GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WITH JILIN PROVINCE ON STUDENT EXCHANGE

The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration has partnered with the Province of Jilin, China to establish a program for academic exchange between the two jurisdictions.

Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Jilin Vice-Governor Weigeng Chen in Toronto earlier today, where the minister also addressed a delegation of business leaders attending the Jilin Economic and Trade Conference.

The MOU comes as a result of a declaration agreement between Premier Brad Wall and the People's Government of Jilin Province in May 2010, which underscored the value of the relationship between the provinces and opened dialogue to create opportunities for future economic, academic and cultural exchange.

The Government of Saskatchewan and Jilin Province will each contribute $45,000 over three years. The University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina will each receive $7,500 annually to receive an exchange participant from Jilin. One Saskatchewan student from each institution will study in Jilin Province annually.

"In today's diversified, knowledge-based global economy, international education is critical in developing our future leaders," Norris said. "This reciprocal exchange program allows students to develop international leadership capacity for our increasingly interdependent world."

The exchange will provide opportunities for students in Jilin and Saskatchewan to improve language abilities, acquire international experience and increase cross-cultural awareness.

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For more information, contact:

Richelle Bourgoin
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8153
Email: richelle.bourgoin@gov.sk.ca