Outbound Trade Mission to France

Why France?

France has become an important market for LC members, ranking as the top European market and securing a spot among the top 10 source countries overall. Nearly 2,700 French students attended ESL programs in Canada last year, helping create a diverse and dynamic student body.

Even though French student numbers are at their highest point in three years, there is ample room for Canada to improve on its modest 11% market share and gain ground on competing destinations like the US, UK and Ireland, which welcome hundreds of thousands of French students each year. 

While Canada is immensely popular for students interested in postsecondary education in the French language, we’re barely scratching the surface of France's potential when it comes to ESL.

With that in mind, Languages Canada will join forces with CAPS-I (Canadian Association of Public Schools – International), with the support of the Trade Commissioner Service and the Embassy of Canada in Paris, to bring a delegation of Canadian institutions to France to meet with a group of top French agents and a handful of top Belgian agents.

This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your programs, reinforce existing relations, establish new partnerships, and ensure that European agents think of Canada first when it comes to ESL.

France is an excellent market for Canadian ESL programs for many other reasons:

• Educational Aspirations
  Many French students are keen on enhancing their English proficiency to improve their academic and career prospects, particularly since English is a global lingua franca.

• Quality Education
  Canada is renowned for its high-quality education system, which is appealing to French students seeking reputable institutions for their language studies.
• Cultural Affinity
  There is a cultural affinity between Canada and France, especially with the presence of French-speaking regions like Quebec. This makes Canada a familiar and attractive destination for French students.
• Bilingual Advantage
  Canada's official bilingual status (English and French) offers French students a comfortable transition while they improve their English skills, as they can still communicate in French in many regions.
• Safe and Welcoming Environment
  Canada is known for its safety, diversity, and welcoming attitude toward international students, which reassures French parents and students alike.
• Post-Study Opportunities
  Canada offers excellent post-study work opportunities and pathways to permanent residency, which can be a significant draw for French students looking for long-term international experience.

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Why should you attend?

• Conduct B2B meetings and network with decision-makers from 24 high-quality, preselected European agencies in an intimate, small-scale setting;
• Build market presence and brand awareness with key players in the industry;
• Take advantage of the charming event location to conduct valuable off-site networking with agents and other Canadian participants.

What's included?

• 3 nights (Feb 16, 17 & 18) at the InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal;
• 3 breakfasts (Feb 17, 18 & 19);
• Evening welcome dinner with the entire group on Feb 16;
• Morning break, lunch, afternoon break and dinner reception on Feb 17;
• Morning break and lunch on Feb 18;
• Recruitment, screening, and selection of 24 education agencies;
• 5-star event venue with Wi-Fi included;
• 24 one-on-one meetings with agencies from France and a handful from Belgium;
• Complete event management, including B2B meeting scheduling;
• A participant handbook including detailed agency profiles;
• Access to additional agent contacts from waitlist (if applicable).

Price does not include airfare for Canadian participants. A discount code Air Canada flights to Paris will be made available to participants.