EDMONTON, Feb. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - Provincial and territorial ministers of Education were in Edmonton this week for the Third High-Level Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and the People's Republic of China (3HLC).
The Chinese delegation was led by the Vice Minister of Education for the People's Republic of China, the Honourable Li Weihong. The Honourable Jeff Johnson, Chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), and Minister of Education for Alberta, led CMEC's delegation of provincial and territorial education ministers.
The third consultation focused on a variety of current issues in education and served as a platform for dialogue among participants. Issues discussed ranged from early childhood education to the ongoing transformation of education systems in a global context. The occasion of the 3HLC also facilitated the signature of a number of bilateral agreements between provinces or their educational institutions and Chinese partners.
"It was a great honour for ministers of education to host the third high-level consultation," said Minister Johnson. "We look forward to continued dialogue and collaboration in education with the People's Republic of China on how the deepening of our friendship and exchange can contribute to our common education goals."
A public summary of the outcomes of the meeting was signed by Vice Minister Li and Minister Johnson at the conclusion of the meeting.
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.
THIRD HIGH-LEVEL CONSULTATION ON EDUCATION COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES OF CANADA
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THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Summary of Discussions
On this day, February 24, 2014, the Third High-Level Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and the Ministry of Education, People's Republic of China, took place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
The third consultation brought together the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), and senior officials from the People's Republic of China to discuss increasing education collaboration and exchange between Canada's provinces and territories and the People's Republic of China, while building on achievements to date. The third consultation was co-chaired by the Honourable Jeff Johnson, Chair of CMEC and Minister of Education for Alberta, and the Honourable Li Weihong, Vice Minister of Education for the People's Republic of China.
There was recognition among participants of the importance of fostering understanding and respect between peoples, cultures, and societies in an increasingly interconnected world. Participants also agreed that opportunities to be immersed in different cultures contribute to a student's educational experience, and that greater education collaboration and exchange between the provinces and territories of Canada and the People's Republic of China can have a positive influence on their economic and social relationships.
They also acknowledged the success of the many existing relationships between the People's Republic of China and individual Canadian provinces and territories in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education, as well as the many existing relationships between their educational institutions.
In the context of the growing recognition of the importance of education for social and economic well-being, participants reviewed challenges in their education systems. They shared their perspectives on issues such as:
- education transformation in a global community;
- Canadian and Chinese science and technology research environments;
- early childhood learning and development;
- improving training programs to better address labour-market needs;
- student mobility;
- approaches to and challenges in the teaching of mathematics;
- education for sustainable development;
- research and innovation in agriculture and energy; and
- the provision of vocational and technical training programs.
Participants also identified options for further collaboration and exchange, including the following:
- Joint participation in a fall 2014 conference organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada that will focus on the knowledge and skills young people will need to engage with the countries of Asia.
- Increased cooperation on student mobility, in particular by exploring ways to make it easier for students and parents to understand and access information about the education systems of the provinces and territories of Canada and the education system of the People's Republic of China.
- Expanding the opportunities for young Canadians to travel to China for student summer camps.
- Creating an informal virtual network on early childhood learning and development with a view to sharing knowledge and best practices.
Participants recognized and acknowledged that, while CMEC is a collective in which provincial and territorial ministers of education can collaborate on issues related to education, decisions on the implementation of particular actions are made by each individual province and territory.
In their closing remarks to the Third High-Level Consultation on Education Collaboration between the Provinces and Territories of Canada and the Ministry of Education, People's Republic of China, the co-chairs thanked all participants and expressed their ongoing support for enhanced education collaboration and exchange between Canada's provinces and territories and the People's Republic of China.
This summary of discussions was written in English, French, and Mandarin and signed this 24th day of February, 2014, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the text being equally valid in all three languages.
| Jeff Johnson Chair of CMEC and Minister of Education Alberta Education |
Li Weihong Vice Minister of Education People's Republic of China |
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SOURCE: Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
Colin Bailey
Director, Communications
Cell: 416-929-6970
Tel.: 416-962-8100, ext. 259
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