Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
September 13, 2010Atlantic Canada to Host Education
and Training Export Symposium
Atlantic Canada's education and training sector stakeholders will
meet to discuss export opportunities, during the first ever Atlantic
Education and Training Sector Symposium, to be held in Halifax, Nova
Scotia, on September 16-17. This trade building initiative is made
possible with federal and provincial financial assistance through the
Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business
Development (IBDA).
"Our government is committed to helping Atlantic Canada's education
and training sector succeed on the international stage," said the
Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the
Atlantic Gateway. "This initiative will help broaden the reach of our
education and training exports while increasing the region's
competitiveness in the global marketplace."
"Post-secondary institutions have moved into positions of prominence
in economic and workforce development activities," said the Honourable
Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "In
addition to serving their traditional role of educating students and
providing job training, post-secondary institutions hold the potential
to attract new students to the province and research activities
that lead to the creation of direct
and indirect employment opportunities. This symposium is an important
first step in collaborating with our regional partners to identify
opportunities for our institutions in international markets."
The Atlantic Education and Training Sector Symposium builds upon the
four Atlantic Provinces' growing education and training sector exports,
while exploring opportunities for a more co-ordinated approach to
marketing the region. The event brings together close to
60 representatives of Atlantic Canada's education and training sector,
including institutions and businesses that are either actively pursuing
or interested in global market opportunities in such areas as Asia and
South America.
A study by the Conference Board of Canada notes that the worldwide
market for education services will triple over the next 20 years. The
overall demand for education and training services is currently
estimated at being worth US$1 trillion.
The symposium is being organized by EduNova Cooperative Ltd., a
not-for-profit association representing Nova Scotia universities,
community colleges, school boards and private sector training companies.
Incorporated in 2004, the association coordinates various education and
training projects in the international marketplace.
"For the first time, public and private members of the education and
training sectors of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and
Newfoundland and Labrador will come together to discuss opportunities
for collaboration in international markets," said Ava Czapalay,
President and CEO of EduNova. "We are confident of the potential of
Atlantic Canada to become a power-hub within the global knowledge
economy."
A total of $60,865 in funding for this initiative
is being provided through the IBDA, a federal/provincial
agreement between the Government of Canada (ACOA, Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Canada, and Industry Canada) and the four provincial
governments in Atlantic Canada. The agreement is
designed to help Atlantic Canadian businesses enter, explore and succeed
in international markets. The IBDA is the leading component of a
pan-Atlantic effort to foster business relations, attract foreign
investment and nurture technological co-operation.
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