UOIT and Durham College look to deliver post-secondary education in India

Furthering their shared commitment to providing high-quality education and training on an international scale, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College (DC) have each signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Modi Edutech Private Limited (Modi Edutech) in India. Each agreement explores opportunities to develop and deliver educational programming in India. The MOU with the university focuses on teacher education and curriculum development, as well as leadership and research collaborations, while the MOU with the college focuses on early childhood/early years education.

UOIT President Tim McTiernan and DC President Don Lovisa signed the agreements with Modi Edutech Chairman Alok Modi on February 1 at a ceremony in New Delhi. Both presidents participated in Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s 10-day Indian trade mission. 

“Ideas know no borders and, as such, universities are at the forefront of building global communities,” said President McTiernan. “As the University of Ontario Institute of Technology continues to grow, an agreement like this allows us to play an increasing role in global engagement.”

“Durham College was very pleased to be selected to be part of the Premier’s delegation to India,” said Lovisa. “The country represents an important emerging market and economy that has a number of specific needs that are aligned with training and education that we provide. This MOU is a great first step as it matches our strength in early childhood education with a specific need by our Indian partners for high-level training.”

The agreements allow each institution to explore opportunities for leadership education programs and teacher education. Further discussions will look at co-operation for curriculum development, teaching and learning resources, occupational standards, testing and certification, or labour market information systems and, for UOIT, collaborative research.

“A key part of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s international plan involves leveraging our strength in technology-enriched and online learning to expand access to global education and partnerships. I am hopeful that we can develop such partnerships with Modi Edutech,” said President McTiernan.

“We are pleased to be working with Modi Group on this initiative as an important first step in exploring where there might be opportunities for Durham College to deliver training that will help strengthen India’s workforce in key areas of demand,” added Lovisa.

More than 100 leaders from Ontario's higher education, business and sustainable development and urban infrastructure sectors joined the Premier’s delegation. The group visited New Delhi, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Mumbai to promote Ontario's business advantage and create opportunities for new partnerships.

India is the world’s third-largest economy and has the potential for numerous partnership and training opportunities in business and higher education. The higher education delegates involved in the trade mission focused on building new partnerships in priority areas such as health education, clean energy and information and communications technology.