The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE) and the British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE) was signed by the Executive Directors of both entities, Dr. David Julien and Dr. Randall Martin, on April 13, 2016.
BCCIE’s purpose is to promote International Education in and for the Province of British Columbia, to promote and enhance BC’s international reputation for education, and to support the International Education activities of the Government of British Columbia. Meanwhile, IOHE is a university association represented by 27 countries throughout the Americas. Its mandate is to encourage hemispheric cooperation in higher education.
“With IOHE Presidency currently at Royal Roads University (RRU),a British Columbia (BC) institution, and the recent recruitment of new BC members, the partnership with BCCIE came as a natural next step and we look forward developing initiatives together with a focus on Latin America,” said Dr. Julien.
For his part, Dr. Martin added: “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to partner with IOHE. This MOU dovetails perfectly with a surge in our own activities and initiatives in Latin America”.
BCCIE also became the 30th signing member of the Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAIE). This event brings together educators across the Americas to discuss common internationalization goals. The next meeting will be in Montreal, Canada, on October 11-13, 2017.
The case for cooperation in the Western Hemisphere
Latin America is increasingly on BC’s radar for International Education collaboration. In March, BCCIE participated in the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) 17th Annual Conference in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Then on April 6, BCCIE hosted a Latin America Education Roundtable with Consuls General in BC offices and representatives in government.
Brazil and Mexico are currently the top Latin American source countries for international students to BC. In 2013/14, 8,600 Brazilians and 3,400 Mexicans were welcomed into BC schools.