The Glasgow-Burchell Declaration
The joint declaration has been named the Glasgow-Burchell Declaration in reference to the first exchange of high commissioners between Canada and Australia in 1939. On the brink of World War II, the need for closer relations between members of the Commonwealth became a pressing issue, and Canada and Australia decided to establish formal diplomatic relations. On September 11, 1939, Canada announced the appointment of its first high commissioner to Australia, followed by Australia’s announcement of its first high commissioner the next day. Charles Burchell became Canada’s first High Commissioner to Australia while the Honourable Sir William Glasgow, a Major-General and former Australian senator, was appointed High Commissioner for Australia in Canada.
The aim of the Glasgow-Burchell Declaration between Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is to strengthen operational cooperation and enhance the effectiveness of the two countries’ overseas diplomatic networks. Canada and Australia have a strong and growing record of cooperation in a wide range of areas, including development assistance, consular activities and the co-location of some of their diplomatic missions. The Declaration will help the countries work together to further identify and generate efficiencies in their respective operations. Areas for potential additional cooperation include conducting, when appropriate, joint exercises at our respective missions, especially those located in medium- to high-risk locations, and considering co-location when mutually desirable, as well as joint language training. To oversee this enhanced cooperation and monitor progress, senior officials from both countries will hold an annual dialogue.
Mitacs Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 15 years. Mitacs’ Globalink Research Internships are funded by the Government of Canada (through Industry Canada), the governments of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, and Quebec’s Fonds de recherche Nature et technologies, along with Canadian universities and international partners. The Mitacs Globalink program is available to undergraduate students from Brazil, China, France, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Vietnam and now Australia. It provides participants with 12-week research internships under the supervision of a Canadian university faculty. This summer, more than 750 Globalink interns are conducting research at more than 50 Canadian campuses.
The student mobility agreement between Mitacs Canada and Universities Australia will allow Australian undergraduate students to participate in a research internship program in Canada for the first time. Under the agreement, up to 20 students per year over a three- year period may participate in the Mitacs Globalink program. The following Australian universities have agreed to support students in the pilot program:
- The University of Sydney
- Monash University
- Queensland University of Technology
- James Cook University
- University of Wollongong
- The University of Western Australia
- Macquarie University
- The University of Queensland
- University of Tasmania
The agreement is part of Mitacs Globalink, a program that supports Canada’s International Education Strategy (IES) announced in January 2014. A key element of Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan, the IES includes funding of $20 million over three years for Mitacs Globalink.
