Canada’s Governor General David Johnston will lead a group of Canadian university presidents to Brazil in 2012, under the auspices of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.
The delegation will attend the second Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAIE) in Rio de Janeiro April 25-28. Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement in São Paulo on August 9.
“The conference will provide a forum for academic leaders to discuss issues and opportunities related to international collaboration in higher education,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. “The Governor General’s participation in the CAIE will serve to raise Canada’s profile as a country of choice for students from all parts of the world.”
AUCC has been planning its Brazil mission for some time. This past June, it held a workshop that brought together senior administrators from Canadian and Brazilian universities to discuss strategic engagement. The trip to Brazil is intended to advance the Canada-Brazil higher education and research agendas.
Earlier this week, AUCC applauded the federal government’s initiatives on higher education research with Canada’s largest trading partner in South America. While visiting Brazil, the Prime Minister announced renewed funding for the International Science and Technology Partnership Program, and development of a new bilateral Science and Technology Action Plan. Mr. Harper also announced the opening of three new visa application centres in Brazil that will expedite visa processing. The move is expected to lead more Brazilians to choose Canada as a preferred place to study and do research.
“This kind of support for the internationalization of Canadian universities and for collaborative research and innovation drives economic growth and strengthens relationships,” said Paul Davidson, president of AUCC.