Canada's Ministers of Education Celebrate International Education Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO, November 14, 2011  — The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), joins today with over 100 countries from around the world to celebrate International Education Week 2011 (IEW 2011).

The purpose of IEW is to increase awareness and understanding of international education among participating countries through a variety of activities and events undertaken by governments, educational institutions, stakeholder groups, and individuals. More information about events and activities can be found on the CMEC sponsored IEW Web site, www.iew-sei.ca.

Canada's theme for IEW 2011 is “Canada Engages with the World: Realizing Our Potential through International Education.” It underscores the value that Canadians place on connecting with the world through studying abroad, internationalized curricula, and international service, and on opening the world to Canada by welcoming international elementary, secondary, and postsecondary students, promoting international exchanges, and encouraging qualified foreign students to make Canada their new home.

“Canadians recognize the importance of international education in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world,” said the Honourable Ramona Jennex, Chair of CMEC and Nova Scotia's Minister of Education. “When our students travel abroad to study and when international students are welcomed here at home, we are all enriched ― socially, culturally, and economically.”

CMEC is Canada's voice for education on the international stage and is working on a variety of education-related international initiatives and projects. Of recent note:

 

  • A contingent of Canadian education ministers, deputy ministers, and officials travelled to China in June of this year for the Second High‐Level Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and the People's Republic of China.

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  • In August 2011, premiers approved an international education marketing action plan developed by CMEC and provincial and territorial immigration ministers to promote Canada as a destination of choice among international students. The plan complements the pan-Canadian education brand, Imagine Education au/in Canada, which was developed by provinces and territories in cooperation with the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

 

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. For more information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.

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Information
Colin Bailey
Director, Communications
Cell: 416-929-6970
Tel.: 416-962-8100, ext. 259
E-mail: c.bailey