Statement made on 06 July 2010 by Senator Catherine Callbeck
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:
Honourable senators, today I wish to recognize and congratulate Holland College, Prince Edward Island's community college, on its recent signing of an educational joint venture with Anyang Normal University located in Henan Province in China. Under this agreement, Holland College will deliver jointly two programs to Chinese students.
This agreement is a significant accomplishment. Over the past 10 years, Holland College has signed a number of educational joint ventures with partner colleges and institutions across China. Holland College's ongoing objectives are to share educational methodology with its Chinese partners, and to create career and educational opportunities for students, both in China and Canada.
At the present time, approximately 1,400 students attend Holland College programs in China in the areas of hotel and restaurant management, business administration, marketing and advertising, accounting, golf club management and computer information systems programs. These programs enable students to earn Canadian college credentials without leaving China.
Since its establishment in 1969, Holland College has become one of the leading community colleges in Canada. It offers 65 programs to more than 2,300 full-time students and has gained an international reputation for the quality of its programs and teaching methods.
Anyang Normal University was founded in 1908 and has a total of 24,000 full-time students. Its president has said he sees the agreement with Holland College as a long-term partnership that will provide the opportunity for faculty exchanges and high quality training.
Honourable senators, I applaud agreements of this nature with emerging economies. The agreements strengthen economic and cultural ties, lead to greater international understanding and create conditions that will lead to greater cooperation.
Once again, I congratulate Holland College and wish it every success as it undertakes this latest educational joint venture.