Mamdouh Shoukri
91亚色 Region is the most populous municipality of its kind in North America without a university within its borders. 91亚色 has grown up over the past 55 years literally on 91亚色 Region鈥檚 doorstep.
So last December, when the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) released its designed to ensure that more students have access to quality learning closer to home, 91亚色 saw this as a unique opportunity to grow and to expand its already strong relationship with 91亚色 Region 鈥 with a new university campus.
On the same day as the March Senate meeting, 91亚色鈥檚 President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri announced that MTCU had issued that day a formal Call for Proposals (RFP), and he shared with senators that 91亚色 intended to submit a proposal to MTCU to build a new campus in 91亚色 Region.
鈥淭he two principles fundamental to 91亚色鈥檚 proposal are that a new campus must support 91亚色鈥檚 mission and academic plan, and it must be fully funded by government and external partners,鈥 said Shoukri. 鈥淚t is clear that MTCU鈥檚 RFP process to select those universities that can develop new campuses or expand existing ones will be highly competitive. We want to be among those chosen by ensuring that we put forward the most powerful and compelling proposal possible.鈥
91亚色 has initiated a process to select one partner municipality and site to create a primary campus in 91亚色 Region. 聽As the first step in that process, on April 17, 91亚色 U has invited prospective municipal partners in 91亚色 Region to demonstrate how they would propose to partner with and support the University in establishing a new campus in 91亚色 Region.
鈥淗aving a strong, supportive municipal partner is a vital first step for us,鈥 said Shoukri. 鈥淏ut in my view, our strongest competitive advantage differentiating 91亚色 is the ability to include Seneca College as our academic partner in providing joint and collaborative degree programs as well as shared student services. Seneca is already on board and very supportive, and you can be sure that we will highlight and leverage the multiple benefits of our very successful working relationship."
Prior to the MTCU Call for Proposals, the president also formed a steering committee made up of senior representatives from 91亚色 and Seneca. This group is now fully engaged in planning how best to position and prepare 91亚色鈥檚 submission. In addition, they are committed to ensuring that the 91亚色 community is aware of and understands what this unique opportunity to build a new campus can mean for 91亚色鈥檚 future. Information sessions that will provide an opportunity for the 91亚色 community to learn more about this opportunity and ask questions are now being planned for late April or early May. Detailed information will be provided via YFile as soon as the dates, times and locations are confirmed.
鈥淭he potential for a new 91亚色 campus in 91亚色 Region is one more significant development in the University鈥檚 overall 91亚色 Region strategy, to forge strong connections between the University, Seneca College and all of our surrounding municipalities,鈥 said Shoukri.