Ministers of Education Mark International Education Week

TORONTO, Nov. 15 /CNW/ - The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), joins today with over 100 countries from around the world to celebrate the 11^th annual International Education Week (IEW).

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.

This year's theme for Canada is "International Education: Building a Society for the 21^st Century." It underscores the important role international education can play in furthering social, cultural, and economic development in an increasingly interdependent world. Education groups mark IEW in a variety of ways. More information about events and activities can be found on the CMEC-sponsored IEW Web site at www.iew-sei.ca.

"Ministers of education believe strongly in the value of international education," said the Honourable Diane McGifford, Chair of CMEC and Manitoba's Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy and Minister responsible for International Education. "The number of international students in Canada has more than doubled in the past 12 years, and their contribution to our social, cultural, and economic success is immeasurable. When we work together with other countries and peoples, we all benefit — Canada brings its ideas and values to the world and the world's best ideas about education are brought home."

CMEC is committed to strengthening the international education profile of provinces and territories and is actively engaged on the international stage through a variety of initiatives and projects. Of particular note:

• In fall 2010, CMEC hosted the first high-level consultation on education collaboration between ministers of education and the education leaders of the People's Republic of China to facilitate greater cooperation on education. The Chair of CMEC will be leading a delegation to China in 2011.
• In response to an August 2010 directive from premiers, CMEC is working with provincial and territorial immigration ministers to further develop an international education marketing action plan. The plan will complement the pan-Canadian education brand, Imagine Education in/au Canada, which was developed by provinces and territories in cooperation with the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
• OECD and other global economic and social think tanks have identified 21^st-century competencies, such as creativity, innovation, collaboration, and digital competency, as skills people will need in the knowledge economy. Ministers are exploring how learning models incorporating these competencies can contribute to Canada's education systems.

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 fulfillment of the constitutional jurisdiction for education conferred on the provinces and territories. For more information, visit us at www.cmec.ca.

For further information:

Colin Bailey
Director, Communications
Cell: 416-804-6548
Tel.: [phone], ext. 259
E-mail: [email protected]