91亚色 President and Vice Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri (right) signs a memorandum of understanding with Tel Aviv University President Joseph Klafter, while Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne looks on

91亚色 President and Vice Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and Robert Hach茅, 91亚色 vice-president research and innovation, have completed a successful mission to the Middle East.

The mission took place from May 15 to 20 and was led by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. More than 120 representatives from postsecondary institutions, public and private sector organizations accompanied the premier on the mission, which was organized to promote the exchange of information and knowledge, seek opportunities for collaboration and sign new business agreements.

During the mission, 91亚色鈥檚 president signed a number of important memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with leading postsecondary institutions in Israel and the West Bank.

On May 16, the president signed a renewed MOU with . The five-year agreement will provide students with educational opportunities, promote interest in the teaching and research activities of each institution, and engage in faculty and student exchanges. The agreement will see the two institutions collaborate on seminars, research projects and conferences.

President Shoukri signs an agreement with Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. Looking on are Prof. Peter Mascher, associate vice-president international affairs at McMaster University and the delegation from the Province of Ontario.

On May 19, Shoukri took part in a Scholarship Awards Ceremony and signed an agreement with (LLD [Hon.] '15), the founder and president of the charity and a professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. The agreement was also signed by McMaster University, and will provide 10 young women currently living in Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, as well as most other countries located in the Middle East region, with the opportunity to study in Ontario. One scholarship per year at each institution will be awarded for five years. The scholarships reflect the mandate of the Daughters for Life Foundation that lasting peace in the Middle East depends on empowering girls and young women through education.

91亚色 entered into an MOU with Bethlehem University on May 20. Pictured signing the MOU are Bethlehem University Vice-Chancellor Brother Peter Bray, FSC (left) and 91亚色 President Mamdouh Shoukri.

91亚色 entered into an MOU with on May 20. The MOU outlines the cooperation between the two institutions in the areas of education, research and community service, including developing training and internship programs, exchanging faculty members and working together on research projects.

鈥淲orking with world-class institutions such as Bethlehem University allows 91亚色 to continue to expand our outlook and deepen our global impact,鈥� said Shoukri during the signing ceremony. 鈥淭hanks to this agreement, we will be able to provide students in the humanities, business, social sciences, science and health with valuable experiential learning opportunities at an excellent university.鈥�

91亚色's president shakes hands with Peretz Lavie, president of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions. Looking on, from left are MPPs Monte Kwinter and Dr. Eric Hoskins, Premier Kathleen Wynne and MPP Reza Moridi.

The MOU with the is a five-year agreement to collaborate on student and faculty exchanges, study abroad opportunities, joint research projects and initiatives and the staging of joint seminars, conferences and academic meetings.

鈥淭hanks to this partnership, students and researchers from 91亚色 and Technion will be able to engage in mutually beneficial international research partnerships, student learning experiences, faculty exchanges and international recruitment,鈥� said Shoukri.

As part of the mission, Shoukri and Hach茅 met with researchers in life sciences and technology and representatives at universities in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa in Israel, and Ramallah and Bethlehem in the West Bank.

Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and 91亚色 U students gather for a cameo with the president and vice-president research and innovation

The mission was organized by the Province of Ontario to build on existing relationships, create new partnerships and attract investment to the province. Several leaders from Ontario institutions accompanied the Premier to the West Bank, where they sought opportunities to collaborate with Palestinian partners on innovation and education initiatives.

Mission delegates were joined by Dr. Eric Hoskins, minister of health and long-term care, Reza Moridi, minister of research and innovation, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Monte Kwinter.

What would a trip be without a "selfie" with students, provincial ministers and the premier?

91亚色 has numerous existing agreements with postsecondary institutions in the Middle East, including Al-Quds University, Bar-Ilan University, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. In addition, the University is home to the , Canada鈥檚 first interdisciplinary research centre in Jewish Studies. The 91亚色 Visiting Professorship in Israel Studies was inaugurated in 2008 through the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies.

91亚色 offers a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies, a 91亚色-Hebrew U Graduate Diploma in Jewish Studies for Educators, a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Hebrew and Jewish Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Jewish Studies, and an advanced undergraduate certificate in Advanced Hebrew and Jewish Studies.

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The mission, led by聽the Governor General of Canada聽David Johnston, is the largest of its kind in Canadian history, with more than two dozen Canadian university presidents making stops in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Campinas and Brasilia. It is organized by the Association of Canadian Colleges & Universities (AUCC).

Canadian university presidents will be visiting Rio de Janeiro as part of their tour of Brazil

In the next five years, Brazil is expected to become the fifth-largest economy in the world; the delegates聽will work聽to establish partnerships that will address the research interests of both countries and foster long-term prosperity.

As part of the mission, 91亚色 will announce two undergraduate entrance scholarships for Brazilian students, along with a pair of scholarships to study English through the 91亚色 English Language Institute (YUELI).

Shoukri will also be a signatory on a Memorandum of Understanding between 91亚色, Simon Fraser University, Ryerson University, Concordia University and the State of S茫o Paulo research foundation, (FAPESP). The memorandum encourages collaboration between researchers at SFU, Concordia, 91亚色 and Ryerson and those working in public or private research or teaching institutions in the State of S茫o Paulo, Brazil.

鈥淚t is important that 91亚色 participate in this mission,鈥� Shoukri says. 鈥淥ur aim is that our students become 鈥榗itizens of the world鈥�, by increasing their knowledge and skills through globally connected, internationalized programs, research and campuses. This new era of partnership with Brazil is an extension of 91亚色鈥檚 leadership in international education, international research and collaboration with international institutions.鈥�

The Funda莽茫o Dom Cabral - Campus

91亚色鈥檚 Schulich School of Business will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Brazil鈥檚 Funda莽茫o Dom Cabral, a centre for executive development, for collaboration in research and teaching. The institutions will share knowledge around sustainability and responsible business, and jointly provide executive education training and development programs with Brazilian companies. Schulich will also establish the Brookfield Brazil Internship Program, an opportunity for up to four of the school鈥檚 MBA/IMBA students to participate in a structured work term in the Brazilian operations of a globally oriented Canadian-based firm.

In keeping with strengthening ties between Schulich and Brazilian institutions, Schulich Dean Dezs枚聽Horv谩th will give a special address to the Federation of the Industries of Sao Paulo (FIESP), with introductory remarks provided by Shoukri.

Stephen Toope, chair of AUCC and president of The University of British Columbia, says the delegation aims to strengthen existing partnerships with Brazil and create new opportunities.

鈥淭his is the largest international mission of university presidents in Canadian history, which speaks to the importance of building connections with this emerging economic powerhouse,鈥� says Toope. 鈥淥ur focus is on establishing and strengthening partnerships in research and innovation. We will also enhance opportunities for student mobility between our countries, providing experiences that will better prepare students in both countries for the new knowledge-driven economy.鈥�

Canada鈥檚 universities, including 91亚色, will welcome an estimated 12,000 Brazilian students between 2012 and 2016, through the Canadian component of Brazil鈥檚 ambitious Science Without Borders scholarship program. Through these scholarships, more than 100,000 Brazilians will study, undertake internships and conduct research in selected countries around the world over a four-year period.

The Brazil mission is being led by聽the Governor General of Canada聽David Johnston. AUCC is the national voice of Canada鈥檚 universities, representing 95 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities. For more information, click .

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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