In a bilateral meeting, CRUCH universities strengthen their ties with Canadian universities

The Chile-Canada Cooperation event was attended by representatives from Chilean universities and delegates from McMaster University, Ontario Tech University, Queens University, University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo, University of New Brunswick, University of Saskatchewan and University of Alberta, among others.

As part of the visit to Chile by the Consortium of Canadian Universities (CALDO), the Diego Portales University (UDP) and the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH), in collaboration with the Internationalization Commission of the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), carried out the Chile-Canada Cooperation Day.

The meeting was held at the Faculty of Education of UDP on Tuesday, October 7, and included the participation of representatives from Chilean universities and delegates from McMaster University, Ontario Tech University, Queens University, University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo, University of New Brunswick, University of Saskatchewan and University of Alberta, among others.

The activity was carried out with the aim of deepening academic collaboration between both countries, through the exchange of experiences, the promotion of mobility programs and the identification of joint research and training opportunities.

During the meeting, a dialogue took place regarding mobility and research between Chile and Canada. Two working groups were also held to identify barriers to academic mobility and to share previous experiences applying to the MITACS and ELAP programs. Strategies to facilitate contact between faculty and students interested in undertaking research internships in Canada were also explored.

For René Garrido, director of the Department of International and Interuniversity Relations at USACH, this dialogue was positive, as it will open doors for the internationalization of the entire CRUCH university community. “We are very pleased to be part of this opportunity,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Delgado, executive secretary of the Consortium of Canadian Universities (CALDO), stated that Chile and Canada can collaborate in various areas, especially since they have already coincided in the productive development of mining and transportation, among others.

“Canada is a large country with much to offer,” he said, adding that the country’s academic trajectory has been marked by applied research. “Research is a fundamental part of knowledge development, both in the private and public sectors and in academia (…). But all of this must also be done with international support and collaboration,” he commented.

For his part, Carlos Ahumada, coordinator of Cooperation and Global Training at the General Directorate of International Relations, noted that this “was an excellent day”, as it “included the participation of representatives from CRUCH universities and academics interested in strengthening ties with Canadian institutions, through cooperation in various areas of research”.

At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the academic institutions agreed to prepare a report to continue working together. The ultimate goal is to develop a program of activities that will further connect universities in Chile and Canada.

See UDP news: https://internacional.udp.cl/en-jornada-realizada-en-la-udp-instituciones-del-cruch-refuerzan-sus-vinculos-con-universidades-canadienses/

Text and photograph: Courtesy of UDP Communications (edited by CRUCH Communications)