ensuring sustainable growth for our institution and the region while being there for our students are all key motivators for us," he added.

Sally Daub, Co-Founder of BorderPass, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration's local impact: "Regional support for international students is critical to ensure that northern communities first attract students to learn, and eventually settle and work," she states. "The partnership with Northern College increases access to legal services to assist with the challenges of studying in a new country, while opening pathways for employment and settlement to help fill gaps the community needs."

This partnership will serve as a model for responsible and effective collaboration between education and technology sectors, driving forward Canada's goals of attracting and retaining international talent in a sustainable and operationally efficient way, positioning Northern Ontario as a leader in innovation and inclusiveness.