Nanjing, China, Nov. 6, 2015 – Seneca President David Agnew has joined Premier Kathleen Wynne on Ontario’s latest trade mission to China. President Agnew is accompanying Premier Wynne on part of her tour through Nanjing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing from November 5 to 13. President Agnew also visited Singapore during his trip.
Also on the mission are Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Brad Duguid, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Michael Chan, and MPPs Han Dong, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Soo Wong, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services.
The mission is focused on the science and technology, cleantech and agriculture sectors as well as partnerships in health care and education.
President Agnew participated in a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signings with various international partners to expand on Seneca’s existing educational agreements, including:
MindChamps – An international award-winning mind development institute, the primary objective for MindChamps is to develop a joint degree program in early Childhood Education for the Asia-Pacific region headquartered in Singapore. Seneca signed an MOU to contribute its expertise in course development and brand value to the initiative.
Jinling Institute of Technology (JIT) – JIT first opened in 2002 as an undergraduate university aimed at equipping its students with both competency-oriented talents and practical skills. Seneca signed an MOU to relaunch collaboration between the College and JIT.
Suzhou Industrial Park Institute of Vocational Technology (SIPIVT) – SIPIVT is a higher vocational institute that was founded in 1997 and initiated by Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The in-person ‘signing ceremony’ represented the MOU that was originally signed and delivered in September 2015. Seneca’s first priority with this new partner is to provide Seneca students with opportunities to study and work in Suzhou, a major city in southern Jiangsu Province.
Suzhou Erjia Early Childhood Education Group – Established in 2002, the Suzhou Erjia Early Childhood Education Groups was the first Montessori School in Suzhou with 12 schools offering bi-lingual classes. In addition to serving as a destination for Seneca students looking to work abroad, this group is also interested in collaborating on a joint program with Suzhou Vocational University as well as teacher training and establishing a daycare centre with Seneca.