Canada’s university leaders visit Mexico to boost partnerships

September 8, 2014
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MEXICO CITY, Mexico – A delegation of Canadian university leaders is in Mexico this week to bolster research and institutional partnerships and to encourage greater student mobility between the two countries.

From September 8 to 12, presidents and senior representatives from 14 universities will meet with institutional partners, government officials and Mexican and Canadian private sector stakeholders. Organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada with strong support from the Canadian Embassy in Mexico, the delegation includes representatives from Mitacs, a Canadian organization that provides research internships and fellowships to university students, and Languages Canada.

This mission builds on February’s North American Leaders’ Summit, where Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto agreed to boost academic exchange and student mobility within North America. During this meeting, Mexico committed to increase the number of students it sends to the U.S. each year by 100,000; targets for Canada have not yet been established.

“Canadian and Mexican universities have a lot in common,” says Christine Tausig Ford, vice-president of AUCC, who is leading the delegation. “This visit will strengthen our ties. We’ll be focusing on forging new research and innovation partnerships, and encouraging students to learn more about – and study in – each other’s countries. Stronger higher education links drive increased trade between our countries,” Tausig Ford adds.

During the visit, AUCC will solidify linkages by renewing an agreement with its counterpart organization in Mexico, the National Association of Universities and Institutions (ANUIES), which brings together 180 Mexican universities.

The agenda also includes meetings with senior Mexican government officials, Canadian and Mexican business leaders and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Mexico. The delegation will have a significant presence at ANUIES 20th annual meeting for international education leaders at the Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas. Canada features prominently on the agenda, including a presidential discussion on Canada-Mexico Aboriginal higher education, and a number of sessions designed to enhance international partnerships.

Media invitation:
Members of the media are invited to attend the AUCC-ANUIES MOU signing event September 9, 4:00−4:30 p.m. at the Mexico Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (Plaza Juárez 20, Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06010 Ciudad de México) where Canadian university leaders will also make announcements on new programs and scholarships and sign new institutional agreements with Mexican partners.

Interview opportunities are available with Christine Tausig Ford, vice-president of AUCC, Brian Stevenson, president of Lakehead University, and Mike Mahon, president of the University of Lethbridge, as well as other members of the delegation.

AUCC is the voice of Canada’s universities at home and abroad, representing the interests of 97 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university degree-level colleges.

Spanish version of media release

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About Universities Canada
Universities Canada is the voice of Canada’s universities at home and abroad, advancing higher education, research and innovation for the benefit of all Canadians.

Media contact:

Lisa Wallace
Assistant Director, Communications
Universities Canada
[email protected]

Tagged:  Research and innovation, Study abroad

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