Canada-Mexico university mission
Global education and research collaboration
Canada and Mexico share a strong and prosperous relationship as strategic partners in the Americas and in the world. As the Canadian government deepens its economic and diplomatic ties with Mexico, universities play a critical role in bolstering this relationship.
From May 22 to 25, Canadian university presidents and senior leaders of research organizations met with their Mexican colleagues to focus on increasing student exchanges and further strengthening research collaboration between our two countries.
In the media
- Canada: Seven new MoUs with Mexico, The Pie News, May 31, 2018
- Canadian universities deepen ties with Mexico, Universities Canada, commununiqué, May 25, 2018
- A delegation of Canadian university presidents heads for Mexico, Pascale Castonguay, University Affairs, May 15, 2018
There’s a growing demand for global competencies. . . Our young people need to spend more time abroad as well as interact with the world when it comes to us.
Why Mexico?
Mexico matters. It is one of Canada’s most important partners for trade and diplomacy. Higher education and research partnerships strengthen and expand these valuable connections.
Bilateral study abroad and research experiences help students from both countries acquire valuable career and language skills for the North American and global job market. These kind of global competencies will help today’s students achieve their potential in the rapidly changing world economy.
The mission also helped advance research collaboration in priority areas for each country, including urbanization, business, health, digital technologies, Indigenous education and environmental sustainability.
Mission’s goals
Our universities are connecting Canadian talent to the world. This raises Canada’s international profile and promotes our country as an open, diverse and welcoming place for study, research and innovation collaboration. Objectives included:
- Boosting two-way talent exchange and joint research
- Reinforcing Canada’s position as a talent magnet
- Opening doors to collaboration for Canadian universities new to Mexico
Student mobility the numbers
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11%study abroad
Only 11% of Canadian undergraduates undertake an international mobility experience over the course of their degree, despite the clear benefits of global study to building future skills.
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70%see cost as barrier
Students surveyed say they would study abroad if it was more affordable and part of their study program.
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16%increase in Mexican study permits
In 2017, 6,920 Mexicans had a study permit valid for 6 months or more. Between 2016-2017, there was an increase of 16% of Mexican study permit holders at all levels of education in Canada.
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$15.5Beconomic impact
In 2016, international students, including their visiting families and friends, spent $15.5 billion on tuition, accommodation and discretionary spending – more than Canada’s exports of auto parts, lumber or aircraft.
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169KCanadian jobs
In 2016, international students studying in Canada helped sustained 169,000 jobs across Canada and generated $2.8 billion in tax revenues for all levels of government.
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23%lower unemployment rate for Eramus students
Five years after graduation, the unemployment rate of students of the EU Erasmus student exchange program is 23% lower. They have better employability skills after a stay abroad than 70% of all students.
Spotlight on
Participants
École nationale d’administration publique
Guy Laforest
Director general
Lakehead University
Moira McPherson
Interim president
NSCAD University
Dianne Taylor-Gearing
President
Royal Roads University
Allan Cahoon
President
St. Francis Xavier University
Kent MacDonald
President
Université du Québec à Montréal
Magda Fusaro
Rector
Université du Québec en Outaouais
Denis Harrisson
Rector
University of Calgary
Elizabeth Cannon
President
Inter-American Organization for Higher Education
David Julien
Executive Director
Mitacs
Alejandro Adem
CEO and Scientific director
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Mario Pinto
President
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Ted Hewitt
President
Media inquiries
Nadine Robitaille
Communications manager
613-563-3961 ext. 306
nrobitaille@univcan.ca
