Updates on Canada-India Higher Education
Cooperation
Presentation by Claude Bibeau, Deputy Director
Policy and Planning/International Scholarships
International Education and Youth Division
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT)
Synergy, October 6 2011
claude.bibeau@international.gc.ca
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International Education and Youth Division
Direction de l’Éducation internationale et de la Jeunesse
 Policy and Planning/ Politique et planification
 International Scholarships/ Bourses internationales
 Understanding Canada: Canadian Studies/
Comprendre le Canada : Études canadiennes
 Edu-Canada: International Promotion of Education in
Canada/ Édu-Canada : Promotion internationale de
l’éducation au Canada
 International Experience Canada/ Expérience
internationale Canada
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Policy and Planning
DFAIT, with the support of its international
networks, works closely with partners and
stakeholders in the elaboration of a
coordinated approach in the area of
international education.
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Partners/Stakeholders
 OGDs
 Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
 Canadian Bureau for International Education
 Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI)
 International Council for Canadian Studies
 Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
(AUCC)
 Association of Canadian Community Colleges
 Among others
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Policy and Planning
DFAIT helps establish mechanisms, such as
bilateral instruments of cooperation, to facilitate
collaboration at the international level.
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Canada-India MOU
 Canada-India MOU in higher education cooperation (June
2010).
 As part of MOU, Joint Working Group (JWG), co-chaired by
DFAIT and the Indian Ministry of Human Resource
Development, oversees the implementation of the MOU.
 Canadian members of the JWG: CMEC and AUCC.
 Preparatory meeting of the JWG in November 2010 on
margins of AUCC university presidents’ mission to India, led
by Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and
Technology).
 Date for first official JWG meeting under discussion.
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Canada-India Education Summit
 As a follow up to Canadian university presidents’ mission to India,
Carleton University hosted the Canada-India Education Summit,
June 17 and 18, 2011 - initiative of Carleton U and the High
Commission of India as part of the “Year of India in Canada 2011”;
SICI, AUCC and DFAIT also key collaborators.
 Indian delegation of 20 Indian Vice-Chancellors led by Dr. (Mrs.)
Daggubati Purandeswari, Minister of State for Human Resource
Development (Higher Education).
 Education Summit included roundtable discussions on key issues
relating to academic cooperation and mobility, and supported
Canada-India MOU in higher education cooperation.
 Final report of the Summit – useful re: next steps of the bilateral
relation/work of the JWG.
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“Simply put…”
 “Simply put, we live in a world where the engine of growth is the human
mind, building products, offering services and creating whole new
industries on the strength of an idea. Research and development are more
critical than ever to pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge. Talented,
well educated people will drive that research, create those innovations,
build those collaborations.”
 “This changing world is our opportunity to help shape our futures, with
education at the forefront to effect change. Through collaborations, Canada
and India should demonstrate how to create tomorrow’s sustainable
economy through innovation today. We should lead in building true
research partnerships between our great universities. We should connect
our businesses to lever our respective strengths for greater growth. And we
should show the world our capacity to connect minds and cultures, not just
markets and money.”
“Globalization and Education: Connecting Minds as well as Markets”, by The
Honourable Kevin Lynch, Canada-India Education Summit
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Canada-India Innovation Summit
 Hosted by Carleton University and the Canada-India Centre for
Excellence in Science, Technology, Trade and Policy, in collaboration
with the High Commission of India to Canada and DFAIT, June 20 and
21, 2011.
 Innovation Summit explored various options in innovation cooperation
and was particularly useful in bringing researchers of both countries
together.
 Attended by approximately 140 participants, including 40 speakers and
panellists from Canada and India, examined the challenges which both
countries share, namely issues associated with environment, health,
population size, age and geographic distribution.
 Panellists considered S&T solutions to some of these challenges and
confirmed the need for further cooperation at all levels, as well as
increased funding for collaborative projects.
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DFAIT International Scholarships
Objectives:
 Expose foreign students/researchers to Canada’s
academic expertise and cutting edge research
facilities.
 Promote brain circulation – structured to minimize
brain drain.
 Foster institutional linkages and research
collaborations.
 India is a key country in DFAIT’s Canadian
Commonwealth Scholarships Program: 59 Indian
Graduate Student Exchanges awarded in 2011-2012.
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International Scholarships Website
www.scholarships-bourses.gc.ca

Lists federally
funded awards
(including by
CIDA, IDRC,
NSERC, CIHR,
SSHRC and
DFAIT)

Searchable by
country

Provides
support and
guidelines for
Canadian
institutions
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Understanding Canada:
Canadian Studies Program
 Over the past 35 years, the Understanding Canada: 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.
 The development and consolidation of Canadian Studies in India is done in
partnership with SICI.
 India is home to a vibrant Canadian Studies network including an association
with more than 800 members and 25 Canadian Studies centres.
 UGC has recognized 4 centres (Delhi, Mumbai, Baroda & Kerela) as Area
Studies Centres – these centres are funded by UGC.
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Canada-India S&T Relations
 Canada-India S&T Agreement signed Nov. 2005.
 Funding of $1 million from DFAIT and matching $1 million
from Govt. of India.
 Priority areas:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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biotechnology/health research/medical devices;
sustainable environmental technologies and alternative energy;
nanoscience/nanomedicine;
information communications technologies (wireless, rural
connectivity, infotainment);
earth sciences and disaster management;
aerospace;
photonics;
synchrotron science; and
biopharma.
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India & ISTPP
 International Science & Technology Partnerships
Program (ISTPP):
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•
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funding for R&D projects and partnership development activities
program delivered by an arms-length organization – ISTPCanada
must have industry participant(s) and commercialization plan
academia and R&D Institutes participation strengthens the
application
• application information: www.istpcanada.ca
 4 Priority Countries: India, Israel, China & Brazil
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Going Global Innovation
 Promote and enhance Canada's international innovation
efforts by supporting Canadian companies and/or
researchers in pursuing international R&D collaborative
opportunities through the development of partnerships.
 Build on targeted relationships between Canadian
companies and/or researchers and key players in other
countries to allow them to proceed with formal
discussions to initiate collaboration(s) on future
international R&D initiatives that could lead to
downstream commercialization results.
 http://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/eng/science/going_
global.jsp.
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Partners
 S&T Counsellors
• Ivy Lerner-Frank – Canadian High Commission, New Delhi, India
ivy.lerner-frank@international.gc.ca
 S&T Officer in DFAIT, Ottawa
• Ranjan Banerjee – Innovation, Science and Technology Division
• ranjan.banerjee@international.gc.ca Phone: 613-995-6579
 Regional Offices
 Provinces and Provincial Offices Abroad
 IRAP
 DFAIT Integrated Trade Model: Sector Practices,
Geographic Desk Officers, Innovation, Science &
Technology Division
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Outreach (High Commission
in New Delhi)
 Close collaboration with DFAIT
 Liaison with the Ministry of Human Resources
Development (MHRD) and other Indian partners
 Support for bilateral visits
 Outreach activities/education promotion
 Support for Canadian outreach initiatives
• Canadian High Commissioner Beck in Canada - summer 2011
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Canada-India Research Center of Excellence
 As part of the Government’s wider India engagement
strategy, Budget 2011 announces $12 million over five
years for a competition to select a Canada-India Research
Centre of Excellence (CIRCE). The centre will focus on
creating partnerships that bring together key individuals
and organizations from Canada and India, accelerating the
exchange of research results, and increasing Canada’s
international visibility and reputation as a research leader.
 This allocation demonstrates the federal government’s
commitment to strengthening bilateral academic networks,
and building and reinforcing linkages.
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Next Steps
 Taking stock of outcomes of Canada-India Education Summit
and the Canada-India Innovation Summit, hosted by Carleton
University.
 First meeting of the Joint Working Group in context of the
Canada-India MOU in higher education cooperation.
 Focus India Education Working Group fall meeting.
 Continuing outreach and liaison with Indian Ministry Officials by
Canadian High Commission in Delhi.
 Role of CIRCE in the overall bilateral relationship.
 Finalization of a Canada-India mobility study – see next slide.
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DFAIT’s Canada-India Mobility Study
 DFAIT conducts studies and analyses of issues in the area of
international cooperation in higher education as they relate to
DFAIT’s priorities.
 DFAIT working on a background document regarding mobility
programs for students and researchers between Canada and India.
 Information collected will be used to support departmental briefings
and information dissemination about Canada’s strengths and
engagement with India in higher education.
 If you have not participated already, please contact Kimberly O’Neil,
DFAIT, at kimberly.o’neil@international.gc.ca at your earliest
convenience and by the end of October 2011.
 Thank you!
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International Education and Youth Contacts
 International Education and Youth: www.international.gc.ca/education
Claire Poulin, Director: claire.poulin@international.gc.ca
 International Scholarships www.scholarships-bourses.gc.ca
Policy and Planning www.international.gc.ca/education/policy-politique
Claude Bibeau, Deputy Director: claude.bibeau@international.gc.ca
 Understanding Canada www.cdnstudies.ca
Jean Labrie, Deputy Director : jean.labrie@international.gc.ca
 International Experience Canada www.international.gc.ca/experience
Dominic Gosselin, Deputy Director: dominic.gosselin@international.gc.ca
 Edu-Canada www.educationau-incanada.ca
Lee-Anne Hermann, Deputy Director : lee-anne.hermann@
international.gc.ca
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