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Canadian university presidents announce over $4 million investment in India-specific initiatives

Ottawa, November 9, 2010 – As a sign of their commitment to engaging with India, Canadian universities announced today in New Delhi funding for a series of India-specific initiatives valued at over $4 million. These investments include the new Globalink Canada-India Graduate Fellowship Program, new scholarships for Indian students, and institutional partnerships funds.

The announcement came at a roundtable for Canadian and Indian university presidents in the presence of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Canada’s Minister of State (Science and Technology) and India’s Minister of Human Resource Development, the Honourable Kapil Sibal. This event is part of the historic Canadian university mission to India designed to forge mutually beneficial links between Canada and India – one of the world’s most dynamic economies. The visit is organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and includes 15 presidents from universities across Canada.

“We all recognize the importance of a deeper engagement with India, for the individual Canadian universities that form this delegation, and also more broadly for the entire Canadian higher education sector,” said Stephen J. Toope, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia in making the announcement on behalf of the delegation. “The mission has been an effective catalyst, inspiring universities across Canada to create new awards for Indian students and form new partnerships with Indian universities and institutes.”

“Thanks to the leadership of our government, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and its member institutions, Canada is becoming a destination of choice for international research talent,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “We will continue to vigorously pursue the tremendous opportunities for scientists and businesses to conduct research and invest in innovation in Canada.”

The centrepiece of the package announced today is the Globalink Canada-India Graduate Fellowship Program which will provide up to 51 awards valued at more than $3.5 million for Indian students who have participated in the MITACS Globalink program in 2010, an initiative that brings Indian undergraduate students to Canada for summer research internships.

Eight Canadian universities – McMaster University, Simon Fraser University, The University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Waterloo and The University of Western Ontario – are providing funding for these new graduate fellowships.

The additional Canadian university investments in India come in the form of India-specific initiatives by participating universities including new scholarship programs for Indian students from The University of British Columbia, OCAD University, Queen’s University, University of Regina, Royal Roads University, Saint Mary’s University, Vancouver Island University and Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as funding for institutional partnerships for the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Manitoba. Details of the initiatives announced can be found in the backgrounder.

“These new investments are a concrete demonstration of Canadian universities’ commitment to partnering with Indian universities and supporting Indian students in the spirit of international education,” says AUCC President Paul Davidson. “Higher education is essential to the advancement of our participation in the global knowledge economy – both for Canada and India. This type of academic cooperation and mobility facilitates that progress.”

Follow the AUCC mission to India on Twitter (@UA_magazine, hashtag #auccindia)

We are also live blogging the mission at www.aucc.ca/india

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Background on Canadian University Announcements

For information, please contact:

Robert White
Senior Policy Analyst
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel.: 613-563-3961, ext. 284
Email: rwhite@aucc.ca

On the occasion of the Presidents’ Roundtable of November 9th in New Delhi, Canadian universities announced a series of India-specific initiatives valued at over $4 million CAD, including the new Globalink Canada-India Graduate Fellowship Program, new scholarships, and new funded institutional partnerships.

Globalink Canada-India Graduate Student Fellowship Program

Eight Canadian universities have come together to provide graduate fellowships for top Indian students who wish to pursue a Masters or PhD in Canada. The Globalink Canada-India Graduate Fellowship Program will provide up to 51 awards valued at more than $3.5 million CAD for Indian students who have participated in the MITACS Globalink program* in 2010.

University	Number of Awards	Total Estimated Value	Term of Award
McMaster University	Up to 5	Masters = $52,000 to $84,000 PhD = $148,000	MASc or MSc – 1-2 years (duration depends on program) PhD – 4 years
Simon Fraser University	Up to 8	Masters = $56,000 PhD = $104,000	Masters – 2 years PhD – 4 years
The University of British Columbia	10	Masters = $78,000 PhD = $136,000	MSc – 2 years PhD – 4 years
The University of Ottawa	5	Masters = $62,000 PhD = $104,000	Masters – 1.5 years with potential to renew for 6 months PhD – 3 years with potential to renew for 4th year
The University of Toronto	10	Masters = $83,225 PhD = $167,525	MSc – 1.5 years PhD – 3.5 years
The University of Victoria	5	Masters = $42,000 PhD = $64,000	Masters – 2 years PhD – 4 years
The University of Waterloo	5	Masters = $102,000 PhD = $143,000 to $184,000	MSc – 2 years PhD – 3 years with potential to renew for 4th year
The University of Western Ontario	3	Masters = $69,000 PhD = $119,000	MESc – 1.5 years with potential to renew for 6 months PhD – 3 years with potential to renew for 4th year

* MITACS Globalink brings top undergraduate students from India to Canada for summer research internships. Established in 2009, the program aims to build Canadian research links with India while connecting with its future innovators and entrepreneurs and showing them all that Canada has to offer in terms of research and innovation. For more information, visit www.mitacs.ca and please contact:

Megan Airton-Cindric
Director of Communications
MITACS Inc.
Tel.:  604.822.3982
Email: mairton@mitacs.ca

New University Initiatives Announced

In addition to the Globalink Canada-India Graduate Fellowship Program the following individual universities have announced their own India-specific initiatives at a value of over $500,000 CAD:

New Scholarships

The University of British Columbia

• 10 Outstanding International Student awards for top Indian undergraduate students for entry into UBC programs in September 2011 (valued at $10,000 each).
• IIT Delhi Engineering Student Mobility program (One $5,000 stipend for an undergraduate or graduate Indian student in engineering).
• For more information please contact: Jill Lambert, University of British Columbia: jill.lambert@ubc.ca

OCAD University (formerly Ontario College of Art and Design)

• One International Entrance scholarship for a top Indian undergraduate student for entry into OCAD University’s Master’s programs (valued at $10,000):
  • Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design
  • Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation
  • Master of Fine Arts in Criticism and Curatorial Practice
  • Master of Arts in Contemporary Art, Design and New Media Art Histories
• For more information please contact: Sarah Hildebrandt, OCAD University, shildebrandt@ocad.ca

Queen’s University at Kingston

• Four International Entrance Scholarships for top Indian undergraduate students for entry into Queen’s programs (valued at $9,000 each).
• Five Principal’s International Scholarships for top Indian undergraduate students for entry into Queen’s programs (valued at $20,000 over 2 years).
• For more information please contact: Nancy Dorrance, Queen’s University nancy.dorrance@queensu.ca

University of Regina

• 100 scholarships for Indian students wishing to enter the University of Regina in any undergraduate program. (valued at $1000 each.)
• For more information please contact: Dale Johnson, University of Regina: dale.johnson@uregina.ca

Royal Roads University

• Two scholarships for Indian students who will enroll in the Masters of Global Management program (valued at $5,000 each).
• One scholarship for an Indian student who will enroll in the Doctor of Social Sciences program (valued at $12,000).
• For more information please contact: Cyndi Mcleod, Royal Roads University: cyndi.mcleod@royalroads.ca

Saint Mary’s University

• One scholarship for an Indian student who will enroll in a Master of Science program (tuition waiver plus $5,000/year for living expenses for 2 years. Total value is $30,000).
• For more information please contact: Margaret Murphy, Saint Mary’s University: margaret.murphy@smu.ca

Vancouver Island University

• One scholarship for a qualified Indian undergraduate student for entry into any program at VIU in the fall of 2011 (valued at $5,000).
• $5000 has been put aside to facilitate new faculty exchanges with Indian institutions.
• For more information please contact: Bruce Condie, Vancouver Island University: bruce.condie@viu.ca

Wilfrid Laurier University

• One scholarship will be awarded to a qualified Indian undergraduate student for entry into any program at Wilfrid Laurier University in the fall of 2011 (valued at $5000).
• For more information please contact: Kevin Crowley, Wilfrid Laurier University: kcrowley@wlu.ca

New Funded Institutional Partnerships

The University of Saskatchewan will make the inaugural disbursement from its International Partnership Fund, in the amount of $150,000 to establish a new partnership between the Uof S and Guru Angad Dev Verterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) in Ludhiana, India in the areas of public health, zoonoses and toxicology. In addition to the $150,000 provided by the Uof S, GADVASU is committing $150,000 making this a $300,000 project over the next 3 years.  The funds will be used to pay the costs of travel for students and faculty between Ludhiana and Saskatoon, and provide $20,000 stipends to up to 6 graduate students each from Canada and India.  Faculty from both institutions will participate in the teaching of graduate courses via use of distance education modalities.  GADVASU students will enroll in relevant Masters of Public Health courses offered online by the School of Public Health.  U of S graduate students will conduct part of the research for their dissertations in India.
For more information please contact: Kathryn Warden, University of Saskatchewan:  kathryn.warden@usask.ca

The University of Manitoba has partnered with the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT) and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries of India (MoFPI) by signing an MOU to train IICPT staff and students at the University of Manitoba as well as to exchange faculty members between the two organizations to build research capacity at IICPT for research into better pulse storage and processing systems. With funding of $100,000 each from the Province of Manitoba and MoFPI, the University of Manitoba will fund training of at least six scientists from IICPT for 3 to 6 months each and offer scholarships of $1000 per month for six months to at least 9 graduate students from the IICPT for their research training.  Regular exchange visits of faculty members between the two organizations will build a solid research and training program for grain storage and processing at the IICPT.
For more information please contact: Leah Janzen, University of Manitoba: Leah_Janzen@UManitoba.CA

New Partnership Agreements Signed at the November 9 Presidents’ Roundtable

University of British Columbia is renewing a long-standing student mobility agreement with IIT Delhi, which involves undergraduate engineering students spending time at each others’ institutions. IIT Delhi students have regularly received a stipend from UBC to support their studies. The renewal of this agreement marks the high-level support of this partnership at both universities.”
For more information please contact: Jill Lambert, University of British Columbia: jill.lambert@ubc.ca

University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Amal Jyothi College of Engineering 2 + 2 will sign an agreement to jointly offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nuclear Power degree.
For more information please contact: Lisa Banks, University of Ontario Institute of Technology: lisa.banks@uoit.ca

Royal Roads University and the Indira Gandhi National Open University will sign an agreement to establish an education partnership that will explore joint delivery of programs through blended and distance education programs.

Royal Roads University and the ACN School of Business will sign an agreement to establish a partnership on academic cooperation as it relates to collaborative exchanges, joint research and to explore the joint development and delivery of corporate and custom education programs.
For more information please contact: Cyndi Mcleod, Royal Roads University: cyndi.mcleod@royalroads.ca

Read the presentation

Largest-ever Canadian university mission aims to tap into strong demand for higher education

Ottawa, November 4, 2010 – The largest delegation of Canadian university presidents ever to travel abroad begins a seven-day mission in India on November 8.

The group will forge mutually beneficial links between Canada and one of the world’s most dynamic economies. The visit is organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and includes 15 presidents from universities across Canada.

Over the course of seven days, they will participate in a series of targeted meetings with Indian educators, government officials and business leaders. The first major event will be a roundtable of Canadian and Indian University presidents to be joined by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Canada’s Minister of State (Science and Technology) and India’s Minister of Human Resource Development, the Honourable Kapil Sibal. Another key occasion will be the delegation’s participation in the higher education summit organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. They plan to return to Canada with deeper connections that will lead to creative cooperation agreements, and leave behind an enhanced profile of Canada as a key player in the global knowledge economy.

Canada has been moving aggressively in recent years to step up cooperation with India, and the two countries have signed agreements in a number of areas, including in higher education. There are enormous potential benefits in this sector, and the mission is a coordinated attempt to tap into that potential.

India, with over one billion people, is home to a growing middle class. This means that literally tens of millions of families are now in a position to offer their children a higher education. But even though the country recently decided to boost its higher education budget by about 40 per cent, the sector cannot grow fast enough to keep up with the demand. The research component at India’s universities is also experiencing phenomenal growth, and India is on track to surpass the research capacity of each G8 country within the next decade.

The Canadian educators travelling to India in November will:

• foster the development of innovative research and cooperation agreements with institutions in India;
• raise the profile of Canada’s higher education ‘brand’ in India;
• better understand the implications of India’s new Foreign Education Providers Bill, legislation that sets ground rules for universities wanting to open campuses and grant degrees in India; and
• attract more Indian students to Canada.

“Strong universities help build strong societies. They also strengthen regional economies while enhancing a country’s capacity to contribute to the world economy,” says Stephen J. Toope, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia and a member of the mission. “Canadian universities can build beneficial partnerships in India to create exceptional learning opportunities for students and research collaborations that improve our societies nationally and globally.”

“In this age of globalization, it will be the formation of super-partnerships, rather than single superpowers, that will lead the way,” adds Dr. Indira Samarasekera, President of the University of Alberta who is also joining the delegation for a portion of the mission. “With a focus on education, energy, and entrepreneurship, Canada and India can lay the foundations of a formidable super-partnership.”

“We also want to raise Canada’s profile,” says AUCC President Paul Davidson. “And given the vast complex nature of the Indian market, this collective effort of Canadian universities is a necessary step to maximize impact there. We are not on the radar of most of the Indians thinking of studying abroad. They need to know Canada offers quality education in a rich learning and research environment.”

“This mission is a way for us to get to know India and its needs more deeply – and to make sure that when Indians think of research and higher education, they think of us. Educators and business people in India need to know that Canadian universities are open to building successful partnerships that will enrich experiences for students, strengthen links between our countries and advance international research collaboration.”

“Next year, 2011, has been designated Year of India in Canada,” notes Mr. Rana Sarkar, President and CEO of the Canada-India Business Council. “As they get to know India better, we hope Canadians will recognize the breadth, depth and permanence of the economic changes happening there, as well as its potential. In that context, more cooperation can only benefit both countries.”

Follow the mission on Twittter @UA_magazine (hashtag #auccindia)

We’ll also be live blogging the mission at www.aucc.ca/india

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For more information:
Robert White
Senior Policy Analyst
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
613-563-3961 ext. 284
or
613-884-8420 (cell)
rwhite@aucc.ca

Canada’s universities call for international education strategy

Ottawa, November 3, 2010 – The number of international students enrolled in Canadian universities increased 10 percent this year: a trend that enriches the learning experience for Canadian students, builds global links for Canada and generates economic activity in communities across the country.

“Canada is a nation built on linkages around the world. The increased presence of international students brings both immediate and long term benefits,” said Paul Davidson, President of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Today, AUCC released the fourth brochure in a series that examines in the value of a university education. Value of a Degree in a Global Marketplace shows that international student enrolment in Canada’s universities has risen for the 15th year in a row. There are now 90,000 full-time international students studying at Canadian universities – triple the number of students who came to Canada to study in 1998.

Despite this success, international competition to recruit top talent is intensifying. The United States, United Kingdom and Australia are all outpacing Canada. In 2008, the United States attracted nearly half a million international students; the United Kingdom attracted three times that of Canada with 306,000; followed by Australia with 181,000 international students – double the number of international students studying in Canada.

“Canada needs a national strategy and government investment to aggressively build Canada’s brand and to help attract the best and the brightest students from around the world,” said the AUCC president. “These graduates will help build international, economic, diplomatic and cultural ties and contribute to Canada’s competitiveness in the global market.” In recent months, Canada’s national education stakeholders have formed a marketing consortium, and all of Canada’s premiers have identified the need for an international marketing strategy as a key priority.

Download the Value of a Degree in a Global Marketplace brochure.

AUCC is the voice of Canada’s universities. It represents 95 Canadian public and not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

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For interviews and information contact:
Mélanie Béchard
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel: 613-563-3961, ext. 306
mbechard@aucc.ca