June 12, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario
International Trade Minister Ed Fast today announced a three-year student mobility agreement worth approximately $10 million between Mitacs, a Canadian not-for-profit research and training organization, and Mexico’s Secretaría de Educación Pública [secretariat of public education] (SEP). The partnership will attract Mexican post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows to Canadian universities and research institutions and will give Canadian students the opportunity to diversify their research experience in Mexico.
The student mobility agreement is part of Mitacs Globalink, which supports the International Education Strategy (IES) announced by Minister Fast in January 2014. A key element of Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan (GMAP), the IES includes funding of $20 million over three years for Mitacs Globalink and identifies Mexico as a priority education market.
Under this agreement, Mitacs could contribute up to $6.8 million, and the SEP up to $3.28 million, to support up to 460 post-secondary (undergraduate and graduate) students and post-doctoral fellows (360 from Mexico and 100 from Canada) as they complete research internships and fellowships. The undergraduate students will participate in Mitacs’ existing summer program, which welcomes more than 750 students from around the world to Canadian universities each summer. Mitacs will be accepting student applications for the 2016 cohort this summer.
The IES helps Canada build on its already strong education advantages. Capitalizing on these vast opportunities will create jobs and economic growth and will help Canada retain and enhance its global leadership position to become more prosperous, innovative and competitive.
“Our government welcomes the agreement between Mitacs and Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education. International education provides significant economic benefits to our communities and creates jobs in classrooms and laboratories across the country.”
- Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade
“By formalizing this relationship with Mexico, we are encouraging the exchange of research knowledge and innovation between our two countries, in addition to providing new opportunities for students, post-doctoral fellows, faculty and universities.”
- Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director, Mitacs
“Through our updated science, technology and innovation strategy, our government is making record investments to push the boundaries of knowledge, create jobs and prosperity, and improve the quality of life of Canadians. With investments in programs like Mitacs’ Globalink, we are helping to attract outstanding international researchers to Canada while offering valuable learning opportunities for Canadian students abroad.”
- Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Industry Canada
Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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