Government of Saskatchewan enhances student connection between Ukraine and Saskatchewan
News Release Release Date: March 31, 2011 12:00 p.m.
The University of Regina received $50,000 from the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Advanced
Education, Employment and Immigration (AEEI) to support student exchange between the University of Regina and
Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. This funding of $10,000 per
year over five years supports the Students' Mobility Program under the Canada-Ukraine Science Internship Program
(CUSIP), which enables students from the University of Regina to participate in an exchange to Ukraine.
The Mobility Program is designed to provide senior engineering and science undergraduate students from the University
of Regina with an opportunity to gain international experience in their fields of study by acquainting them with
technologies and research undertaken in the oil and gas sector in Ukraine.
"Initiatives such as the Canada-Ukraine Science Internship Program provide an excellent opportunity for our
students to gain the international experience necessary to compete in the global market place. This initiative is one
of the many impressive programs offered by the University of Regina," said Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced
Education, Employment and Immigration.
"This support from the provincial government marks an important milestone for CUSIP as it builds on the success
of the program's 10-year history of student exchanges," said Vianne Timmons, president and vice-chancellor
of the University of Regina. "University students benefit from having an international component to their
education, and so I would like to thank the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration for expanding
the opportunities available for University of Regina students to study and work in the Ukraine."
The Mobility Program was launched in 2007 and is administered by UR International. Each year, the CUSIP program
brings five students to Saskatchewan from western Ukraine to participate in three-month internship activities in
Canada at various companies. During these internships, students learn western business practices and enhance Canadian
business economy and culture by sharing their knowledge of Ukrainian culture and business.
CUSIP continues to garner strong interest from industry partners, government and the Ukrainian-Canadian community in
Regina. Industry partners include MERA Consulting, Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative, Petroleum Technology
Research Centre, and SaskPower. In 2010, SaskPower renewed its support for CUSIP by providing $60,000 over five years
to sponsor two three-month internships per year for Ukrainian students.
Contact:
Dale Johnson, External Relations
University of Regina
Phone: (306) 585-5439
Cell: (306) 536-4312
Email: dale.johnson@uregina.ca
Richelle Bourgoin
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Phone: (306) 787-8153
Email: richelle.bourgoin@gov.sk.ca