 |
|
|
E-Internationalist | |
|
|
|
||
NewsNew members
CBIE
welcomes new institutional member North Island College, and associate
member Polytechnics Canada. North
Island is a community college committed to high quality
and excellence in its programs and services, featuring a dedicated
faculty, staff and administration, as well as small classes. Four
campuses and four centres make up its College Region. Polytechnics Canada is a
national alliance of Canada's nine leading research-intensive,
publicly-funded colleges and institutes of technology located in
Canada’s key economic regions. They are: Algonquin College of
Applied Arts and Technology, British Columbia Institute of Technology,
Conestoga College, George Brown College, Humber Institute of
Technology and Advanced Learning, Olds College, Southern Alberta
Institute of Technology, Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology
and Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. CBIE begins management of the Libyan-North American
Scholarship Program In October 2009, CBIE signed an agreement with the Libyan Ministry of Education and Scientific Research for the management of Libyan-sponsored students in the U.S.A and Canada. CBIE assumed responsibility for Canadian students January 4, and students in the US on February 1. CBIE is hoping to expand the number of students overall, including those choosing to study in Canadian institutions, and welcomes feedback from institutions interested in receiving Libyan scholars. Contact: Basel Alashi. Vice-President of International Development Programs retires Kristina Wittfooth, who describes her 12 years at CBIE as “…a unique and wonderful opportunity to work with an organization and with colleagues who aspire to make a difference in the international world of development”, has decided to retire as of June 1, 2010. Wittfooth spearheaded CBIE’s entry into Central Asia and Africa, and expanded CBIE international development projects in Central and Eastern Europe. Under her leadership, CBIE has become a Canadian leader in the provision of public service sector reform programs, specifically individual and institutional capacity building in governance, civil society strengthening and democratic development. CBIE welcomes Special AdvisorCBIE is pleased to announce the appointment of Walid Madhoun as the
Bureau’s Special Advisor to the President. Madhoun,
whose 9-year career at AUCC (as its Director of Technical Cooperation)
has given him a particular expertise in international education
business development, will contribute to CBIE’s efforts to create
new project opportunities which could involve members, including
CIDA-funded, multilateral bank-funded, and projects funded by private
sector clients. Contact: Walid
Madhoun. FeaturesDisasters in Haiti and ChileOn 12 January 2010, Haiti experienced its most devastating earthquake in 200 years. Just over a month later, on 27 February, Chile was hit by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake, a destructive tsunami and a number of powerful aftershocks. Haiti’s education needs; Canadian response On January 22, CBIE asked members for information on what institutions were currently doing and/or plan to do in order to support Haitian students. CBIE has also been in contact with partner associations to share information. Information gathered to date indicates that institutions hosting Haitian students have stepped up to provide a range of support, including emergency funds, tuition waivers or deferrals and counseling. Many institutions across the country have expressed condolences and sponsored fund-raising events. In addition, CBIE convened a meeting of the CBIE Immigration Advisory Committee on January 25 to discuss the situation of Haitian students in Canada. The committee flagged the issue of fee waivers for permits required by Haitian students, as well as the need for CIC officials to show flexibility on financial requirements for permit issuance. CBIE’s liaison with CIC officials revealed that the department was planning to move in that direction and CIC has now waived fees for Haitian students. CBIE’s message indicated that in the medium term, as the Government of Canada turns its attention to recovery plans, CBIE wished to explore with members whether a response on behalf of Canadian institutions might be structured in a coherent way, so as to leverage more Government support for education and training in Canada for Haitian students. Member responses indicated that there is interest in finding ways to bring more Haitian students to Canada as a contribution to recovery efforts. CBIE will continue to liaise with members and like-minded organizations on this matter. CBIE has been in communication with Foreign Affairs and International Affairs Canada (DFAIT) in regard to scholarships for Haitian students. DFAIt is interested in tailoring programs to meet Haiti’s short-term and medium-term needs. CBIE will be working closely with DFAIT and consulting members and partners in Canada and Haiti for input. Both DFAIT and CBIE attended a recent conference at École Polytechnique de Montréal which yielded interesting ideas for education programming. Haiti’s Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive was a keynote speaker.
| ||||
| © Canadian Bureau for International Education All rights reserved. |
 |