As the Newfoundland and Labrador delegation in China continued its mission, Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, reaffirmed the province’s commitment to global partnerships and post-secondary education through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Mutual Recognition of Higher and Post-Secondary Education with the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China on June 26.

“Education is one of the highest priorities for our government, and we are extremely proud of the partnership that has been built with the People’s Republic of China,” said Premier Dunderdale. “This new memorandum of understanding commits us to work together more closely towards our common goal, the pursuit of excellence in training and mobility in higher education.”

Through the MOU, both parties will encourage their post-secondary institutions to formally recognize diplomas, degrees and certificates from each other’s jurisdiction. Under the agreement, for example, Chinese bachelor degree holders who have achieved outstanding results will be eligible for admission into further studies leading to graduate degrees at Memorial University. College of the North Atlantic currently provides the curriculum for diploma programs at eight Chinese universities and supports and trains faculty at two of these educational institutions.

In addition to the MOU on the Mutual Recognition of Higher and Post-Secondary Education, Memorial University has signed MOUs with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE). The CSC MOU establishes the China Scholarship Council and Memorial University of Newfoundland Joint Funding Program, which will support up to 20 qualified doctoral students who will be jointly funded by Memorial University and the CSC to pursue doctoral studies. It will also support visiting research students and post-doctoral fellows as they study and carry out research at Memorial. The CICETE MOU will explore potential collaborative opportunities between the two organizations.

“Approximately 36 per cent of Memorial University’s international students are from China, and the university has more than a dozen existing agreements with Chinese institutions and is continuing to work on developing more,” said Dr. Gary Kachanoski, president and vice-chancellor, Memorial University. “Through our shared dedication, efforts and commitment, I am confident we will be able to develop even stronger post-secondary connections between Newfoundland and Labrador and China.”

Along with Dr. Kachanoski, Premier Dunderdale is joined on the China mission by Tom Marshall, minister of Natural Resources; Jerome Kennedy, minister of Finance and president of Treasury Board; and Ed Martin, president and CEO, Nalcor Energy. Premier Dunderdale was also the guest speaker June 26 at a dinner hosted by Alderon Iron Ore Corp.