News and commentary

The profile of Canadian education is rapidly gaining prominence in Brazil

Ottawa, April 25, 2013: A delegation of Canadian universities is travelling to Brazil this week to promote higher education in Canada and strengthen existing research collaborations between the two countries.

Fourteen universities from across Canada are participating in the delegation led by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). During the week-long visit to Natal, Recife and São Paulo, delegates will meet with institutions and granting councils, and participate in a key conference of Brazilian university leaders.

Research collaboration in the STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics –and applied research based on university-industry partnerships relevant to industry in Canada and in Brazil are of particular interest to the delegation.

Canadian universities continue to build successful partnerships with Brazilian universities through the Ciência sem Fronteiras (CsF) (Science without Borders) program which provides one-year international scholarships to Brazilian students. CBIE, in cooperation with Languages Canada, administers a key component of CsF in Canada on behalf of the Brazilian federal granting councils. Since September 2012, CBIE has placed more than 2,000 Brazilian students in Canadian universities. The upcoming visit seeks to augment this success through the promotion of the variety of in-Canada research opportunities available to Brazilian undergraduate and graduate students.

 “Canada provides the perfect mix of high-quality education and cutting-edge research that enables us to attract talented researchers from around the world,” said Karen McBride, CBIE’s President and CEO. “We look forward to facilitating linkages between university research hubs in Brazil and our member institutions, and increasing the application of research in science and technology through deepened education-industry cooperation in both countries.”

“Strengthening partnerships with Brazil is a priority for Canada’s universities,” said Paul Davidson, President of AUCC. “This delegation builds on the success of last year’s mission to Brazil where close to 30 of Canada’s university presidents saw first-hand the tremendous opportunity to build strategic collaboration in research, innovation and higher education with Brazil.”

The itinerary includes a session profiling Canadian universities at the conference of the Brazilian Association of International Relations Offices in Higher Education (FAUBAI); meetings in Recife with the research council of the State of Pernambuco (FACEPE) and in São Paulo with the research council of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP); a visit to Campinas State University (UNICAMP) and São Paulo State University (UNESP); and meetings with private sector representatives.

CBIE is Canada’s national organization dedicated to making Canada a global leader in international education by mobilizing expertise, knowledge, opportunity and leadership. CBIE’s pan-Canadian membership comprises 150 colleges, institutes, universities, school boards and language schools which enrol over 1.2 million students from coast to coast. See www.cbie-bcei.ca.

AUCC is the national voice of Canada’s universities and advocates for higher education and university research with the federal government on behalf of its 97 member institutions.

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For more information contact:

Jennifer Humphries
CBIE Vice-President, Membership, Public Policy and Communications
(613) 237-4820 ext. 246; (613) 882 -0296
jhumphries@cbie.ca

Helen Murphy
AUCC Assistant Director, Communications
(613) 563-1236 ext. 238
hmurphy@aucc.ca

OTTAWA – Half of Canada’s undergraduate students participate in an internship or co-op learning experience before they graduate. That’s one of the facts about innovation in teaching and learning being highlighted in a new web resource and fact sheet on undergraduate education launched today by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. 

“Today’s university experience is different from that of 10 or 20 years ago in many ways,” says Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “Excellence in teaching and research remains the foundation of undergraduate education, but the way it is delivered is much more innovative and experiential than it has been in the past. Today’s undergraduates have unprecedented opportunities to work with employers through internships, co-ops and community service learning, and benefit from practical hands-on research experiences. Students are bringing what they learn in the classroom to the community and industry, gaining experience and building networks that help them transition to rewarding careers.”

AUCC’s enhanced web resource on innovation in undergraduate teaching and research features case studies, videos, quick facts and related articles and publications. It is designed to share promising practices and new ideas within the higher education community, for the benefit of all Canadians.

“We invite students, parents and others to learn how universities are changing,” says Mr. Davidson. “Canada’s universities are committed to providing all students with a research-enriched and globally engaged experience within a vibrant campus community. It’s a well-rounded experience that prepares students to succeed in the global knowledge economy.”

University presidents are gathered in Calgary this week for AUCC’s semi-annual membership meeting. The meeting agenda includes a dialogue on undergraduate education, where presidents will continue to share innovative practices and strategies around the undergraduate experience.

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For more information or interview opportunities:

Helen Murphy
AUCC Assistant Director, Communications
hmurphy@aucc.ca
613-563-1236 ext. 238

This letter was published on the Montreal Gazette website on March 25, 2013

Christine Tausig Ford
Vice President
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

An important debate is taking place in Quebec and across Canada about the skills shortage. Unfortunately this debate often veers toward misinformed rhetoric, which clouds the real issues. 

Christopher Curtis’ post-budget story (Critics say Ottawa needs to start improving access to post-secondary education, March 21) does just that. Curtis repeats the erroneous statement that the average university graduate leaves campus with $28,000 in debt. It’s simply not true. 

In fact, 40 percent of university students graduate debt-free. Of those with debt, the average is $24,000. 

Thankfully, in this post-budget period, increased attention is being focused on where there are real shortages of qualified employees. As a recent CIBC study points out, most of the in-demand occupations in Canada – including those in health care, science and a variety of management positions – require a university degree.

OTTAWA – The federal government’s investments in university research, skills and talent will help to make Canada more innovative and competitive, says the organization representing Canada’s 97 universities across the country.

“One million young people will graduate from Canada’s universities by the year 2017,” says Stephen Toope, president of The University of British Columbia and chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “They’ll be equipped with the knowledge, experiences and skills Canada will need for decades to come. And they’ll have gained the ability to adapt to the jobs of today – and tomorrow.”

“Canada needs more university, college and trades graduates to compete in the new global knowledge economy,” adds Paul Davidson, president of AUCC. According to a recent CIBC report, most jobs in high demand in Canada require a university degree, including managers in health, education, social and community services; human resources and business service professionals; and supervisors in manufacturing and processing.

The federal government’s research investments have made Canada a top research nation. “Even in difficult fiscal times, the government recognizes that university research fuels a competitive advantage for Canada,” says Mr. Davidson. “Over successive budgets, the federal government has increased support for research and innovation in Canada –investments that nurture talent, create jobs and make us more competitive internationally.”

Canada’s universities also welcomed the importance that today’s budget places on international education initiatives. “Investments in international education leverage economic benefits of more than $8 billion a year – and they benefit every region of Canada,” Mr. Davidson points out. “Employers tell us they want a versatile international workforce. Canada benefits – and Canadian students benefit – from a global outlook.”

AUCC is part of an education sector-led consortium that has urged the government to enhance international education efforts to drive Canada’s global competitiveness, and is ready to work with partners to help ensure the international education strategy advances.

A new element of the international education efforts announced today is enhanced funding for Mitacs’ Globalink Program, which brings top undergraduate students from around the world to Canadian universities to undertake research projects and will now allow Canadian students to go abroad for research experiences. “This is an opportunity for Canada’s universities to enhance their profile and attract the brightest international students to our campuses,” says Mr. Davidson.

University leaders also welcomed a new scholarship program that will improve access and achievement for Aboriginal postsecondary students. The budget provides funding to be matched by the private sector for new scholarships for Aboriginal students through an initiative of Indspire, in collaboration with Canada’s universities.

“Aboriginal youth is the fastest growing segment of our population, yet Aboriginal university graduation rates lag far behind those of the non-Aboriginal population,” notes Mr. Davidson. “These measures are a concrete step towards closing the education gap.”

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For interviews and information, please contact:

Helen Murphy
Assistant Director, Communications
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
613.563.1236, ext. 238
Cell: 613.608.8749
hmurphy@aucc.ca

Nadine Robitaille|
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel: 613.563.3961, ext. 306
Cell: 613.884.8401
nrobitaille@aucc.ca

Read the media release of the Consortium for International Education Marketing.