Higher Education: Think Canada

A colleague was recently travelling in India and asked Indians she met what came to their mind when they thought of Canada. Invariably the answer was “cold”. While it is true our winter months have lower temperatures, you can count on a warm welcome awaiting Indian students, faculty and research partners at our world class universities.

By Paul Davidson

President and CEO

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

A colleague was recently travelling in India and asked Indians she met what came to their mind when they thought of Canada. Invariably the answer was “cold”. While it is true our winter months have lower temperatures, you can count on a warm welcome awaiting Indian students, faculty and research partners at our world class universities.

“Why Canada?” you might ask. To begin, Canada has strong links to India; we’re home to over a million Indian immigrants. What’s more, we are known for our safe campuses, high quality education and being globally oriented. Canada ranks as being among the most multicultural nations in the world. According to the World Bank, Canadian cities are among the best places to live, work and study. Besides an outstanding quality of life, Canada offers one of the healthiest economies in the world.

In addition to these factors, quite simply, Canada offers high quality university education in a rich learning and research environment. Our internationally ranked universities have great value to bring to the Indian higher education sector as partners in research or as a destination of study.

Canada is known for its safe campuses, high quality education and being globally oriented.  Canada ranks as being among the most multicultural nations in the world.  According to the World Bank, Canadian cities are among the best places to live, work and study.  Besides an outstanding quality of life, Canada offers one of the healthiest economies in the world.

Canada has a proven track record for making our campuses more global; we have welcomed tens of thousands of international students and created important long-term linkages. Although 3,000 students come to Canada from India each year, we have room for many more.

That is one of the reasons why the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) has made strategic engagement with India a priority. AUCC is the national association representing public and not-for-profit universities in Canada.

Our internationally ranked universities have great value to bring to the Indian higher education sector as partners in research or as a destination of study.

In addition to our universities’ internationally renowned reputation for top quality learning and cutting edge research, Canada has a vibrant high-tech sector to facilitate leading industry linkages.

Research and development in Canada is thriving and has long contributed to the country’s economic backbone. Did you know, for example, that Canada is home to such life-changing discoveries as insulin, the electron microscope, the pacemaker? Canadian universities perform more than one-third of the country’s research and contribute billions of dollars to the Canadian economy. Across Canada and every day, research institutes are being established and world-renowned research teams are setting up shop. Research, for example, in health, nanotechnology, high-performance computing and film animation is exploding. We’d like to welcome Indian partners to be a part of this. And you can be assured, with this kind of strength in research, we have found effective ways to heat our homes and offices during the winter.

For statistics and analysis on Canadian university research, see www.aucc.ca/policy/research/index_e.html

AUCC welcomed the announcement in January 2009 of the Government of Canada’s intent to initiate discussions toward an enhanced economic partnership agreement with India. The potential for growth in this trade relationship is substantial and AUCC believes that the higher education sector can be instrumental in creating stronger links between Canada and this emerging partner.

AUCC believes the planned discussions towards the economic partnership with India represent a platform upon which Canada can pursue a constructive dialogue with our Indian counterparts in higher education to increase cooperation between Canadian and Indian universities and ultimately contribute to the prosperity of both countries.

Higher education activities such as two-way flow of students, academic exchange, knowledge exports and international research collaboration are an essential underpinning to a successful overall economic partnership with India.

Canadian universities have been increasing their promotion and recruitment efforts to take advantage of the growing demand amongst the increasingly mobile Indian student population to seek their education overseas, particular at the graduate level.

Attracting the best and brightest of the growing pool of Indian students to study in Canada’s universities has a two-fold benefit for Canada whether they choose to return home upon graduation or put their expertise and knowledge to work in Canada. When they return home after graduation, many become business, governmental, academic and cultural leaders, creating international networks that strengthen Canada’s economic and diplomatic ties there. If they choose to stay, they bring significant economic and societal benefits to Canada as a future source for highly qualified people that can supply the skilled labour market/workforce.

In November 2010, AUCC led a mission of 15 university presidents – representing the largest international delegation of Canadian universities - to India to profile Canada as a partner of choice in higher education. New scholarships were announced, education partnerships were formed and improved trade links were explored.

Higher education and research is essential to advancement in both countries for our respective participation in the global economy. To meet this challenge, Canadian universities are increasingly engaging with key Indian government decision-makers, business leaders and universities.

For Canadian universities, India has emerged as a key country in their efforts to enhance their internationalization strategies. To be sure, there is much already to be built upon, given the long tradition of cooperation between Canadian and Indian universities in both development activities and academic exchange.

For other information about Canadian universities, and about our mission to India, please see our website at: www.aucc.ca/policy/issues/india_engagement_e.html