Presented is a brief written in response to a government discussion paper on competitiveness and security in Canada's international relations. The brief emphasizes that the universities must play a vital role in the development and pursuit of foreign policy and that the knowledge on which the nation's social and economic development increasingly depends transcends national boundaries. It agrees with the discussion paper that productivity and competitiveness are closely linked, and proposes that the universities contribute to productivity in a variety of important ways. The role of foreign students in enriching Canadian students' educational experience and contributing to the economy is stressed, but it is noted that differential fees for foreign and Canadian students and lack of long-term planning have caused foreign student enrollments to decline. The university's role in international relations is also found in the potential of its international studies programs, its support of development assistance efforts, and its ability to assist the national government in foreign aid policy development. (MSE)