CMEC Responds to Federal Government's International Education Announcement

TORONTO, January 15, 2014 – The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), welcomed the release today by the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, of the federal government's new international education strategy, Canada's International Education Strategy: Harnessing our knowledge advantage to drive innovation and prosperity.

 

“CMEC looks forward to continuing our partnership with the federal government to promote Canada's high-quality education systems internationally,” said the Honourable Jeff Johnson, Chair of CMEC and Minister of Education for Alberta. “Our education systems are one of our country's greatest assets. They underpin Canada's success in the global knowledge economy, and through their reputation for excellence and equity, contribute to Canada's overall international brand.”

 

Provinces and territories are responsible for education in the Canadian federation and play a key role in the advancement of the country's international education strategy and goals. CMEC works in partnership with the federal government on Canada's education brand, Imagine Education au/in Canada. The brand was launched in 2008 and is co-managed by CMEC and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

 

Further underscoring the importance provinces and territories attach to international education, the Council of the Federation (COF) released its International Education Marketing Action Plan (IEMAP) in 2011. The plan calls for:

 

  • a greater number of international students studying in Canada;
  • an increased share for Canada of the international student market;
  • more opportunities for Canadian students to study abroad; and
  • a greater number of international students choosing to remain in Canada as permanent residents after graduation.

 

IEMAP also emphasizes the need for federal and provincial/territorial governments to work together to deepen collaboration among the education, trade, and immigration sectors.

 

“Canada's international education objectives can best be moved forward through collaboration between the federal government and the provinces and territories,” said Minister Johnson. “Today's announcement is a constructive next step in that work. CMEC looks forward to continuing to work with Ottawa to ensure that our international education brand is as effective a tool as possible, one that will help achieve objectives for growth, innovation, and prosperity in the future."

 

About CMEC

Founded in 1967, CMEC is the collective voice of Canada's ministers of education. It provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels and contributes to the exercise of the exclusive jurisdiction of provinces and territories over education. For more information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.

 

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Information

Colin Bailey
Director, Communications
Cell: 416-777-4879
Tel.: 416-962-8100, ext. 259
E-mail: c.bailey@cmec.ca
Twitter: @CCMEC