Our 10th annual Canada-India: A Synergy in Education conference will took place on September 23 from 1 – 5pm at the Ontario Investment & Trade Centre. Scroll through the presentation below for a brief recap.
CIEC would like to thank all Synergy 2016 speakers and attendees for helping to make this year’s event yet another success. We hope the conference provided you with the chance to network with like-minded individuals while furthering the discussion of programs and policies in education that have been hailed as priorities.
In keeping with past ‘Synergy’ events (organized since 2007) which have tended to attract thought leaders from leading Colleges and Universities, we invite you to participate and add to the ongoing dialogue between academics of both countries. In order to expand this ‘dynamic and burgeoning’ corridor, we need to constantly share ideas on new initiatives and best practices. Sessions at ‘Synergy’ are intended to encourage frank and candid discussion and allow sharing of experiences and an understanding on what works (and what doesn’t) via a medium of workshops, presentations and panel discussions in a multitude areas.
Attendees at past ‘Synergy’ Conferences have tended to be senior level administrators and academics from both countries and your presentation should take that into consideration. You can make a safe assumption that they have a basic knowledge of and | or are already involved in the ‘Canada-India education corridor’. This session could be a great opportunity to highlight / showcase your academic programs and/or get feedback from your peers in the audience.
Finally, please indicate the length of your presentation/workshop (20 or 30 minutes each) and specify if you require AV and/or other technical equipment. A laptop, projector & screen will be made available.
Potential Criteria for Choosing Presentations:
Clearly outline the context for the presentation, the target audience it wishes to address and should have a direct relevance to current issues relating to the theme/title of your presentation.
Presentation should have a good mix of obvious practical applications and identify whether it is suitable for newcomersor geared toward experienced professionals.
Present a clear argument & articulate your position (for or against & have moderator sum up the ‘round table’).
Please send us a 50 word (mini) session description to [email protected] by May 31, 2016 along with your session title and names of co-presenters (if any) and we will follow up/notify you if we have questions. All (co) presenters and panelists will receive discounted registration fee at the member rate.
October 30, 2015 • Hilton Garden Inn (Toronto Airport West) • 1870 Matheson Blvd • Mississauga, ON • L4W 0B3
CIEC would like to thank all Synergy 2015 Presenters and Participants for helping to make this year’s event yet another success. CIEC was proud to host Synergy 2015 which explored the academia-industry partnerships and whether they are a myth or reality in the Canada-India context. This year’s exciting agenda featured distinguished speakers, key academics and Provincial/Federal representatives such as India’s Consul General Hon. Akhilesh Mishra, President of the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) Sanjay Makkar, Chair of the Canada India Business Council Yezdi Pavri more.
We hope Synergy 2015 provided you with valuable networking opportunities and served as a platform for discussion of emerging issues and areas of possible co-operation as well as governments’ programs & policies in education that have been hailed as a priority. We are happy to share the very informative Powerpoint presentations accompanying this year’s sessions. Please click here to view our Youtube playlist of all presentations or view our photos on Google+.
Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew offered the Opening Address which highlighted the role of the middle class in economic growth and offered insights into the present and future of Canada-India education relations. Hon. Akhilesh Mishra, India’s Consul General gave a moving presentation titled ‘Canada & India: How our paths intersect’ and Prof. Balbir Sahni, Professor Emeritus, Economics, Concordia University, offered the Inaugural Address ‘ACADEMIA-INDUSTRY LINKAGES: a Myth or Reality? – Canada-India Context’. Yezdi Pavri, Chair, Canada-India Business Council (CIBC) presented the keynote address ‘Academia & Industry: linkages and role India can play’ with Q&A, which highlighted CIBC’s as well as the the corporate role in establishing industry-academic linkages and promoting Canadian education in India.
On November 17, 2014 CIEC hosted the ‘Canada-India: Synergy in Education’ Conference 2014 in Ottawa. This year’s event took place before CBIE’s annual conference and explored the convergence of sports and entertainment in the education sector.. asking the question: Is India the next frontier? View event photos
Discussed sports management, sports marketing, sports scholarships, talent acquisition, scouting and related topics…
Exchanged ideas & experiences, explore opportunities, pitfalls & challenges, highlight your sports / entertainment programs, network with stakeholders active in both markets and create valuable connections…
With sessions by CBIE and DFATD, augmented by multiple workshop-style sessions led by the Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), this was a must-attend event for those active or interested in examining India as a possible frontier in this corridor. Hon. Bal Gosal outlined the $200 million set aside by the federal government for sports, including the athlete assistance program. He also discussed trade between Canada & India and projected that once the new trade agreements are in place trade between these nations will triple to $15 billion annually.
Patrick Brown, MP and Co-Chair of the Canada India Parliamentary Association presented on Ottawa’s role in this growing sector. He discussed India’s booming population, counting 500 million young people, and expressed his hopes that we see an influx of these young people coming into Canada. Jennifer Humphries, CBIEpresented the details on CBIE’s plan for the future.
Attendees also heard ex- NHL’er Doug Smith lend his expertise and a decade of high performance playing at the elite level. He discussed sports injuries as well as athletic programming & how it can benefit academic institutiions. Doug Smith also shared stories of his fascinating life, recovery, and the impact of trauma and injury on sports performance. He also described how behavior drives culture in sports. Dr. Brian Mcpherson, with 30 years experience in leading government relations, sport marketing and innovative initiatives, described Commonwealth Games Canada and its 3 programs
Participants of Synergy 2014 explored this exciting new frontier and mingled with sports and entertainment figures & key stakeholders in this thought-provoking Conference.
Conferences, such as this one, are crucial to Canada-India relations, because they allow for growth and promoting knowledge between the two countries….’
– Hon. Deepak Obhrai, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights
Events such as this remind us that when many come together for a single cause, much can be accomplished. Prime Minister Harper said: “There is s tremendous amount of potential in our relationship with India. We share a history of cooperation in the Commonwealth and the United Nations, as well as a shared commitment to pluralism, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Our goal is to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership based on shared commercial, political and regional interests.”As Minister for Multiculturalism, I would like to thank the members of the Canada India Education Council for your ongoing work in support of cooperation between Canada and India in the field of education.– Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MPMinister of Employment and Social Development & Minister for Multiculturalism
Registration is now open for our highly successful “Canada-India: A Synergy in Education” event, held since 2007. The Canada India Education Council (CIEC) is proud to host Synergy 2013 on Oct 3 & 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn near the Toronto Airport.
This year’s event will highlight education activities as well as provide networking opportunities for institutions and organizations interested in operating in either or both countries. With a focus on key academic areas of co-operation and on partnerships, Synergy 2013 will provide updates from India regarding the entry for foreign education providers (Bill 57) leading to many possible outcomes for Canadian education providers. Synergy 2013 will serve as a great way to hear about both governments’ programs and policies in education, which have been recognized as a signature priority. An interesting session will be conducted by the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) who will discuss impending legislation and how it could transform ‘Internationalization’ efforts for private institutions. Synergy 2013 will also feature a round table discussion on the intersection of immigration & education in the Canada-India corridor and feature closing remarks by Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and a reception by the co-chairs of the Canada-India Parliamentary Association.
Highlights of this year’s sessions:
Update on Canada India Higher Education cooperation & promotion of Canada as a study destination byForeign Affairs & Int’l Trade (DFAIT)
Update on the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa (OMG) program & cross directional push for higher levels of collaboration in Research & Higher Education by Dr. Lalu Mansinha
Updates from Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and the recently founded IC-IMPACT (announced by PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012) will also be present and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Join over a hundred academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and demonstrate the opportunities of this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor.
For a detailed Agenda, click here. To Register, click here.
The seating capacity at Synergy 2013 is only 120 and registration is once again on a first come basis. CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers.
To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, you must reserve your room by August 31st by clicking here.
For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide a 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s landmark event and in the meanwhile, have yourself a great summer!
Registrations are now open for our highly successful “Canada-India: A Synergy in Education” event, held since 2007. The Canada India Education Council (CIEC) is proud to host Synergy 2013on Oct 3 & 4 at the Hilton Garden Inn near Toronto Airport.
This year’s event will highlight education activities as well as provide networking opportunities for institutions and organizations interested in operating in either or both countries. With a focus on key academic areas of co-operation and on partnerships, Synergy 2013 will provide updates from India regarding the entry for foreign education providers (Bill 57) leading to many possible outcomes for Canadian education providers. Synergy 2013 will serve as a great way to hear about both governments’ programs and policies in education, which have been recognized as a signature priority. An interesting session will be conducted by the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) who will discuss impending legislation and how it could transform ‘Internationalization’ efforts for private institutions. Synergy 2013 will also feature a round table discussion on the intersection of immigration & education in the Canada-India corridor and feature closing remarks by Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and a reception by the co-chairs of the Canada-India Parliamentary Association.
Highlights of this year’s sessions:
Update on Canada India Higher Education cooperation & promotion of Canada as a study destination byForeign Affairs & Int’l Trade (DFAIT)
Update on the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa (OMG) program & cross directional push for higher levels of collaboration in Research & Higher Education by Dr. Lalu Mansinha
Updates from Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and we are particularly delighted that the recently founded IC-IMPACT (announced by PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012) will also be present and discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Join hundreds of academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and demonstrate the opportunities of this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor. For a detailed Agenda, please visit: http://canadaindiaeducation.com/synergy-2013/ To Register, click here.
The seating capacity at Synergy 2013 is only 120 and registration is once again on a first come basis. CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers. To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, you must reserve your room by August 31st by clicking here. For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide a 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.
CIEC is a membership founded, bi-national, independent, event-driven organization established to operate exclusively in the ‘Canada India education corridor’, enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries.
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s landmark event and in the meanwhile, have yourself a great summer!
Canada India Education Council (CIEC) is pleased to announce that this year’s 7th Annual ‘Synergy 2013’ event is just around the corner and will at once feature major stakeholders such as AUCC, DFAIT, Ontario Maharashtra Goa (OMG), Shastri Institute (SICI) and academic experts from India accompanied by 5 Canadian MP’s and key thought leaders from both countries. We are particularly delighted that the recently founded IC-IMPACT which was announced by PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012 will also be present and discuss opportunities for others to get involved in. Another interesting session will be conducted by representatives of the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) who will discuss impending legislation and how it could transform ‘Internationalization’ efforts for private institutions. Synergy 2013will also feature a round table discussion on the intersection of immigration & education in the Canada-India corridor and feature closing remarks by Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and a reception by the co-chairs of the Canada-India Parliamentary Association.
On Oct 3 & 4, join academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and showcase opportunities in this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor. The seating capacity is only 120 and registration is once again on a first come basis. CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers. To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, reserve your room by clicking here. For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide 1 night FREEstay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Toronto.
Exchange ideas via a focused networking event to further the interests of those already involved in or contemplating involvement in this dynamic education
Explore opportunities in this burgeoning sector and build an awareness & collaborative approach in sharing each other’s experiences and pitfalls to avoid. An opportunity to highlight your programs to peers and receive effective marketing tips, network with stakeholders active in both markets and benefit from existing connections.
For those who can’t make it, CIEC’s media team will be tweeting and updating you in real time via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
You may find a detailed Agendahere.
To Register, click here.
CIEC is a membership founded, bi-national, independent, event-driven organization established to operate exclusively in the ‘Canada India education corridor’, enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions and learners from both countries.
We look forward to seeing you at Synergy 2013.
Regards,
Husain F. Neemuchwala Prof Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President & Vice Chancellor, CEO – CIEC Carleton University Academic Advisor – CIEC
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute’s upcoming President Shanthi Johnson will be speaking at this year’s event accompanied by 5 Canadian Members of Parliament. CIEC is still accepting proposals and we would love to hear from those interested in joining this esteemed line-up of speakers.
CIEC will be offering a 1-night free stay at the Hilton Garden Inn to delegates traveling from India as well as a special rate and complimentary airport pick up for ALL Synergy participants.
Click here to learn more, register, or submit a proposal.
Hilton Garden Inn (Toronto Airport West) • 1870 Matheson Blvd • Mississauga, ON • L4W 0B3
On October 3 & 4, Canada India Education Council (CIEC) was the proud host of ‘Canada-India: Synergy in Education’ Conference 2013 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Toronto. Participants exchanged ideas & experiences, explored opportunities, highlighted their programs and networked with stakeholders active in both markets, resulting in many valuable connections.
‘Conferences, such as this one, are crucial to Canada-India relations, because they allow for growth and promoting knowledge between the two countries… I wish the 7th Annual Canada-India Synergy in Education Conference much success and hope all participants will thoroughly enjoy and enlighten themselves at this event.‘
– Hon. Deepak Obhrai, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights
To view Synergy 2013 Presentations, click here. To view Synergy 2013 Photos, click here.
Key points & highlights
Need for a strategy for promoting overlooked sectors of education within the Canadian education system to international students, which include career colleges / skilled trades & technical education
Patterns and sources of student growth & prospects and challenges of increased activity in the Indian education sector
Reenergized National strategy for promoting ‘Brand Canada’ overseas & opportunities for involvement
This year, CIEC introduced the ‘brainstorming’ session called ‘A Suggestion or Two’ that captured what key players such as academics, government & education agents want to see done to further optimize educational ties between Canada and India. Some of the ideas suggested include:
Importance of keeping sight of international students’ needs both before and after they reach Canada
The critical value the Synergy Conference brings to all stakeholders and need to reach a wider audience as the Synergy / CIEC brand grows
NACC engaged in groundbreaking work and Career colleges must offer incentives to international students to overcome an unfavorable perception created by UK and Australian career colleges
Academic institutions’ need for ethical education agents and iCARE’s (CIEC’s Agent Membership Category) growing & much-lauded role in meeting this demand through our unique agent peer-review screening system where agents are graded in key areas by Canadian college and University references
Session summary
CIEC Chair Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew’s opening address stressed the need for educational ties as a valuable bridge between nations, even in matters of national security, their usefulness in the promotion of ideas and national growth, as well as the effects of globalization and a shrinking middle class in a changing world. Prof. Balbir Sahni from Concordia University followed with his Inaugural Address: ‘Sustainability of India–Focused Academic Linkages: Prospects and Challenges’ – a look at the path ahead in terms of gauging the true value of and optimizing MoUs while increasing student pull. Hon. Akhilesh Mishra, Consul General of India-Toronto discussed the critical role education plays in bridging the gap between Canada and India while Prof. Margaret Walton-Roberts from Wilfrid Laurier University presented Synergy attendees with a much-lauded session on the intersection of immigration & education in the Canada-India corridor, after which Synergy attendees enjoyed an Indian buffet lunch / networking session.
Rachel Lindsey, Senior Policy Analyst Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada reflected on AUCC’s ‘India strategy’ and Husain Neemuchwala, CEO of CIEC provided an update on CIEC upcoming activities which include our India ‘Mission 2014’ and the tremendous success of our iCARE (agent membership & screening process) initiative. Paul Bailey, Deputy Director, Edu-Canada, Foreign Affairs & Trade Development (DFATD) provided an update from Edu-Canada on their efforts in the promotion of Canada as a study destination. Dr. Shanthi Johnson, President, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute followed with the session ‘The road ahead: Challenges & Opportunities in the Canada-India education corridor,’ and Synergy attendees shared a laugh during the popular, interactive ‘Speed Dating’ session that offered them a change to introduce themselves & what they would like to achieve (partnerships, joint programming…).
Synergy 2013 participants enjoyed traditional Indian dessert during a short networking break and returned to hear Dr. Nemkumar (Nemy) Banthia, Univ. of British Columbia provide an overview of the new Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence announced by Hon. PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012 called IC-IMPACTS. Devinder Shory, MP & Co-Chair, Canada-India Parliamentary Association concluded Day 1 of the Conference by raising a toast to its continued success.
On Day 2 Career Colleges Canada’s informative session discussed NACC’s role in raising the bar for career colleges and filling the skilled trade shortage. As part of their new focus on international students, they discussed the work they are doing working with the Canadian government on areas of student visas, work permits, and possible immigration as well as the new ISP program and its groundbreaking inclusion of career colleges. Kam Rathee, Vice Chair, CIEC interjected with an observation that while immigration is important to students, India’s lack of quality institutions will always be the driving force behind international students’ seeking education abroad. For this reason Canada’s primary focus must remain on providing world-class education. Patrick Brown, MP & Co-Chair,Canada-India Parliamentary Association followed with a quick update on the Government’s ‘Internationalization’ plans & the ‘Education Consortium’. Brad Butt, MP for Streetsville, Mississauga stopped by to provide greetings from Ottawa as he did last year and called the Conference to a close. He thanked the work undertaken by Husain and the entire CIEC team and offered the support of his office, either locally or in Ottawa.=
CIEC thanks our esteemed presenters and all participants for making this year’s event yet another tremendous success with a special acknowledgement to Sophiya Consultants and Study Plus Consultants and Education Services, CIEC’s newest agent members, for contributing their voices to the discussion and coming from India to collect their iCARE certificates.
We look forward to seeing you at Synergy 2014!
October 3
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING (COFFEE/COOKIES)
10:00 - 10:20 a.m.
Opening address by Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, PC, Chair, CIEC
10:20 - 10-:30 a.m.
Synergy 2013 overview by Husain F. Neemuchwala, CEO & Executive Director, CIEC
10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Inaugural Address: Sustainability of India–Focused Academic Linkages: Prospects and Challenges’ by Prof. Balbir Sahni, Professor Emeritus-Economics, Concordia University
11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK I
11:30 - 11:45 a.m.
‘KEYNOTE ADDRESS’ by Hon. Akhilesh Mishra, Consul General of India-Toronto
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
SESSION II: ‘Exchange of ideas’ with a contextual reference to the intersection of immigration & education in the Canada-India corridor by Prof. Margaret Walton-Roberts, Wilfrid Laurier University
12:45 - 1:30 p.m.
WORKING ‘INDIAN BUFFET’ LUNCH
1:30 - 2:00 p.m.
SESSION III: Reflections on AUCC’s ‘India strategy’ and updates from Rachel Lindsey, Senior Policy Analyst Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
2:00 - 2:10 p.m.
IV: Update on iCARE (Indian Canadian Academic Advisors Representing Excellence)-CIEC’s agent ‘membership’. Announcing CIEC’s webinar series, India ‘Mission 2014’ and announcements of CIEC’s members’ events and activities
2:10 - 2:45 p.m.
SESSION V: Updates on from Edu-Canada on promotion of Canada as a study destination by Paul Bailey, Deputy Director, Edu-Canada, Foreign Affairs & Trade Development (DFATD)
2:45 - 3:30 p.m.
SESSION VI: The road ahead: Challenges & Opportunities in the Canada-India education corridor by Dr. Shanthi Johnson, President, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
3:30 - 3:50 p.m.
SPEED DATING: 1 minute self introductions of attendees & what they would like to achieve (recruiting, partnerships, joint programming...) Interactive session with the audience & an opportunity to learn from and about each other.
3:50 - 4:20 p.m.
DESSERT & NETWORKING BREAK
4:20 - 5:00 p.m.
SESSION VII: Making ‘IMPACTS’: An overview by Dr. Nemkumar (Nemy) Banthia, Univ. of British Columbia of the new Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence announced by Hon. PM Stephen Harper in Nov 2012
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
COCKTAIL RECEPTION (1 drink incl.) Toast by Devinder Shory, MP & Co-Chair, Canada-India Parliamentary Association
October 4
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
NETWORKING (COFFEE/COOKIES)
10:00 - 10:10 a.m.
Welcome back remarks by Husain F. Neemuchwala, CEO & Executive Director, CIEC
10:10 - 11:30 a.m.
SESSION VIII: Career Colleges Canada: Examining their role, the pending legislative changes & their place in ‘Internationalization’ initiatives by National Association of Career Colleges (NACC)
11:30 - 12:30 p.m.
WORKING LUNCH. Update on the Government’s ‘Internationalization’ plans & the ‘Education Consortium’ by Brad Butt, MP & Patrick Brown, MP & Co-Chair, Canada-India Parliamentary Association
12:30 - 12:45 p.m.
VOTE of THANKS by Hon Kam Rathee, Vice-Chair, CIEC
CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers. To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, reserve your room by clicking here.
For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide a 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.
If you wish to attend this year’s much-lauded event, please register online today.
The theme of the 2013 ‘Synergy’ Conference is an “exchange of ideas” to further the interests of those already involved or contemplating involvement in the dynamic Canada-India education corridor.
Pay by Wire (Favour of: TD Canada Trust; SWIFT Code: TDOMCATTTOR; Branch/Transit: 15942; Bank/Institution: 004; Account: 15945220107)
Pay by cheque/bank draft/money order (Payable to: Canada India Education Council; Mailed to: First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, 5700, Toronto, ON Canada M5X 1C7)
Please refer to the following information and useful links regarding entering Canada & obtaining a VISA – Courtesy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada:
Participants will need a valid passport or an appropriate travel document to enter Canada.
Prof. Balbir Sahni, Professor Emeritus-Economics, Concordia University, speaks at Synergy 2012 about the current status and direction of Canada-India educational partnerships.
The 7th Annual Synergy Conference held on November 1 & 2 at the Hilton Garden Inn near Toronto which focused on Canada-India educational initiatives was yet another stunning success. With over 100 delegates in attendance including representatives from dozens of Colleges and Universities across Canada and some from India, this annual event has become a ‘must attend’ fixture for institutions and academics working the ‘Canada India education corridor’. For a full event recap, testimonials and excerpts from the CIEC social media live-streamclick here.
Event participants:
Exchanged ideas via a focused networking event to further the interests of those already involved in or contemplating involvement in this dynamic education corridor
Explored opportunities in this burgeoning sector and worked to build an awareness & collaborative approach in sharing each other’s experiences and pitfalls to avoid. Highlight their programs to peers and received effective marketing tips, networked with stakeholders active in both markets and benefited from existing synergies
Received VISA information & links (CIC)
Agenda
November 1
9:30 - 10:00 AM
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING (COFFEE/COOKIES)
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM
Welcome address by Husain F. Neemuchwala, CEO & Executive Director (CIEC)
10:10 AM - 10:25 AM
Opening remarks by Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, PC, Chair, CIEC
10:25 AM - 10:35 AM
Synergy 2012 overview by Husain F. Neemuchwala, CEO & Executive Director, CIEC
10:35 AM - 11:15 AM
Inaugural Address: "Reflections on The Status and Directions Towards Maturing of Canada-India Educational Partnership" by Prof. Balbir Sahni, Professor Emeritus-Economics, Concordia University
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
NETWORKING BREAK I
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
SESSION II: 'Round table dialogue' with input from Canadian stakeholders, academic institutions & partners discussing academic relations between Canada & India. Co-chairs Dr. Ryan Touhey, Director, U of Waterloo’s Chanchlani India Policy Centre & Margaret Walton-Roberts, Director-International Migration Research Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
WORKING ‘INDIAN BUFFET’ LUNCH. Remarks by Hon. Preeti Saran, Consul General of India-Toronto
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
SESSION III: Update on iCARE (Indian Canadian Academic Advisors Representing Excellence)-CIEC’s agent ‘membership’ category. Announcing CIEC's webinar series & proposed dates for India 'Mission 2013' & 'Partnership Dinner|Gala 2013'.
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
SESSION IV: Reflections on Canada's 'Internationalization' panel report, update on the education consortium and CBIE's go-forward activities by Janine Knight-Grofe, Research Manager, Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE)
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
SESSION V: Updates on Canada India Higher Education cooperation & promotion of Canada as a study destination by Miriam Rabkin, Policy Advisor, International Education & Youth Division, Foreign Affairs & Int’l Trade (DFAIT)
3:30 PM - 3:50 PM
SPEED DATING: 1 minute self introductions of Institutions & organization & what they would like to achieve (recruiting, joint programming, partnerships...). Responses from the audience or those who simply would like to connect.
3:50 PM - 4:20 PM
DESSERT & NETWORKING BREAK
4:20 PM - 5:00 PM
SESSION VI: Update from Dr. Lalu Mansinha University of Western Ontario on the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa (OMG) program & cross directional push for higher levels of collaboration in Research & Higher Education.
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
COCKTAILS and RECEPTION (1 drink included + cash bar)
November 2
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
NETWORKING: (COFFEE/COOKIES)
10:00 AM - 10:05 AM
Welcome back remarks by Kam Rathee, Vice-Chair, CIEC
10:05 AM - 10:50 AM
Word from the street. Carleton University President Prof. Roseann O'Reilly Runte discusses Carleton’s groundbreaking work on their India engagement plans, what worked and what was learnt.
10:50 AM - 11:30 AM
SESSION VII: "Research insights to enhanced student recruitment from India & ISPS survey results" by Bruce Thompson & Rod Skinkle- - Academica Group
11:30 AM - 12:10 PM
SESSION VIII: Update on the ‘Student Partners Program’ (SPP) in India by Rudy Sabas, International Partnerships-Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC)
12:10 PM - 1:00 PM
SESSION IX: Update on India's 'Internationalization' strategy, Bill 57 & the way forward by Nikhil Bhatia, Sr Director, Price WaterHouse Coopers (PwC-India)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
NETWORKING 'INDIAN BUFFET' LUNCH
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
SESSION X: How strategic partnerships between Canada & India are shaping up and Ottawa’s role by Goldy Hyder, Sr. Vice President, Hill & Knowlton Strategies-Canada
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
VOTE of THANKS by Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, PC, Chair, CIEC
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
CLOSING REMARKS by Hon. Deepak Obhrai M.P., P.C., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation
CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel, which will also provide complimentary airport transfers. To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, reserve your room by clicking here. For delegates arriving from India, CIEC is pleased to provide a 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Please refer to the following information and useful links regarding entering Canada & obtaining a VISA – Courtesy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada:
Participants will need a valid passport or an appropriate travel document to enter Canada.
Hilton Garden Inn (Toronto Airport West) • 1870 Matheson Blvd • Mississauga, ON • L4W 0B3 (map)
Exchange ideas via a focused networking event to further the interests of those already involved in or contemplating involvement in this dynamic education corridor
Explore opportunities in this burgeoning sector and build an awareness & collaborative approach in sharing each other’s experiences and pitfalls to avoid. An opportunity to highlight your programs to peers and receive effective marketing tips, network with stakeholders active in both markets and benefit from existing synergies
Agenda
October 6
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING (COFFEE/COOKIES)
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
Opening remarks by Dr. Sheila Embleton, President-Canada India Education Council (CIEC)
9:15 - 9:25 a.m.
Synergy 2011 overview by Husain F. Neemuchwala, Chief Operations Officer & Executive Director, CIEC
9:25 - 10:05 a.m.
Inaugural Address: Knowledge Mobilization? : The Canada India context by Prof. Balbir Sahni, Professor Emeritus, Concordia University & Co-Chair, Education Working Group-Focus India
10:05 - 10:20 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK I
10:20 - 11:40 a.m.
SESSION I: ‘Good practices’ in building & managing relationships: Led by Directors of 3 University Int’l offices, the panel will discuss the caveats, successes & challenges of partnerships with Indian Universities and reflect on the evolution of their partnerships over the past year. Moderator-Rachel Lindsey, Sr. Policy Analyst-AUCC
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
SESSION II: Updates on Canada India Higher Education cooperation & promotion of Canada as a study destination by Claude Bibeau & Lee-Anne Hermann, Deputy Director, Intl Education & Youth, Foreign Affairs & International Trade
12:20 - 1:20 p.m.
WORKING LUNCH. Remarks by Hon. Preeti Saran, Consul General of India-Toronto accompanied by Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, PC, Chair, Canada India Education Council (CIEC)
1:20 - 1:40 p.m.
SESSION III: Launch of iCARE (Indian Canadian Advisors Representing Excellence) addressing the need for ‘agent accreditation’ & more transparency from ‘consultants’ and a quick overview on CIEC’s upcoming Fall Mission to India.
1:40 - 2:45 p.m.
SESSION IV: Update on the ‘Student Partners Program’ (SPP) in India by Dominique Van de Maele, Senior Project Officer, International Partnerships-ACCC
2:45 - 3:00 p.m.
SPEED DATING: 1 minute self introductions of Institutions & what they would like to achieve in either country (recruiting, joint programming...). Responses | suggestions from the audience or those who simply wish to connect.
3:00 - 3:30 p.m.
DESSERT & NETWORKING BREAK II
3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
SESSION V: International Education & Provinces | Territories of Canada by Dr. Andrew Parkin, Director Gen-CMEC
4:15 - 5:00 p.m.
SESSION VI: Update from ‘Canadian Consortium for International Education Marketing’ by Jennifer Humphries-CBIE
5:00 - 5:20 p.m.
SESSION VII: Provincial dialogue | updates on ‘India focused initiatives’. Moderated by Dr. Sheila Embleton, Provinces & Territories (invited) have an opportunity to discuss their ongoing efforts and initiatives in India.
5:20 - 6:30 p.m.
COCKTAILS and RECEPTION (1 drink included + cash bar)
October 7
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
NETWORKING: (COFFEE/COOKIES)
9:15 - 9:25 a.m.
Welcome remarks by Kam Rathee, Vice-Chair, CIEC
9:25 - 10:25 a.m.
SESSION VIII: Canada-India academic cooperation: "Opportunities and Challenges for a major University" by Prof. Deep Saini, Vice-President, U of Toronto & Principal, Univ. of Toronto (Mississauga) and Dr. Mario Pinto, VP Research-Simon Fraser University, BC
10:25 - 11:00 a.m.
SESSION IX: How a mid-sized Canadian College is working the ‘India market’ by Dr. Faith Ratchford (Fleming College)
11:00 - 11:20 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK I
11:20 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
SESSION X: "Research insights to enhanced student recruitment from India & ISPS survey results" by Bruce Thompson & Ken Steele-Academica Group Inc.
12:20 - 1:00 p.m.
Valedictory address: Dimensions of Canada-India education collaboration and Co-operation: Looking Beyond Education Summit 20011 by Dr. Braj Sinha, President, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
WORKING LUNCH. Update from Dr. Lalu Mansinha on the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa (OMG) program & a cross directional push for higher levels of collaboration in Research & Higher Education.
2:00 - 2:15 p.m.
VOTE of THANKS by Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, PC, Chair, CIEC
2:15 - 3:00 p.m.
CLOSING REMARKS by Hon. Deepak Obhrai M.P., P.C., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
Besides negotiating a special rate of $159 per night, the Hilton Garden Inn hotel will provide complimentary airport transfers for all delegates flying in | out. The last date to Register for Synergy 2011 is Sept 16 and to take advantage of the discounted hotel rate, you must reserve by September 26 by clicking here. For registered delegates arriving from India for Synergy 2011, CIEC is pleased to provide 1 night FREE stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Please refer to the following information and useful links regarding entering Canada & obtaining a VISA – Courtesy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada:
Participants will need a valid passport or an appropriate travel document to enter Canada.
Pearson Convention Centre • 2638 Steeles Avenue E • Brampton, ON • L6T 4L7
An exchange of ideas through a networking event to further the interests of those currently involved in or contemplating involvement in the education sector in India.
Explore opportunities in this burgeoning sector.
An awareness & collaborative approach in sharing each others’ experiences as well as pitfalls to avoid. An opportunity to highlight your programs to peers & receive effective marketing tips.
Meet stakeholders active in both markets and benefit from existing synergies.
Agenda
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING (COFFEE/COOKIES)
9:00 - 9:10 a.m.
Opening remarks by Hon. Pierre S Pettigrew, PC, Chairman, Canada India Education Council (CIEC)
9:10 - 9:20 a.m.
Welcome address by Kam Rathee, President, CIEC
9:20 - 9:30 a.m.
Synergy 2010 overview by Husain F. Neemuchwala, Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director, CIEC
9:30 - 9:40 a.m.
Keynote remarks by Senator Consiglio Di Nino, Government Whip & Deputy Chair (Standing committee on Foreign Affairs)
9:40 - 10:25 a.m.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS: Canada-India: Cross-border education & Bill 57 (2010): Background & Directions by Prof. Balbir Sahni, Professor Emeritus, Concordia University & co-Chair, Education Working Group-Focus India
10:25 - 10:45 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK I
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
SESSION I: "Opportunities & challenges in strengthening the Canada-India Education Corridor" by DFAIT
Part A: Leveraging the MOU between Canada & India signed at the G20 by Claude Bibeau, Deputy Director-Planning and Scholarships, DFAIT
Part B: Efforts to recruit Indian students through India-specific efforts & in the multi-national context by Jean-Philippe Tachdjian, Deputy Director, Edu-Canada, DFAIT
Part C: Update on the proposed Foreign Education Providers Bill & Establishment of off-shore campuses in India by Faisal Beg, Trade Commissioner, Canadian High Commission (New Delhi)
12:00 - 12:15 p.m.
SESSION II: The Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa (OMG) Student Exchange Program: Progress report by Dr. Lalu Mansinha, Academic Director, OMG Program, University of Western Ontario
12:15 - 1:00 p.m.
NETWORKING LUNCH (stay tuned for a surprise element)
1:00 - 1:20 p.m.
SESSION III Maximizing your ROI (Return on India). Presenting ‘out of the box’ recruiting solutions and stretching your marketing dollars by Husain F. Neemuchwala, C.O.O & Executive Director, CIEC
1:20 - 1:50 p.m.
SESSION IV: Canadian Universities operating in India PART A: Open floor discussion conducted by Dr. Sheila Embleton, York U. & Chair, Academic Relations, CIEC PART B: Financial & Tax implications of operating a campus in India by Rajiv Mathur, Deloitte Consulting
1:50 - 2:10 p.m.
SESSION V: Retrospect and Prospect: Shastri Action Plan in light of MOU on Higher Education Cooperation by President Elect Prof. Braj M Sinha & Rick Butler, Executive Director; Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
2:10 - 2:30 p.m.
SESSION VI: SPEED DATING. 1 minute self introductions of Institutions & what they would like to achieve in India (recruiting, joint programming...). Responses from those that ‘have been there, done that’
2:30 - 2:50 p.m.
DESSERT NETWORKING BREAK II
2:50 - 3:10 p.m.
SESSION VII: Educational Offsets in India: Solutions from HOPE Foundation India by Taras Kulish, Country Director, HOPE Worldwide of Canada
3:10 - 3:25 p.m.
SESSION VIII: A view from the top...A few words from Prof. Deep Saini, Principal, Univ. of Toronto (Mississauga)
3:25 - 3:50 p.m.
SESSION IX: "The Hare & the Tortoise": A look at Canada-India educational activity and a reflection on opportunities inside & outside the corridor by Dr. Alan Middleton, Schulich School of Business, York University
3:50 - 4:15 p.m.
SESSION X: "Research Insights to Enhance Student Recruitment in India" by Ken Steele, VP-Academica Group Inc.
4:15 - 4:35 p.m.
SESSION XI: "Private Post-Secondary Education: Addressing Global Change" by Harris Rosen & Alan Wolfish, QC, Fogler, Rubinoff LLP discussing the role & challenges of private career colleges
4:35 - 4:50 p.m.
SESSION XII: Canada-India Relations: A political overview in a national & global perspective. Opportunities & pitfalls for the academic sector by Neil Desai, Frmr Mgr, Strategic Initiatives, Prime Minister's Office (Canada)
4:50 - 5:00 p.m.
SESSION XIII: Canada-India Relations: A political overview in a national & global perspective. Opportunities & pitfalls for the academic sector by Neil Desai, Frmr Mgr, Strategic Initiatives, Prime Minister's Office (Canada)
5:00 - 5:05 p.m.
CLOSING REMARKS by Hon. Dr. Ruby Dhalla, MP Brampton-Springdale
5:05 - 6:00 p.m.
COCKTAILS and RECEPTION (1 drink included + cash bar)
The 4th Annual Synergy Conference held on September 23rd 2010 at the Pearson Convention Center near Toronto which focused on Canada-India educational initiatives was yet another stunning success. With over 150 delegates in attendance, including representatives from dozens of Colleges and Universities across Canada and some from India, this annual event has become a ‘must attend’ fixture for institutions and academics working the ‘Canada India education corridor’.
With half a billion English-speaking youth under age 25, about 18,000 PSE institutions, and a participation rate of just 12%, India represents an immense potential market for colleges and universities worldwide. Canadian recruitment efforts in India have doubled in recent years, but plans for satellite campuses may be discouraged by the pending Bill 57 in the Indian parliament, which will prevent institutions from repatriating any of the surpluses generated by their Indian operations. Noted scholars, politicians and key academics presented interesting perspectives and directives for the future. With a focus on key academic areas of co-operation and partnerships, Synergy 2010 provided updates from India regarding the entry for foreign education providers (Bill 57) as well as the recently signed MOU in education between Canada and India at the G20 held in Toronto. Noted academic experts from both countries discussed recent developments and exciting opportunities as several illustrious speakers opined on the ongoing engagement as we move forward.
CIEC is a bi-national, independent, event-driven, membership-based organization established to operate exclusively in the ‘Canada India education corridor’, enhance ties and create opportunities for academic institutions. Since 2007, the Synergy Conference series has successfully brought hundreds of Canadian institutions together to discuss common objectives, challenges and opportunities and by conducting partner events with institutions such as FICCI, AUCC, CBIE, SICI & ACCC, CIEC has brought specialists from specific academic areas and presented joint partnership opportunities. CIEC already counts several respected organizations and institutions from both countries as its members.
The conference was opened by Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, PC who chairs the Canada India Education Council (CIEC), and he began by telling us about the unique nature of Canada, as one country comprised of several nations. He reminded us that by 2050, six of the largest economies of the world will be Asian. Our governments have to put a lot of money into health, but education is far more important for the future of our society — it is what we owe, not to those who have contributed to our society, but to those who will contribute to it in the future.
Kam Rathee, CIEC President, expressed the hope that this council, like education, could serve as a bridge between cultures and countries. He described the plan to create a mirror image organization in India to link the CIEC’s efforts across the Pacific. Husain F. Neemuchwala, CIEC’s COO, elaborated on the plan to establish three offices in Mumbai, and touched on the government of Ontario’s objective to increase international student enrollment, especially from India. CMEC is working with Ottawa to reduce barriers to Indian students.
Senator Consiglio Di Nino, the former chair of the standing committee on Foreign Affairs, delivered the opening keynote remarks. He stated from the outset that the CIEC is one of the most important initiatives in Canada’s relationship with India. He sees plenty of room for improvement — “the two countries have woken up, but they still need to get out of bed.” Up until 2010, we have issued about 8,000 student visas — “shamefully” few. The Indian middle class is larger than the entire population of the EU, and the university student population will double to 30 million in several years — there are immense opportunities for Canadian education.
Concordia professor emeritus Dr. Balbir Sahni delivered the inaugural address on cross-border education and the new Bill 57, which will pave the way for foreign universities in India. Although India has committed to spend 5% of GDP on education, only 0.37% is spent on higher education domestically, while $13 billion is spent by students going abroad. There is a significant deficiency in higher education capacity in India. Currently, India is the source of 5% of all international students worldwide (15% come from China) and most study in the US, UK, France, Germany & Australia. Canada attracts just 4% of international students. Since 2000, the flow of Indian students into Canada has increased from 1,000 to more than 6,000 students. Sahni sees great opportunity for joint grad studies, twinning of institutions, industry linkages, vocational training collaborations, and publicprivate partnerships. India will benefit from the establishment of foreign universities in India, so long as fees are affordable for Indian families, and overly generous salaries do not drain faculty from existing institutions in India.
Claude Bibeau of DFAIT spoke about the MOU on Higher Education Cooperation signed between Canada and India at the G20 summit in Toronto. The MOU creates a framework for exchanges, awards, partnerships and mobility of students and scholars between institutions in the two countries. Meetings with India are swift and very businesslike, but a challenge is that Canadian education has very decentralized budgets, and it takes significant time to put millions of dollars on the table. UK and Australia have opened well-funded offices in India, and can negotiate in a coordinated and centralized way. DFAIT has a $12 million scholarship program, and has been allocating 50 scholarships to Indian grad students studying in Canada, as well as the Vanier scholarships and the new $70,000 Banting fellowship. 73,000 students from Canada and around the world participate in the International Youth Program annually.
Jean-Philippe Tachdjian of Edu-Canada / DFAIT summarized recent developments in India, and the negative incidents in Australia which led to considerable bad press. The UK high commission was subsequently overwhelmed with Indian requests for study permits, so Canada has become the next destination of choice. “Our competitors have stumbled,” but now we need to be cautious that we learn from the Australian example, and attract the right students and potential migrants to Canada. The 2009 closure of CECN has led to a more direct role for DFAIT in promotion activities, but has meant the closure of 3 offices in India that were convenient and well-staffed. DFAIT hasn’t done nearly enough to promote the Edu-Canada brand, but clearly needs more resources. Nonetheless, we have seen 125% growth in enrollments from India in the past two years. DFAIT urges Canadian institutions to share their alumni lists for India with the Canadian High Commission, because alumni will be our best ambassadors.
Faisal Beg, the Canadian Trade Commissioner in New Delhi, presented the latest on Bill 57, which is still being deliberated. There are over 18,000 PSE institutions in India, and about 400 universities, and yet the participation rate is less than 12%, which is about half the world average. There are a number of foreign providers operating in India already, but without an effective regulatory regime to maintain standards. Bill 57 will allow institutions with more than 20 years standing to apply, but they will not be permitted to offer distance education and must deliver programs in India that are consistent with the programs in their home countries. Existing foreign operators in India will have to reapply under the new regime. No repatriation of funds will be permitted: 75% of funds can be ploughed back into operations, and 25% must be deposited as “corpus” with the Indian government as a form of collateral. (In effect, under this bill there will be every financial incentive for Canadian institutions to recruit students away from India, but a financial disincentive to establish any satellite campuses in India.)
UWO’s Dr. Lalu Mansinha gave a progress report on the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa exchange partnership, a 2 way exchange of about 75 students each year. The Ontario Council of Academic VPs (OCAV) runs similar exchanges other countries under the auspices of Ontario Universities International (OUI). The exchange is about the reciprocal flow of knowledge — not just disciplinary expertise, but cultural understanding as well. About 50 students receive a stipend each year, but a significant benefit is that international tuition fees are waived. India has many institutions, but they are also often very large: the University of Pune, the “Oxford of the East”, has more than 400,000 students. There is now growing interest in the idea of faculty exchange and research collaboration.
Husain F. Neemuchwala returned to the podium to tell us how to “Maximize Your ROI (Return on India)” with out of the box recruitment solutions. Right now Canada invests about $1 million as a country in a sector that brings in $6.5 billion — this is inadequate. CIEC recommends pre-planned high school drop-in visits, alumni networking receptions, agents, fairs, and social networking — not just Facebook but also Orkut, Ishstyle and others. Over 100,000 Indians currently go overseas to study. About 1/3rd of 1 billion people are under age 30. CIEC has members from both countries and is poised to become the ‘GO TO’ organizations within the Canada-India landscape and currently operates the Synergy conference, Ed-Mission tours to India and “UnFairs” (HS Counselor visits) in India, and will open rep offices in 3 cities by 2011. It is also working to create a $1 million scholarship pool to attract Indian students. Having an “appearance” in India is not enough — Canadian institutions need an ongoing “presence” on the ground in India.
York University’s Dr. Alan Middleton urged Canadian higher education to make a lot more NOISE to gain brand awareness overseas. Despite institutional budget cuts, we need to remember that “you can’t cut your way to growth.” Increasing participation rates domestically will only hurt quality, the Canadian population is aging, government funding is dropping, and raising tuition is not sustainable. We need to stop treating education as something only for young people, and should abolish the expression “continuing education.” We should all be in the business of lifelong learning, especially in an emerging market like India. Canada is currently a tortoise moving at a snail’s pace, with a minimal market share. We can’t wait for the federal government to make the difference when education is a provincial responsibility. This isn’t just an international competition for revenue — who will be the top educational players globally in the future? We need to be oriented to the world of the future — an Asian future.
Rajiv Mathur, of Deloitte Consulting, addressed the financial and tax implications of establishing satellite campuses in India. The PSE market in India will grow to $80 billion within a few years, and there are already half a billion Indians under age 25. Salaries and consulting fees can be paid to Canadians, within certain limits, but are subject to taxes of 10- 20%. There are apparently some ways to “unlock” the surplus generated in India for other purposes, Rajiv implied and could be reached directly at Deloitte for further elaboration.
York University’s Dr. Sheila Embleton moderated an open floor discussion about Canadian institutions operating in India. Currently, virtually no-one at the conference has operations on the ground in India (except York’s Schulich School of Business), but several have plans to do so, including the Ivey School of Business, and Concordia U. Professionals educated in India will ultimately emigrate to Canada and other “aging” countries to meet their future labour market needs — so in effect, our institutions can consider going to India as educating future Canadians. Engineering accreditations need to be more flexible.
Prof. Deep Saini, the principal of uToronto Mississauga, gave us “a view from the top,” which he assured us meant “the top of his head.” He was previously involved in establishing the UAE campus for uWaterloo, and is currently helping to develop a new India strategy for the UofT. UofT is interested in becoming the “backup” research university for industry in Canada and in India, and has even contemplated a UofT Delhi. India has some outstanding institutions in specific disciplines, but not world class comprehensive institutions like UofT. UofT feels a sense of global social responsibility to affect the ethos of education in India, beyond science and technology and into liberal arts. Canada and India share an immense amount of common values as countries and societies. There is plenty of local capital available to build a campus in India, but a shortage of common purpose and governance — India can be more like a country with 1.1 billion individual goals and objectives. There is an increasing power of the private sector that is gradually affecting public sector governance, and India will likely resolve its governance issues soon.
(L-R) Hon. Pierre S Pettigrew, Chairman CIEC; Husain F. Neemuchwala, COO &Executive Director, CIEC; Canadian Senator Consiglio Di Nino &Kam Rathee, President, CIEC
(L-R) Hon. Pierre S Pettigrew, Chairman CIEC; Husain F. Neemuchwala, COO &Executive Director, CIEC; Kam Rathee, President, CIEC &Canadian Senator Consiglio Di Nino
Braj Sinha and Rick Butler of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute put forward an action plan in light of the MOU signed by Canada and India at the G20 Summit. Many of the specific initiatives articulated in the MOU are things that Shastri has been doing for decades and have recommitted to doing under the new MOU. Shastri is planning to host 8 regional workshops across Canada and India to enhance India studies in Canada and vice-versa. Shastri is also planning to launch a new web portal to engage and connect its member institutions, to include a speakers bureau, a searchable discussion forum, a broad communications channel to trumpet accomplishments, and a centralized data repository with instant reporting capacity.
Taras Kulish, the country director for HOPE Worldwide of Canada, spoke about “educational offsets” in India. Institutions looking to educate Indians may not be addressing the question, “what are you giving back to India?” Like carbon offsets, educational offsets are a humanitarian concept to create corresponding opportunities in India for every international student coming to Canada. HOPE proposes that institutions donate $250 to an Indian institution for every fee-paying international student from India. There are currently 30 HOPE Foundation schools in India, and Canadian institutions can effectively “adopt” a HOPE Foundation school through these offsets.
Academica Group’s Ken Steele announced a new international student prospect research study, to launch this winter in partnership with CIEC and Maple Leaf EduConnect. The ISPR will assemble an online research panel of thousands of prospective international students in India, and hundreds of high school principals and counsellors, and will gather market intelligence much like Academica’s longrunning UCAS applicant study does in North America, where it is the largest and most comprehensive PSE consumer research study. The new ISPR will focus on India, and interested college, university, or government departments will be able to participate in the project steering committee and obtain high-level research results for a small nominal fee. Participating institutions will also gain exclusive access to in-depth data and a series of ongoing market research reports. Ken also shared interesting data drawn from Indian applicants to Canadian universities in the 2010 UCAS study.
Harris Rosen and Alan Wolfish, from Fogler Rubinoff LLP, spoke on global change and business opportunities in private PSE. They represent private career colleges and private degree-granting institutions. Vocational training schools typically re-skill disadvantaged students and give them a new lease on life. The US Department of Labour projects the top growth sectors in the next 10 years to be IT, Healthcare, professional and business services. Canada could learn a lot from the US in the way it gathers national statistics. The Federal/Provincial division of jurisdictions affects Canada’s ability to create a national brand, and while education is a provincial jurisdiction, immigration is a federal one. They also act for a number of foreign investors interested in acquiring Canadian career colleges.
Gail Bowkett, senior policy analyst at AUCC, spoke about AUCC’s upcoming presidential mission to India. Truly global universities need to be engaged with India, and there are over 100 bilateral agreements in place. AUCC wants to build the brand of Canadian education in India, and has signed an MOU with its counterpart, the AIU. 16 university presidents will be travelling to India in November to meet with key university presidents in India, business and industry leaders.
Hon. Dr. Ruby Dhalla, MP Brampton-Springdale graced the occasion by her presence at the closing of the event during the wine reception.
(Thank you to Ken Steeles of the Academica Group for contributing to this post event report).
Please refer to the following information and useful links regarding entering Canada & obtaining a VISA – Courtesy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada:
Participants will need a valid passport or an appropriate travel document to enter Canada.
Following the spectacular success of previous “Canada-India: A synergy in Education” events held in 2007 & 2008 respectively, the much anticipated sequel in 2009 will feature another education giant, CHINA.
While Synergy I brought hundreds of Canadian institutions together to discuss common India objectives, challenges and opportunities, Synergy II conducted in partnership with ACCC & FICCI brought specialists from India who discussed specific vocational areas and presented joint partnership opportunities.
Conceived by ICE Inc., a leading Canadian education event organization, this event will once again take place at the Pearson Convention Center near Toronto on September 17, 2009. Synergy ’09 not only highlights educational activities and opportunities in both countries, it presents unrivaled networking opportunities and is a must attend for Canadian Institutions and organizations interested in operating in either or both countries. This all day event will feature sessions by CBIE, ACCC, Blakes, AUCC, Academica Group, Shastri & CECN besides other distinguished speakers and will be co-hosted by two premiere business organizations, the Canada-India & Canada-China Business Council.
The design of the event is to:
Encourage exchange of ideas
Foster networking opportunities among the Canadian Universities & Colleges with interest in India and China and also Indian & Chinese organizations with experience in the 2 countries
Further the interests of those currently involved in or contemplating involvement in the education sector in India and/or China
Continue to explore the sharing of opportunities in this burgeoning sector and to create an active awareness & highlight each other’s experiences & opportunities as well as pitfalls to avoid
Provide a platform for institutions to showcase their programs & accomplishments in India and China
Exhibit the latest developments in the Indian and Chinese educational sector
Continue to keep the momentum in the burgeoning Canada-India education sector while engaging the growing Canada-China education corridor
Attendees will include:
Canadian High Schools and their boards, NGO’s, Canadian Colleges and Universities
The who’s who of Canadas internationalization efforts
Canadian stake holders in the education domain such as ACCC, AUCC, CECN, CBIE, C-IBC, CCBC, DFAIT, Shastri and more
The Governments of Canada, India and China
Canada-China Business Council members
Canada-India Business Council members
Canadian organizations planning educational ventures to India or China or both
There were plenty of power packed sessions that focused on institutions currently operating in India, their experiences and the Q&A which followed had questions posed by institutions considering doing so. The Panel discussion was stimulating with key questions addressed by VP’s from reputed Colleges and Universities.
Date: Monday June 2, 2008 from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Another informative session featured the CECN (Canadian Education Center Network) and SICI (Shastri Indo Canadian Institute) who talked about their work in India followed by a session that discussed work done by ‘Edu-Canada’, a new initiative undertaken by the Federal Govt. to promote Canadian education around the world, particularly India.
Another equally rewarding session for the participants was the ‘Speed Dating’ session where participants had the opportunity to ask questions directly to representatives from Indian institutions about partnerships, collaboration and how the two countries can work together. Tremendous work needs to be done collectively to address the somewhat confusing policies at the Government level to forge an understanding within the ‘Canada-India education corridor’ to promote Canadian education globally in an effort to attract and retain the right talent that consider Canada an education destination. Although much has been done, we still seem to be far behind countries such as England, Australia & USA. Suspicious paperwork and sometime inconsistent procedures at different missions attribute to the delay or refusal of student visa applications.
The C-IBC Education Committee headed by Husain Neemuchwala of ICE Inc. expressed a commitment to conduct such events in the future that promote healthy dialogues by inviting who’s who in Canadian International education. Some of the notable attendees at this event were representatives from:
CECN
(SICI) Shastri Indo Canadian Institute
Hon. Roy Mclaren, PC
Dr. Philip Steenkamp, Dy Minister Ontario
ACCC represented by James Knight & Katrina Murray
FICCI and our guests from Indian Universities, Colleges and other NGO bodies
Round table participants including several Colleges and Universities
Ontario MEDT
Indian High Commissioner H.E. R L Narayan
The chief guest was the Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency R L Narayan who dazzled the participants with his introductory and informative comments about the Indian educational system and challenged us to do more and offered the services of his office in that pursuit.
The agenda of the event was to foster an exchange of ideas through a networking event to further the interests of those currently involved in or contemplating involvement in the education sector in India. An exploration and sharing of opportunities in this burgeoning sector and to create an awareness & highlight each other’s experience about opportunities as well as pitfalls to avoid. It also presented an opportunity for institutions to showcase their programs & accomplishments in India.
C-IBC and ICE are in the planning stages of an India delegation in late Fall 2008 and are in touch with their Indian counterparts such as FICCI for exact dates around FICCI’s annual Higher Education Summit. More information will be posted on the C-IBC and ICE website in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for exciting times ahead in the dynamic and burgeoning Canada-India education corridor and although we have come a long way, we still have plenty of ground to cover.
A word of thanks also goes out to DFAIT, whose support was critical in making this event as successful as it was.
This ground breaking event once again brought together the ‘who’s who’ of Canadian education and established a benchmark for future events. Kam & Husain acknowledged the support of Dr. Balbir Sahni who was instrumental in helping put the event together.
If anybody needed proof that the Canada-India education corridor is heating up, it was present at the Pearson Convention Center when over 100 representatives from High school boards, Colleges and Universities assembled on July 19, 2007 at the C-IBC organized and ICE supported event called “Canada-India: A synergy in education”.
There were 4 power packed sessions such as “Destination India” which focused on institutions currently operating in India, their experiences and the Q&A which followed had questions posed by institutions considering doing so. The Panel discussion was stimulating with key questions addressed by VP’s from York University, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, Universite de Montreal, University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University.
Another exciting session featured the CECN (Canadian Education Center Network) who talked about their work in India followed by a session that introduced ‘Edu-Canada’, a new initiative undertaken by the Federal Govt. to promote Canadian education around the world, particularly India.
The last session was equally rewarding for the participants who had the opportunity to ask questions directly to Immigration representatives who had to defend the low visa approval rates from India. Tremendous work needs to be done collectively to address the somewhat contradictory policies at the Federal level that are mandated to promote Canadian education globally to attract and retain the right talent to consider Canada as an education destination, yet we seem to be far behind countries such as England, Australia & USA. Suspicious paperwork and sometime inconsistent procedures at different missions attribute to the delay or refusal of student visa applications.
The C-IBC Education Committee headed by Husain Neemuchwala of ICE Inc. expressed a commitment to conduct such events in the future that promote healthy dialogues by inviting who’s who in Canadian International education. Some of the notable attendees at this event were representatives from:
The Asia Pacific Foundation
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
The CECN
Shastri Indo Canadian Institute
The Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Deptartment of Foreign Affairs
The Focus India EWG (Ottawa)
Ontario Ministry of Economic Development
Industry Trade Canada
The chief guest was the Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency R L Narayan who dazzled the participants with his introductory and informative comments about the Indian educational system and challenged us to do more and offered the services of his office in that pursuit.
The agenda of the event was to foster an exchange of ideas through a networking event to further the interests of those currently involved in or contemplating involvement in the education sector in India. An exploration and sharing of opportunities in this burgeoning sector and to create an awareness & highlight each other’s experience about opportunities as well as pitfalls to avoid. It also presented an opportunity for institutions to showcase their programs & accomplishments in India.
When ICE started conducting education fairs back in 2003, they were happy bringing institutions together and connecting them with students and they still continue to do so. However, now that ICE is starting to bring countries together, the feeling and satisfaction is quite different and ICE is excited to be a part of the process.
ICE and C-IBC are also in the planning stages of an India delegation in late Spring 2008 and are in touch with their Indian counterparts for exact dates. More information will be posted on the C-IBC and ICE website in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for exciting times ahead in the dynamic and burgeoning Canada-India education corridor and although we have come a long way, we still have plenty of ground to cover. This unprecedented event brought together the ‘who’s who’ of Canadian education and established a high benchmark for future such events and the Committee acknowledged the support of Dr. Balbir Sahni who helped put the event together.
PUBLIC NOTICE
To Whom It May Concern
While we are thankful to the many members we serve and are grateful for their support, it has come to our attention that a few 'Copy Cat' organizations have been hastily created to replicate our success. Such 'similar sounding' organizations have been ostensibly established in India and purport to give the impression that there is a causal, legal or business relationship with our duly organized and recognized, Canadian non-profit association, the CANADA INDIA EDUCATION COUNCIL(CIEC).
The activity of these Indian organizations have no sanction from us and their nefarious activities may be to the detriment of those dealing with them. Please take notice, any communication or contact with you will be through our legally established website, or via correspondence through, with or from, our Chairman Hon. Pierre J. Pettigrew PC; Vice-Chairman Kam Rathee, Esq or our CEO Husain F. Neemuchwala.
Synergy Education Conference: Academia Meets Industry & The Role India Can Play
November 17, 2014 
s injuries as well as athletic programming & how it can benefit academic institutiions. 
Join over a hundred academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and demonstrate the opportunities of this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor.
On Oct 3 & 4, join academic experts from both countries as they discuss recent developments and hear illustrious speakers stimulate thought and showcase opportunities in this dynamic and burgeoning education corridor. The seating capacity is only 120 and registration is once again on a first come basis. CIEC has negotiated a special rate for delegates staying at the hotel, which will also provide 
Post-Event Report
