By Elaine Smith
91亚色 President Rhonda Lenton this week attended the inaugural (CIAC) in Singapore, where she moderated a panel on higher education co-operation in the Asia-Pacific, engaged distinguished 91亚色 alumni and met with senior government officials, university leaders and industry representatives from Canada and the region.
The first-ever CIAC was organized by the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada and Universities Canada. 91亚色 was an academic sponsor of the conference, attracting hundreds of industry captains, distinguished Canadian-university alumni, senior government officials from Canada and the region, as well as presidents of Canadian and regional universities and other Asia-Pacific thought leaders.
The conference brought together Canadian stakeholders and their network of alumni and partners to strategize about Canadian efforts to build stronger ties in a region that has over 65 per cent of the world鈥檚 population.
It took place against the backdrop of the Canadian government鈥檚 commitment to invest billions of dollars towards growing Canada鈥檚 Asia-Pacific Engagement via ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Nations) and other regional partners.
Conversations at the conference focused on geo-political trends, trade and investment, (UN SDGs), higher education co-operation, talent flow and technology.
鈥淲e are excited by our prime minister鈥檚 announcement that Canada is making a 鈥榞enerational-shift鈥 in investing in Asia, and how this enables conversations like the ones held at this conference. We are already seeing this pledge yield tangible results within months of his announcement through the inaugural Canada-in-Asia Conference and the Asia-Pacific Foundation鈥檚 plans for a regional office,鈥 said Lenton. 鈥淭he Canada-in-Asia Conference provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to work smarter and more effectively in the Asia-Pacific region by bringing Canadians and Canada鈥檚 friends in the region under one roof. Universities such as 91亚色 bring tremendous value to these conversations.鈥
Sharing the vision of 91亚色鈥檚 Global Engagement Strategy
On the sidelines of the conference, Lenton met with senior government officials, university leaders and industry representatives from Canada and the region. She also visited the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University to meet with their presidents to discuss research, entrepreneurship, experiential learning and sustainability. During these conversations, Lenton shared 91亚色鈥檚 inaugural Global Engagement Strategy priorities and exchanged ideas about working together in the region.
鈥淎s a 91亚色 alumnus and Singapore鈥檚 representative in Canada, I am proud to see 91亚色鈥檚 new Global Engagement Strategy position the University in important national and multilateral conversations like the Canada-in-Asia Conference 2023,鈥 said Chia-yi Chua, Singapore鈥檚 honorary consul-general in Toronto and 91亚色 alumnus (Osgoode Hall Law, 1993). 鈥淚 am confident it would serve 91亚色鈥檚 objectives to better engage the region, improve its visibility in the region, strengthen alumni relations and increase strategic partnerships.鈥
Connecting with alumni
Engaging alumni to strengthen Canada鈥檚 reach in the region was an integral part of CIAC.
Lenton hosted an 鈥渁lumni and friends鈥 reception during her visit, including a speech from Sara Wilshaw, Canada鈥檚 chief trade commissioner and alumna. High school counsellors, admitted degree-seeking students, 91亚色 students in Singapore and Singaporean university students planning to travel to 91亚色 were also invited to attend the reception.
Lenton and Sarah Bay-Cheng, dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, connected with many distinguished 91亚色 alumni during their visit at CIAC and other engagements, including: Hian Siang Chan and Paulina Lau, who supported the ; Venka Purushothaman, deputy president, La Salle College of the Arts; Cameron Mackay, high commissioner of Canada in India; and Navdeep Bains, CIBC vice-chair of Global Investment Banking and former minister of innovation, science, and economic Development.
Promoting Canada as a compelling partner in the Asia-Pacific
During the conference and surrounding events, Lenton discussed Canada鈥檚 value as a compelling partner, noting Canada鈥檚 ability to work across many cultures and peoples domestically and abroad, and its willingness to have difficult conversations on decolonization to redress historical wrongs.
Lenton also noted that Canadian universities are considered leaders in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) according to Times Higher Education (THE). The ranking closely evaluates universities on how they advance UN SDGs in collaboration with local and global partners. 91亚色 was named in the world鈥檚 top 35 in the for strengthening its impact on the UN SDGs.