Delegation from Qatar visiting province for post-secondary education opportunity

On May 2 and 3, Newfoundland and Labrador will host a delegation from Qatar, which is looking at Newfoundland and Labrador's College of the North Atlantic for a possible partnership to establish a "Qatar College of Technology." 

The Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) has been developing this education 
cooperation project and has narrowed the list of possible lead colleges for the initiative to four Canadian colleges, one of which is the College of the North Atlantic. Through this 10 year, $500 million project, the lead college will provide academic leadership and work jointly with CBIE and the State of Qatar in the design and establishment of a "Qatar College of Technology." 

Officials from the Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education and the College of the North Atlantic will be promoting the advantages of the college to the delegation while they are in Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to various presentations, the delegation will tour the Engineering Technology Centre at the St. John's campus of the college as well as the Seal Cove campus. 

"Our province has an exciting opportunity to become the lead partner in a major international education initiative," said Sandra C. Kelly, Minister of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education. "During the delegation's visit, we will be promoting our expertise in a number of educational areas, highlighting our ability to adapt to the training needs of industry and showing this delegation that we are the right choice for the lead college." 

"The College of the North Atlantic is excited about the opportunities offered in this potential partnership with the State of Qatar and the Canadian Bureau of International Education," stated Pamela Walsh, president of the College of the North Atlantic. "Newfoundland and Labrador is a significant world player in the export of educational processes and best-practices of organizational development, and the College of the North Atlantic is a recognized world leader in the export of customized training. Here is a perfect opportunity to set before the world the adaptability of Canadian organizational development practices and the superiority of the Canadian educational curriculum."

The visit to this province is part of the delegation's 10 day Canadian visit which will assist in the decision-making process. The delegation consists of senior advisors to Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al-Misnad, Consort of the Emir of Qatar and CBIE officials.

Media contact:

Jackie Simon, Communications Director
Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education (709) 729-6573

Stephen Lee, Communications Officer
College of the North Atlantic (709) 643-7928.

2001 05 01                                               10:00 a.m.