1 international education and youth division leveraging the mou between canada & india...
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International Education and Youth Division
Leveraging the MOU between Canada & India
Presentation by Claude Bibeau, Deputy Director, International Education
and Youth Division, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
(DFAIT)
September 23rd, 2010
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Key Dates
November 2009: Prime Minister Harper visits India and holds an Education Roundtable.
February 2010: Discussions in Ottawa with India’s Universities Grant Commission (UGC) regarding a Canada-India memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in higher education
June 27, 2010: Prime Minister Harper and Prime Minister Singh welcome the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education Cooperation. This framework will facilitate academic exchanges, partnerships and mobility between higher educational institutions in the two countries.
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MOU between Canada & India
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of
Canada and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning
Cooperation in Higher Education
• The MOU will strengthen bilateral relations through cooperative activities and increased academic mobility as well as synergies between institutions of higher learning in Canada and India.
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MOU between Canada & India
MOU represents an umbrella arrangement for a wide range of institution to institution
activities:
Exchanges of undergraduate, graduate and vocational students, and post-doctoral fellows;
Short-term awards, Graduate studies at Canadian and Indian universities;
Joint organization of workshops, seminars, special technical programs;
Exchange of research materials, publications, educational literature, teaching aids, demonstration material and information;
Twinning arrangements between institutions of higher learning;
Training programmes in technical, vocational and higher education;
Promotion of teaching and research in Canada about India and in India about Canada;
Providing mutual assistance in education in the fields of educational planning and management, social sciences, information technology, computer science, mathematics, science, nanotechnology and bio-technology;
Reciprocal internship programs
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Key Indian Players
The Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD) is comprised of two departments, i.e. the Department of School Education and Literacy and the Department of Higher Education, the latter being in charge of secondary and post-secondary education and empowered to grant deemed university status to educational institutions on the advice of the University Grants Commission of India (UGC).
The UGC is a statutory organisation for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India and funds for government-recognised universities and colleges.
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Leveraging the MOU
Through:
• International Scholarships• Policy and Planning• Understanding Canada Program• International Youth Program• Canada as a study destination• Internships• Exchanges – Faculty and students• Institutional partnerships
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International Scholarships Program
Graduate Student Exchange Program (GSEP)
DFAIT international scholarships program has expanded the number of Indian short-term awards tied to institutional linkages under the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, for a total of 50 awards spread across at least five universities at the graduate level in 2009-2010
GSEP requires a formal tie-up to be operational
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
new Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
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DFAIT International Scholarships Website
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Understanding Canada: Canadian Studies Program
Over the past 34 years, the Canadian Studies Program has been instrumental in building a core of experts at foreign universities and think tanks with an in depth knowledge of Canada.
Funding is available to eligible parties for conferences, collaborative research including faculty & doctoral research, curriculum development, and student mobility & exchanges.
India is home to a vibrant Canadian Studies network including an association with more than 800 members and 25 Canadian Studies centres.
UGC has recognised 4 centres (Delhi, Mumbai, Baroda & Kerela) as Area studies centres – these centres are funded by UGC.
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International Experience Canada (IEC)
The IEC initiative, previously named the International Youth Programs, negotiates and establishes bilateral arrangements on youth mobility with other countries.
Bilateral arrangements ease administrative process for young Canadians and international youth (18 and 35 years) to gain unique travel, work and life experiences abroad, for up to one year.
To date, Canada has 30 such arrangements (MOUs and treaties) on youth mobility.
In 2009, more than 73,000 youth from Canada and around the world participated in the initiative.
25 students from India are expected to participate in partnership with SWAP this year.
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Education Promotion
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DFAIT Initiatives
Focus India Education Working Group Meeting
Bilateral visits
Special events – Canada-India Education Partnership Forum (2008)
• Education Partnership Forum is an annual event featuring a different country of honour each year, supported by DFAIT in cooperation with our external scholarship administrator, the Canadian Bureau for International Education.
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Innovation, Science and Technology
Canada-India Science and Technology Agreement since 2005
• Provides framework for S&T collaboration in areas of mutual interest
International Science and Technology Partnerships Program (ISTPP)
• 2005-2010 program to promote international collaborative research projects which have the potential for commercialization with India, China, Israel and Brazil
• Budget 2010 provides $8M to extend the program for 2 years
Going Global Innovation (GGI)
• Supports Canadian researchers in accessing international R&D collaborative opportunities through the development of partnerships with key players in other countries
• Reimburses up to 75% of Canadian eligible expenses (hotel, accommodation, etc) to a maximum of $75,000 per project
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High Commission in India
Close collaboration with the International Education and Youth Division at DFAIT
Liaison with the Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD)
Outreach activities/education promotion
Support for bilateral visits
Promotion of Understanding Canada & other Government of Canada-funded programmes.
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Cooperation with Stakeholders
• AUCC• Cooperation with DFAIT
– Bilateral visits, e.g. University Grants Commission visit in February 2010
– Graduate study mobility and degree recognition– University Presidents Mission in November 2010
• Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC)
• The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute is an important partner in the administration of the Understanding Canada program in India. It also works closely with the 25 Canadian studies centres and its over 50 institutional members in India.
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RECENT ACTIVITIES DELHI is working toward the launch of the Joint Working Group (JWG) which is a pre-
requisite for the MoU to make any progress.
DELHI has on behalf of AUCC invited HRD Minister Kapil Sibal for the AUCC roundtable on November 9. The Minister has agreed to participate. In the letter to the Minister DELHI has expressed interest in pursuing the creation of the JWG.
Consultations with HRD / SICI/ DELHI TD
SICI last week resumed its Focus Canada forum. This was an effort to revive the Focus Canada forum after a period of 3 years. DELHI participated. Joint Secretary Amit Khare and UGC Chairman Sukhadeo Thorat were present.
DHOM Jim Nickel recently made outcalls to the Delhi University and the Jamia Millia Islamia and met with the Vice Chancellors. Discussions focussed on strengthening collaborations and student mobility. MoU was identified as an important medium to do this. DELHI-Cridland and Francis also met with the International Deans of Delhi University last week to take the discussions forward.
DELHI has been pursuing an aggressive media and communication strategy with the objective of building a profile for Canada and to promote key awards such as Vanier, Banting, MITACS and GSEP.
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International Programs and Scholarships
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade http://www.international.gc.ca
International Education and Youth http://www.international.gc.ca/education/index.aspx?lang=eng
International Scholarships (includes major federally funded awards), database searchable by country
http://www.scholarships.gc.ca
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Some Questions for Discussion
Canada’s
approach