President wins Internationalization Leadership Award
10/11/2004 1:28:43 PM
October 11, 2004 – The Canadian Bureau for International Education has named College of the North Atlantic President Pamela Walsh as the winner of the 2004 Internationalization Leadership Award.
This distinguished award recognizes outstanding leadership in the internationalization of Canadian education and/or the international education profession. President Walsh joins Gynn Hunter from the University of Calgary and Dr. Sudarshan A. Mehta, also from the U of C, as the 2004 recipients of this prestigious award.
Under President Walsh’s leadership, College of the North Atlantic has steadily increased its international presence. The college has projects in many countries including major initiatives in China, Peru, India, Vietnam and, of course, Qatar.
While the college’s other international projects are quite significant (for instance, there are over 500 students in China studying the college’s curriculum), the project with the State of Qatar is the largest international project ever undertaken by a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Valued at over US $500 million over 10 years, the college’s partnership with the small, oil-rich Middle East country will see a state-of-the-art technical college developed in the region using the best in Canadian curriculum and teaching methods. In only its third year, the Qatar campus has been expanding ahead of schedule, adding new programs and staff in response to demands from the State and industry. There are currently some 600 students and 150 staff and faculty (mostly Canadians) working at the campus. It is expected that by year 10, the campus will enroll more than 6,000 students.
“I am very honoured to receive this award,” says President Walsh. “However, I cannot take the credit for the college’s success in the international arena. There are literally hundreds of college employees who have worked tirelessly to make these projects the successes they are, and I share this award with each and every one of them.”
This is not the first time Pamela Walsh, or College of the North Atlantic, has been recognized for leadership and excellence. In 2000, the college received the St. John’s Board of Trade Business Excellence Award for Growth in Domestic/Export Markets, and in 2002 it won the Canadian International Development Association’s Award of Excellence for International Partnerships. In 2003, President Walsh was named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs.
College of the North Atlantic (www.cna.nl.ca) is Newfoundland and Labrador’s public college system. While it is well known for its international activity, the college also plays a vital role in the future social and economic growth of the province, providing a skilled workforce and working with industry, community organizations and government departments to facilitate rural and urban economic development.
The Canadian Bureau for International Education (www.cbie.ca) is a non-governmental umbrella organization comprised of more than 200 colleges, universities, schools, school boards, educational organizations and businesses across Canada. Internationally, it engages in cooperative projects in capacity building, institutional strengthening and human resource development.
-30-
For more information contact:
Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7929