Release
UAlbany, Universit� Laval Discuss Technology, International Collaborations
Contact: Catherine Herman (518) 437-4980
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 14, 2006) -- A Canadian delegation from Universit� Laval, led by its 24th Rector (Chancellor) Michel Pigeon, met with University at Albany and State University of New York system representatives to discuss technology, international programming initiatives, and ways to foster UAlbany's initiatives in China. Accompanying Pigeon were Diane Lachapelle, vice-chancellor for development and international relations; Louis Labelle, director of the international bureau; and Paul Fortier, vice dean of the faculty of sciences.
The delegation met with Ray Bromley, UAlbany vice provost for international education, and Robert Gosend, SUNY's associate vice chancellor for international programs, to discuss international programming initiatives. The delegates spoke with Theresa Pardo, deputy director of the University's Center for Technology in Government about collaborative digital government research initiatives. The Laval delegation also furthered discussions on China initiatives with James Hargett, UAlbany's senior policy advisor to President Kermit L. Hall on China relations.
Pigeon was elected as the 24th rector of Universit� Laval on October 15, 2002. In 1986, with several colleagues from Universit� de Sherbrooke and a few young researchers, Mr. Pigeon founded the Interuniversity Concrete Research Centre, now the Centre for Concrete Infrastructure Research, or CRIB. The Universit� Laval centre is equipped with a $6.5 million laboratory devoted to the study of infrastructure life cycle, and the research of Pigeon and his team in the field of concrete durability and concrete repairs, has made Universit� Laval a world-renowned centre of excellence in the area of high technology.
Founded in 1663 as Canada's first university, Universit� Laval is one of Canada's leading universities and is a recognized leader in the internationalization of teaching and research. The campus enrolls 8,000 students in 350 undergraduate and graduate programs. Located in the heart of Quebec's historic capital city, Universit� Laval was the very first institution in North America to offer higher education in French and as such has become the source of all French-speaking higher education in North America.
University at Albany President Kermit L. Hall has endeavored to internationalize the University at Albany as a higher education institution. On May 11, Hall signed a comprehensive agreement with President Lizhong Yu from East China Normal University (ECNU) to expand research collaborations, joint degree and curricular programs, and provide regular student and faculty exchanges. On June 12th and 13th, the University hosted 29 presidents of colleges and universities from Jiangsu Province to study the American higher education system through a series of workshops with administrators and faculty of UAlbany. The University also conducts exchange programs with colleges in Brazil, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Israel, Japan, Russia, Thailand, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, and Peru.
