Organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC), the group includes 15 university presidents from across the country. The aim is primarily to network and forge ties with educators, government officials, and business leaders from the burgeoning economic superpower.
“Canadian universities can build beneficial partnerships in India to create exceptional learning opportunities for students and research collaborations that improve our societies nationally and globally,” said Stephen J. Toope, president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia and member of the AUCC mission.
Meetings will take place with selected Indian representatives from the sectors of education, business, and politics.
Starting events off, a roundtable of Canadian and Indian university presidents will convene, joined by Gary Goodyear, Canada’s Minister of State for Science and Technology, and India’s Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal.
Another highlight is a summit on higher education arranged by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The delegation hopes to generate cooperation agreements and create a profile for Canada as a key player in the global knowledge economy.
“Strong universities help build strong societies. They also strengthen regional economies while enhancing a country’s capacity to contribute to the world economy,” Toope said.
India, with a population of over one billion people, has emerged as one of the world’s top economic superpowers as well as one of the fastest-growing, and has been particularly focused in the areas of services and technology.
This puts the country in the unique position of having the fastest-growing middle class in the world. The Indian government has recently boosted its education budget by about 40 percent, but the sector is unable to keep up with the nation’s growing demand for higher education.
India’s research sector, which is also experiencing rapid growth, is expected to surpass the research capacity of every G8 country in the next decade.
The unprecedented AUCC initiative will basically be a sales pitch to initially raise Canada’s higher education “brand” in India and subsequently to develop innovative research and cooperation agreements with Indian institutions.
There is also a critical mutual exchange component being sought after by the Canadian delegation in which they will seek to better understand the implications of India’s newly introduced Foreign Education Provider’s bill that sets the guidelines for universities wanting to open campuses and grant degrees in India.
They will also seek out ways to attract more Indian students to universities in Canada. AUCC President Paul Davidson said that the delegation wants to “raise Canada’s profile.”
“And given the vast complex nature of the Indian market, this collective effort of Canadian universities is a necessary step to maximize impact there. We are not on the radar of most of the Indians thinking of studying abroad. They need to know Canada offers quality education in a rich learning and research environment.”
