Canadian Education Delegation Visits India to Advance Canada–India Joint Talent and Innovation Strategy

A six-member mission from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) has arrived in Mumbai for a five-day visit aimed at launching the Canada–India Joint Talent and Innovation Strategy, less than three weeks after the first official visit of Mark Carney to India.

The delegation will travel to Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru, where it will meet Indian government officials, private sector leaders, apex bodies responsible for technical education and skills development, and representatives from postsecondary institutions. The discussions are expected to focus on identifying mutually beneficial partnerships in skills training and workforce development.

The visit follows a recent trip to India by a delegation of Canadian universities. Since assuming office, Carney’s government has emphasized its interest in attracting highly skilled talent from India to support advanced research and innovation in Canada.

The CICan mission includes Ajay Patel, President and CEO of Vancouver Community College and a CICan Board member; Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO of Humber Polytechnic and CICan Board member; Craig Stephenson, President and CEO of Centennial College; Laura Jo Gunter, President and CEO of NAIT; Sean Kennedy, President and CEO of Niagara College and Board Chair of Canadian Bureau for International Education; Pari Johnston, President and CEO of CICan; and Milica Njegovan, Senior Program Officer for Partnerships and Programs at CICan.

According to CICan, the mission will highlight the strengths of Canada’s college and polytechnic training model in addressing India’s national skills priorities across sectors of shared importance. The organization noted that its engagement with India reflects a complementary workforce development approach designed to strengthen India’s national skills ecosystem while supporting Canada’s economic, labor market, and investment objectives. The initiative is envisioned as a long-term partnership aimed at aligning skills, standards, and workforce readiness between the two countries.

Commenting on the visit, Chris Cooter said: “India is home to a very large and talented young population who will be entering the workforce in the years to come. Canada and India will both benefit greatly from top-notch skills training to capitalize on the jobs of tomorrow. Canadian colleges and educational institutes have proven programs that can provide the skills training needed in a global economy. This important CICAN visit will open new avenues for further collaboration towards developing a world-class Canada-India skills partnership for the future.”

Speaking ahead of the mission, Johnston said, “Education, research, and skills cooperation are critical enablers of economic growth and trade diversification. In Canada’s global engagement ambitions, its public college and polytechnic sector is a strategic national asset and a committed global partner. We are excited to explore opportunities with Indian technical institutions and industry associations through our collaboration with India’s Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship and other key public and private sector partners. This college leaders’ mission to India will lay the groundwork upon which both countries can build training and innovation partnerships to create a skilled workforce for tomorrow.”

CICan represents a pan-Canadian network of 127 institutions that educate and train workers across multiple sectors, including skilled trades, healthcare, emergency services, innovation, and entrepreneurship. With more than five decades of experience delivering member-driven workforce training programs for governments, foundations, and industry partners in Canada and internationally, CICan says it plays a key role in connecting education, industry, government, and communities to strengthen workforce development and economic growth.

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