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
claude.bibeau@international.gc.ca
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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 governmentrecognised universities and colleges.
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Leveraging the MOU
Through:
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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 Canadafunded 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 prerequisite 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
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