Ontario universities applaud Premier's international efforts

TORONTO, Nov. 4 /CNW/ - New Ontario Trillium Scholarships for International PhD students will provide a major boost to the efforts of our universities to attract top global talent, build stronger international relationships and compete more successfully here and abroad, according to the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).

"Global competition for students is intense and access to scholarships is an important driver in international recruitment," says Sheldon Levy, Chair of COU and President of Ryerson University. "Ontario's productivity and competitiveness in the 21^st century depend on a highly skilled and culturally diverse work force, to which these scholarships for graduate students will contribute."

The Ontario government made international recruitment one of its priorities in the Throne Speech last winter. Since that time, Ontario universities have been very pleased to work with the government on developing ideas to ensure success in this area.

"We applaud the Premier and his government for their commitment to internationalization and for the Premier's dynamic efforts to promote Ontario's universities abroad, most recently on the mission to China and Hong Kong," says Bonnie M. Patterson, President and CEO of COU, who is also in Hong Kong promoting Ontario universities. "Universities are critical to the province's success in attracting talent and leveraging international relationships. They are a tremendous two-way conduit to different countries, their people and their expertise."

In recent years, Ontario universities have been sending more students abroad and bringing more students to Ontario to study and work: there are over 16,000 international students studying and contributing to the diversity of our universities and their communities. Universities are building research collaborations and faculty exchanges, and are forging global partnerships with business and industry with the support of the government. In addition, Ontario universities are offering more internationally-focused programs and internationalizing their curricula with examples drawn from around the world.

"Our universities will continue to work with the Ontario government to enhance internationalization efforts with a variety of student and faculty programs and partnership initiatives," says Patterson.

For further information:

Jennifer Grass
Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs
416.707.6787
[email protected]