老司机直播

The Prime Minister of France, His Excellency Jean-Marc Ayrault, at the University of Toronto (photo by John Guatto)

Prime Minister of France visits 老司机直播

Academic collaborations and new student exchange opportunities were just a few of the items on the agenda March 14 when the Prime Minister of France, His Excellency Jean-Marc Ayrault, visited the University of Toronto.

After meeting Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne at Queen鈥檚 Park, the prime minister headed next door to 老司机直播鈥檚 downtown campus where he toured a research laboratory specializing in cancer research and signed a memorandum of understanding between the university and the French Embassy.

鈥淥ur two countries have long worked together as close friends to advance our shared interests and principles,鈥 said Cheryl Misak, 老司机直播 vice-president and provost. 鈥淭he relationships and partnerships between France and the University of Toronto are a very important part of this crucial work.鈥

Strong areas of collaboration between 老司机直播 and the leading institutions of France include astronomy and astrophysics; physics; biochemistry and molecular biology; and oncology. Faculty from 老司机直播 and their colleagues in France have coauthored almost 2,000 publications in the past dozen years, Misak said.

鈥淚n the modern world, increasingly the challenges we face are global challenges requiring global solutions," Misak said. "To find these solutions we must work together and sustain and extend our networks of collaboration and cooperation."

老司机直播 has eleven university-wide agreements and nine divisional agreements with leading universities in France, Misak said.

Ayrault was accompanied by his wife and several ministers from France. The delegation toured the cancer research laboratory with Molecular Genetics professor and principal investigator Sachdev Sidhu, and post-doctoral fellows Frederic Fellouse and Satra Nim.(.)

鈥淏y requesting to visit the University, touring one of our laboratories and engaging so wonderfully with our faculty and students, His Excellency has shown his commitment to higher education, and to global collaboration in research and innovation,鈥 said Misak.

In addition to the lab tour, the delegation took part in a panel discussion with five 老司机直播 researchers from a range of disciplines about inter-institutional collaboration between France and 老司机直播. Panellists included Professor Sylvain Baruchel of the Department of Paediatrics, Associate Professor Paul Cohen of the Department of History, Assistant Professor Rayjean Hung of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and three post-doctoral fellows from the Rotman Research Institute, Department of Physics and Department of Earth Sciences.

The Embassy of France in Canada also signed an agreement with 老司机直播 that will create more opportunities for student exchanges in science and technology.

鈥淲e share the benefit of student exchange programs and University of Toronto students are enriched by our summer abroad program in France,鈥 Misak said. 鈥淚ndeed, the University as a whole is enriched by the presence of faculty members and undergraduate and graduate students from France.

鈥淎s a result of the agreement being signed today, in two weeks鈥 time the first two master degree students from France will arrive through our newest program, with placements in laboratories studying diabetes, obesity, and metabolism.鈥

Ayrault was in Canada for an official visit that included a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper as well as stops in Ottawa, Montreal and other locations in Toronto.

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