Why David Johnston is heading to Brazil next spring

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA

*************************** Governor General to lead Canadian delegation at Conference of the Americas on International Education

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, governor general of Canada, will lead a delegation of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) to the second Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAIE) being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from April 25-28, 2012.

These students will inevitably become the next generation of entrepreneurs, job creators and researchers.

They are the leaders who will pave the way into long term prosperity and economic growth.

The conference will provide a forum for academic leaders to discuss issues and opportunities related to international collaboration in higher education.

In 2012, the CAIE will focus on a number of areas related to the internationalization of higher education.

The governor general’s participation in the CAIE will serve to raise Canada’s profile as a country of choice for students from all parts of the world.

Each year international students bring their rich culture to Canadian classrooms and contribute to our country’s economy.

Conversely, Canadians participating in international study programs bring back innovative ideas that help promote jobs and economic growth at home.

The CAIE – whose objective is to promote worldwide academic collaboration – is held every 18 months, alternating between the southern and northern hemisphere.

Its first edition was held in October 2010, in Calgary, Alberta and was attended by over 650 participants from 44 countries, spanning five continents.

The Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE) will assume the role of secretariat for this year’s conference, while Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will provide support.

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