Higher Education: Seeking to establish a “Canada Brand” in India

by Paul Davidson
President and CEO
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

La version anglaise de l’article d’opinion ci-dessous a paru dans le journal Embassy le 9 juin 2010.

A recent call for building a “Canada brand” in India by the former Clerk of the Privy Council, Kevin Lynch, is being pursued by Canada’s higher education sector. In his article, “India: An Emerging Economic Power”, published in Policy Options in April, Mr. Lynch argues there is vast opportunity for Canada to create a niche and the potential for benefits is high.

India is constantly characterized as an unparalleled innovation hub and an “emerging economic powerhouse” these days, with its population reaching well over 1.15 billion people (a full 17 percent of the world’s population), and therefore the largest democracy on the planet. India achieved steady average real annual growth of almost nine percent from 2003 to 2007. Even in 2009’s recession, according to Canada’s Export Development Corporation, the country’s economy grew by six percent in the final quarter.

This translates into a burgeoning Indian middle class, many times larger than the entire Canadian population, which is driving strong domestic demand. This demand is not limited to consumer goods – the list includes better infrastructure, more effective and transparent local government, efficient and effective application of the rule of law and better higher education opportunities.

Over the next decade it is anticipated that 1,400 new postsecondary institutions will be created to serve seven million more students. India is opening its doors and inviting more international partnerships to help mount the response.

Canadian universities are answering the call. There’s no doubt that now is the time to create opportunities for successful engagement and dialogue with key Indian government decision-makers, business leaders and universities to underscore the excellence of Canadian universities.

Canada’s universities are pursuing opportunities in India that will enrich experiences for students, strengthen links between Canada and India, and advance international research collaboration. There is much to do. For example, while there are 28,000 Indian students studying in Australia, there are only 2,800 Indian students in Canada. Thomson Reuters reported last fall that India is on track to surpass the research capacity of each G8 country within the decade. And there are many opportunities for linkages with the Indian private sector.

This is precisely why the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada is gathering national, international and India experts in Ottawa on June 9th and 10th to discuss some of these successes with an aim of advancing strategies for engagement with the Indian higher education sector. The workshop is being held in preparation for a November 2010 university presidents’ mission to India that AUCC will lead.

The AUCC mission forms one building block in a series of ongoing efforts to develop a strategy for improving Canada-India academic relations that is focused and sustainable and will achieve concrete results for the benefit of both nations. During his visit to India last November, Prime Minister Harper convened a roundtable on higher education underscoring the importance of this sector to Canada’s India strategy.

More recent missions led by Premiers McGuinty and Charest also reflect Canada’s ambitions. An upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Harper and Prime Minister Singh on June 27th following the G20 may also advance the higher education agenda.

As Mr. Lynch correctly points out, Canada has much to work with in undertaking these steps: strong cultural links; high-tech companies; a strong university research system; natural resource strengths; and a multicultural society and work force. Canada is home to over a million Indian immigrants. And we already have several well-established Indo-Canadian academic partnerships underway.

We recognize the commitment must be long term and that collaboration between the two countries’ governments, businesses and research communities will be key. This week’s workshop and the November mission are important steps in demonstrating our coordinated efforts to create stronger networks among university heads and to consolidate the impact of Canadian universities’ activities in India.