Nova Scotia and Philippines Sign Agreements

Nova Scotia is firmly on the map in marine science education and maritime training. A recent mission to the Philippines by representatives from Nova Scotia universities, colleges and businesses resulted in 11 agreements estimated to be worth between $10 million and $14 million.

As well, Nova Scotia was named the only Canadian partner for the Asian Maritime University, joining Norway as the second international partner.

Nova Scotia and the Philippines reached an agreement in November 1997 to create the Asian Maritime University, a virtual university dedicated to maritime training and marine science education. It has the capacity for distance education and graduate studies.

Other agreements are part of the Philippines' efforts to increase marine and nautical standards to meet international requirements. They cover areas such as marine science, coastal community development, fisheries, marine and aquaculture resource management, coast guard training and emergency measures upgrading.

Education and Culture Minister Wayne Gaudet said the province is honoured to work with the Philippine government, particularly because of the common bond of the sea.

"Many of our people depend on the world's oceans for survival," said Mr. Gaudet. "As technology makes the world a much smaller place, we are honoured to be able to share some of our educational expertise with a great seafaring nation like the Philippines."

The group was headed by the Nova Scotia Oceans Initiative, a 70-member private-sector consortium, and included representatives from Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia Community College's Centre of Geographic Sciences, Nova Scotia Community College's Nautical Institute, Nova Scotia School of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Canadian Coast Guard College and the Department of Education and Culture.

"We are extremely pleased with the results," said Larry Bell, chairman of the Nova Scotia Oceans Initiative. "It was a group effort and everyone on the mission is to be commended for rolling up their sleeves and doing the work. We now have a much better understanding on how the pieces of the puzzle fit together and we've established a beachhead from which we can expand to the larger project of the Asian Maritime University."

The sea is crucially important both to the economy and culture of the Philippines. The country is a world leader in supplying seafaring labour, its people making up more than 20 per cent of the workforce of international fleets. Maritime education affects about 240,000 Filipinos and contributes $2 billion annually to the economy, the second-largest source of foreign capital to the country.

To protect its market share and meet international standards and industry requirements, the Philippines must make it a priority to improve their capacities in maritime training and marine science education. Signed agreements call for Nova Scotia partners to provide teacher upgrading through open learning and distance education programs, develop information technology, increase training opportunities for Philippine teachers and faculty, and promote student exchanges.

The Nova Scotia mission to the Philippines was funded under the International Trade and Marketing Plan with financial assistance from the economic diversification agreement. The Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification is managed federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. and provincially by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

NOTE: Media may obtain a detailed trip summary by contacting the Department of Education and Culture at 902-424-2795.