Yanisa Kapetch made an unexpected turn in her academic journey when she left Thailand to pursue digital media studies at a private college in British Columbia. Upon arriving at Pacific Link College in Metro Vancouver, the 25-year-old found herself involved in campaign activities supporting federal Conservative candidate Tamara Jansen during a byelection in December 2024.
Email correspondence revealed that the college framed the volunteer work as part of the students’ digital media course, with potential implications for obtaining permanent residency. However, Kapetch and another former student expressed discomfort with the requirement, citing a lack of relevance to their studies and unfamiliarity with the candidate.
Despite the college’s denial, both students disclosed their brief participation in the campaign, which included door-to-door canvassing. The second student, who chose to remain anonymous due to immigration concerns, lodged a formal complaint against the school, challenging the educational quality and mandatory campaign involvement.
Pacific Link College refuted the allegations, emphasizing the voluntary nature of student engagement in volunteer opportunities, including political activities. The school asserted its political neutrality and commitment to offering optional extracurricular experiences.
The involvement of students in the campaign, reportedly directed by a school instructor and administrator, raised questions about the educational value and relevance to the digital media program. Students expressed reservations about the tasks assigned, prompting discussions with school staff regarding the alignment with their coursework.
The dispute escalated when Kapetch questioned the mandatory nature of the volunteer work, leading to a contentious exchange with campus director Aaron Dpenha over the perceived benefits for students seeking permanent residency. The college defended its position, stating that volunteer activities enhance students’ learning objectives and community engagement skills.
As the second student pursued a tuition refund through the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU), discrepancies emerged between the college’s response and the complainant’s allegations. Legal representation highlighted the challenges international students face in addressing grievances against educational institutions, especially concerning potential pathways to residency.
Immigration experts emphasized the importance of regulatory oversight for designated learning institutions (DLI) to ensure international students receive quality education and fair treatment. Both federal and provincial authorities were urged to conduct regular inspections of private schools to uphold educational standards for international students in Canada.