Canada interested in extension of coop in education: Ambassador Margaret Skok

ALMATY. February 19. KAZINFORM /Aigul Turysbekova/ ?While the last year 27 students studied in Canada by ?Bolashak? Program, today their number is 180. Our country is interested in the development of bilateral cooperation in the field of education?, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Canada to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Margaret Skok has said today at the meeting with Rector of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Bakhytzhan Zhumagulov, Kazinform reports.

B.Zhumagulov briefed the Ambassador of the National University. He noted that he is solidary with the Government?s opinion on the fact that PhD degrees should be prepared at the national universities and budgeting the fundamental science should be focused here as well. M.Skok noted that close contacts exist between Kazakhstan and Canada not only in the trade-economic and political sphere, but in the humanitarian sphere as well. ?Canada is one of the first countries that supported Kazakhstan?s candidature for the OSCE chairmanship?, the Ambassador said. According to her, the exhibition of Canadian higher educational institutions takes place in Almaty every autumn. 30 higher educational institutions of Canada took part in the exhibition last year. It is important to extend cooperation in the field of education, in particular, student trainings and teachers exchange along side with informing Kazakh students and inviting them to study in Canada. There are over 10 000 of educational programs in Canada. ?The uniqueness of our colleges and universities is that they are the centers of innovations and close cooperation with private structures is practiced there?, the diplomat noted. According to the Ambassador, Canada has the advantage - two state languages. Thus students can get education either in English or in French. The country's climate is like that of Kazakhstan on climate. Both states have developed agrarian sector. Agreement on cooperation with Canadian universities in the field of Kazakh students? training and professors? exchange was achieved at the meeting. M.Skok noted that Canada is ready to broaden the list of universities for Kazakh students, studying on ?Bolashak? Program and promote bilateral cooperation in the field of education.