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Wednesday, November 17

7:30 - 9:00 Registration/Information 7:45 - 9:00 Closing Plenary Breakfast: "The role of education in supporting Canada's foreign policy" and CBIE Awards Speaker: Sir John Daniel, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Commonwealth of Learning 9:00 - 10:00 CONCURRENT INFORMATION SESSIONS IS1 Developing successful partnerships in China (E) In 1999, a partnership was established in Changchun, PRC that involved four North American educational institutions and one of China's largest universities. This presentation will deal with the unique nature of this partnership and the many challenges and opportunities faced in delivering academic programs half a world away. Now in its fifth year, many of the start-up issues have been addressed, but new issues continue to arise. You will have an opportunity to share in the successes, failures and hopes for the future. IS2 A majority in the margins: Women in Iranian higher education (E) Drawing from multiple sources of data, official census and qualitative interview transcripts with several Iranian university students and graduates, the presenter will explore systemic problems with the institutions of higher learning in Iran. A key focus will be the situation of women in Iranian universities. While the government promotes and encourages women's participation in institutions of higher education, the experiences of many women point to their exclusion in areas from policy- making to teaching and learning. IS3 Australia and New Zealand: an international education update (E) This panel discussion will provide an update on Australian and New Zealand education, including internships and custom-designed programs, why these countries continue to be popular international education destinations, student services both pre-departure and in-country and transfer of qualifications. IS4 Educational solutions in the sphere of democratization and civil society in Russia (E) In the beginning of 90's an emerging political elite aspired to build a new Russia based on Western liberal values. Yet it had little real understanding and experience of those values. Russian educational institutions tried to build mechanisms to educate young, mid-career politicians, civil servants, NGO managers, journalists and business elite in the field of democracy, civil society and human rights. The session will explore the main accomplishments, problems and solutions evolved from these training programs in Russia. It will address the experience of foreign assistance focused on training in the process of democratization. IS5 "Live, Learn and Succeed": A personalized web portal for international students (E) The "Live, Learn and Succeed" project aims to coordinate information and services from the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, and education institutions for the benefit of prospective and current international students. A key product of the project will be a personalized web portal that will allow international students to access self-serve information and services related to studying in Canada. This session will feature a demo of the portal and present results of research with international students about services provided by Canada about studying here. 9:00-11:00 SPECIAL SESSION: Introduction to reki, yoga and su-jok for the mind, body and soul (E) In our daily work as international educators and service providers we are extremely creative and helpful when we serve students. While this can be satisfying and rewarding, the pressure of the diverse needs of students and our institutions can at times be stressful. This interactive workshop allows us to become aware of the stress points in the body. The session will draw from yoga, reki and su-jok (acupressure therapy) to help participants learn relaxation techniques, specifically when body, mind and soul is engaged and focused. This session will also feature exercises you can practice at the computer. (Wear comfortable clothing and bring a long scarf) 10:00 - 11:00 CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS SERIES E E1 Synergistic opportunities in development cooperation (E) International research, training programs and capacity building activities are often designed and implemented as separate entities. This session will explore models of development cooperation that integrate these components. Two CIDA-funded case studies will highlight conceptual frameworks and applied development programs in environmental management: the Waste-Econ Program in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in partnership with the University of Toronto and several government institutions, universities and NGOs and Ecoplan China established by the University of Waterloo and a consortia of Canadian and Chinese government agencies and universities. E2 Mutually beneficial partnerships for exchanges and study abroad (E) This workshop will provide participants with perspectives from an institutional central office and departmental/faculty level regarding the identification of sustainable international initiatives. Topics addressed will include the identification of institutional goals/objectives (choosing partners); negotiating agreements; identifying principles of good governance for formal links; and managing "buy-in" from key stakeholders. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences to build on best practices. E3 Preparing international students to work (E) Securing employment is increasingly significant for international students in Canada. The opportunities that exist for on-campus work, co-op or internship placement, the post-graduation work permit and the new off-campus pilot projects demonstrate how important practical training is to the Canadian education experience. However, international students often lack the indigenous knowledge their domestic counterparts have to be successful in finding a job. Winners of a CBIE innovation grant in 2004, presenters will show how international departments can collaborate with other departments in their institution to help create networks of support for international students searching for employment. E4 A competency-based framework for training international educators in Canada (E) This session will explore the findings of the research paper entitled Training and the International Educator: A Competency-Based Framework for International Educators in Canada. The research includes an overview of the international educator profession in Canada, a review of the literature pertaining to training in the field of international education, and the development of a framework that utilizes competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes) to assist in selection and training of five groups of international educators at three progressive levels of experience. 11:15 - 13:00 Citizenship and Immigration Canada: update from Selection Branch, Operations, and International Region (E, F) Citizenship and Immigration Canada representatives will provide an update on processing and trends, including the pilot projects to allow off-campus employment. A question and answer session will allow international educators to gain up-to-date information on the latest developments at CIC. Given the inter-relationships between various branches, representatives from in-Canada operations and international operations have been invited to share perspectives, challenges and resolutions.