Thompson Rivers University’s international school generates an estimated $88-million in economic activity in Kamloops each year — doubling over the past five years.

TRU World just completed an economic impact study conducted every five years to judge its impact on the city. It measures student spending broken into three categories: basic living costs of food and shelter; capital purchases on items ranging from electronics to cars; and tuition fees.

“The typical student spends $28,000 to $29,000 in Kamloops,” said TRU World associate vice-president Wes Koczka.

That spending drives demand for everything from rentals to restaurants and from cell phones to groceries.

The top three nations contributing student to TRU are China at 435 students, Saudi Arabia at 335 and India at 135. Students typically take a year-long English-as-a-second-language program followed by a degree in arts, business or science.

Dan Sulz, executive director of Venture Kamloops, said the number is impressive, particularly since it doesn’t include millions of dollars in payroll from salaries to instructors and professors at TRU.

“We’re looking at opportunities these students have for the community.”

That includes promoting Canada, and Kamloops, as a permanent stop rather than a four- or five-year stint. And since parents of many students come from wealthy families, Venture Kamloops wants to encourage investment through that familiarity.

“How do we engage parents to set up and invest here? There have been instances where parents have bought apartments or rental properties.”

Sulz said the group wants to encourage entrepreneurship by international students and their families, many of whom are in business elsewhere or have a newly minted business degree from TRU.

TRU’s international operations have been characterized for a decade as a constant growth story — balancing what would otherwise be a declining overall enrollment at the university. Koczka said his department is planning on the same growth going forward.

“We’re planning to expand. We want to go from about 1,460 (today) to approximately 2,500 in four years. We have to be careful our university has the capability and capacity to take these students.”

TRU is expanding its campus activity centre and completing the house of learning. Koczka said that should provide enough student space. Another important factor is housing, but the university has no short-term plans to build another residence on campus.