UPEI signs historic agreements with Central American and Caribbean universities

The University of Prince Edward Island signed memorandum of understandings (MOUs) this week with three universities at the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) Annual Conference in Ottawa. 

Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor, who was at the CBIE conference to receive a 2016 Excellence Award, formalized agreements with officials from the Universidad da Vinci de Guatemala, Intec institute de Formation Technique Professionelle in Haiti, and Galen University in Belize.

“Today, we are very pleased to meet and work with representatives from these three universities,” said President Abd-El-Aziz. “These MOUs mark the first time that UPEI partnered with universities in Central America and Haiti. This historic occasion will allow the University to offer more academic and research opportunities to students, faculty, and staff.”

Each MOU indicates that UPEI and the partner university will endeavour to explore and mutually collaborate on a variety of activities such as:

• the exchange of academic staff for the purposes of teaching and research,
• the exchange/study abroad programs for students,
• the participation in joint seminars, lectures, training, and academic meetings,
• the exchange of research materials in the fields of mutual interest,
• research/consulting contracts, and
• program collaborations.

Representatives from the three institutions toured UPEI last week on a pre-conference visit to several post-secondary institutions in eastern Canada.

“That our International Relations Office was able to secure these partnerships so quickly speaks volumes about our ability to be nimble and respond to opportunities as they present themselves,” added President Abd-El-Aziz. “I am very proud that UPEI is moving forward with internationalization efforts to achieve growth and a thriving, sustainable future.”