The University of Latvia Received Canadian Government’s Grant for International Academic Relations Programme

On September 27, 2011 Canada’s International Academic Relations Programme was discussed at the meeting with representatives of CETS, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania), Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia) and the Embassy of Canada to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. During the meeting, CETS informed about the results achieved in the previous year implementing Canadian Studies and objectives for 2011/2012. The parties discussed the interdisciplinary development of Canadian Studies in Baltic universities, prospective academic research and future cooperation, in particular, the promotion of scientific research collaboration between universities in the Baltic States and Canada within the Programme. The participants agreed on a regular exchange of information and cooperation to organize the workshop on Canadian Studies in spring 2012 involving doctoral and post-doctoral students. In autumn 2012, the UL is to organize the Baltic workshop on Canadian Interdisciplinary Studies. CETS supports the implementation of Canadian Studies within the European Studies Master's Programme. It enables to assess EU relations with Third countries as well as to compare economic, social, regional, cultural, integration, etc. policies in the EU and Canada. The Course will be scheduled for both Latvian and foreign lecturers’ participation to introduce students with the Canada-EU issues. Canadian Studies as a part of the European Studies course of EU’s external policy is designed to increase students’ knowledge of the EU-Canada and Canada’s bilateral and multilateral relations. In 2011 from May to November six Canadian students have in-service training at CETS: Anna Tobin (Carleton University), Julia Slanina (Carleton University), John Karalis (Carleton University), Viktoryia Leipi (Carleton University), Claudia Ramos (the University of Toronto) and Sarah Scott (the University of Alberta), but two UL students of European Studies: Valters Lacis and Kristine Kince take part in the EU-Canada Study Tour this autumn.

Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.