Government of Alberta News Release

September 30, 1999

Minister's Mission to Supports International Education in Alberta

Edmonton...Fostering international opportunities for Alberta's students, teachers and educational institutions will be the top priority when Minister of Learning Dr. Lyle Oberg travels to Alberta's sister-state of , Mexico at the beginning of October. The minister will be in Mexico from October 1 to 12 investigating possible avenues for increased partnership and building on the existing intergovernmental partnering that has already spawned several productive educational agreements. The goal is to set the stage for even greater cooperation between Alberta and Jalisco. On this mission, Minister Oberg will be building important relationships and looking at what Jalisco can offer our province in terms of ideas and opportunities. The mission to Jalisco follows up on an invitation extended by the state's governor while he was in Alberta this June signing the sisterhood agreement. "When we signed our sisterhood agreement, we promised to maintain a cooperative relationship with Jalisco in the area of education, "said Minister Oberg, "A number of our education providers are looking at this agreement and seeing some exciting possibilities. A few are already pursuing their interests in Jalisco. This mission will pave the way for more of our institutions to start moving ahead with their specific interests in the region." Alberta Learning's relatively young partnership with education in Jalisco has already resulted in a number of signed agreements. For example, in August of this year, SAIT signed an agreement with the Universidad Technológica de Jalisco (UTJ). The two schools anticipate that their multi-disciplinary partnering will lead to the development of collaborative research projects, student and faculty exchanges, the sharing of publications and the planing of joint seminars, courses, lectures and conferences. At least seven of Alberta's educational institutions are currently active in the State of Jalisco with numerous others hoping to capitalize on the increasingly favorable relationship between the two governments. That favorable relationship has resulted in student and faculty exchanges, new options for graduate students, joint degrees and marketing opportunities for English as a second language (ESL) programs, apprenticeship programs and other training. While in Jalisco, the Minister and his three-person delegation will explore many of the state's basic education and post-secondary institutions and meet with officials from the schools and from the Government of Jalisco. Minister Oberg will also be attending a graduate student presentation hosted by the of Alberta in . The mission is expected to cost about $ 21,600. -30- Backgrounder and itinerary attached For more information please contact:

Ed Greenberg - Alberta Learning Communications - (780) 427-228

Backgrounder Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Between the Department of Learning, Government of Alberta and the Secretariat of Education, Government of the Sate of Jalisco

Signed on June 25, 1999 in Calgary, this memorandum, in short, recognizes that Alberta and Jalisco have agreed to strive for cooperation and exchange in the areas of education and training and confirms that both states will strive to promote and coordinate cooperation between their respective schools and post-secondary institutions. The agreement also commits Alberta and Jalisco to participate in a minimum of 7 student exchanges annually at the basic and post-secondary levels. Alberta Educational Institutions Active in Jalisco

The University of Alberta The University of Calgary The Mount Royal College Olds College SAIT The Calgary Public and Catholic School Boards

About Jalisco:

Jalisco's population is 5.7 million. Guadalajara, the capital city, is Mexico's second largest, and is considered to have the highest standard of living in the country. Jalisco has the third largest economy in Mexico, with over $5 billion (US) in exports. The Jalisco State Congress has implemented the Investment Promotion Law which offers incentives and benefits including favorable taxation, training programs, support for infrastructure projects, and preferable conditions for the sale and lease of properties. The State Government recognizes foreign trade as a top priority; the Guadalajara World Trade Center was established in 1995 to consolidate the region's export potential. Jalsico's education sector is in the midst of a period of rapid expansion, outpacing all other Mexican states. Jalisco is home to 6 formal . The state has approximately 969,278 elementary students in 5,884 primary schools and 457, 089 secondary and mid-level technical students in over 1,576 schools.

Official Delegation

1. Dr. Lyle Oberg - Minister of Learning 2. Mr. Robert (Butch) Fischer - MLA. Wainwright 3. Mr. Phil Gougeoun - Assistant Deputy Minister, Learning Support and Accountability 4. Mr. Jordan Cleland - Executive Assistant to the Minister

ITINERARY

Alberta Learning Delegation - State of Jalisco, Mexico October 1 - 12, 1999 Friday, October 1 (Edmonton to Guadalajara)

10:10 a.m. Depart Edmonton for Guadalajara 9:30 p.m. Arrive Guadalajara

Saturday, October 2

10:00 a.m. - Orientation/welcome to Guadalajara and Jalisco Noon

Sunday, October 3

All Day Private Program Monday, October 4

9:00 a.m. - Briefing and Meeting with Canadian Consul, Guadalajara 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - Meeting with Education Secretary, Mr. Miguel Agustin Limón and Officials of Noon the Education Secretariat 12:10 p.m. - Meeting with officials of Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de 2:00 p.m. Monterrey (ITESM) 2:00 p.m. Lunch meeting with Education Secretariat Tuesday, October 5

9:00 a.m. - Meeting with officials of Panamerican University (UP) 10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. - Meeting with officials of Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO) 12:15 p.m. 12:30 p.m. - Meeting with officials of Universidad Tecnológica de Jalisco (UTJ) 2:00 p.m.

2:30 p.m. - Lunch with Jalisco representatives of the academic exchange program 5:00 p.m. (International Relations officers of the seven universities in Guadalajara) 7:00 p.m. - Attend Graduate Student Presentation hosted by the University of Alberta in 8:00 p.m. Guadalajara Wednesday, October 6 Wednesday, October 6

10:15 a.m. - Meeting with officials of the National Council of Science and Technology Noon (CONACYT) 12:15 p.m. - Meeting with officials of the National College of Professional Technical 2:00 p.m. Training (CONALEP) 2:00 p.m. Lunch meeting with Education Secretariat

8:00 p.m. - Alberta Hosted Dinner at Camino Real Hotel, Guadalajara 10:30 p.m. Thursday, October 7

9:00 a.m. - Visit with the Primary School Urbana 9:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. - Meeting with officials of the University of Guadalajara (U de G) 11:00 a.m. 11:15 a.m. - Meeting with officials of the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA) 12:30 p.m. 12:45 p.m. - Meet with officials from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadelajara (UAG) 2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Depart for Puerto Vallarta 6:40 p.m. Arrive Puerto Vallarta Friday, October 8, 1999

9:00 a.m. - Reception/Greetings for the Minister and delegation by URSE (Regional Unit 9:30 a.m. of Education Services- unit which provides services to foreign teachers) 9:45 a.m. - Meeting with officials of Centro CONALEP Puerto Vallarta (National College 10:45 a.m. of Professional Technical Training) CONALEP (Puerto Vallarta) 11:10 a.m. - Meeting with officials of Colegio Cientifico de Estudios Tecnológicos del Noon Estado de Jalisco (CECYTEJ) 12:15 p.m. - Meet with officials of the Puerto Vallarta campus of the University of 1:15 p.m. Guadalajara 1:15 p.m. Lunch meeting with Education Secretariat Saturday, October 9

7:00 a.m. Mr. Fischer, Mr. Gougeon and Mr. Cleland to depart Puerto Vallarta All Day Private Program Sunday, October 10

All Day Private Program Monday, October 11 Monday, October 11

9:00 a.m. - Meeting with Mayor Garcia and Municipal Council for Social Participation in 11:00 a.m. Education Tuesday, October 12

1:45 p.m. Dr. Oberg departs Puerto Vallarta

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