“The 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation is commemorated all over the world. At the University of Debrecen, we pay homage to this notable occasion by hosting a full-day symposium of multidisciplinary presentations in English covering the fields of law, literature, history, the theater and other arts,” said Professor Judit Molnár, the Head of UD’s Canadian Studies Center, at the opening of the March 3 Canada Day.
“Values in Canada today are represented by diversity, consensus, protection of the environment, and youthfulness. In the case of the last one of these, it is especially important to establish the proper channels and possibilities for education, like colleges and universities, exchange programs, and study trips,” said Isabelle Poupart in her opening speech.
Before the symposium, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Debrecen, László Csernoch, also had a chance to consult the ambassador on a variety of topics.
“There are 40 international students from Canada enrolled at the University of Debrecen at present. As regards Hungarian students, however, they seldom choose to go to Canada on exchange, although they could improve their command of both English and French over there. This is also why it would be important for us to strengthen our current ties and relations with Canada concerning student and faculty mobilities, and we could even establish joint international research groups with some of their institutions,” said Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Debrecen, László Csernoch, when summing up the gist of the negotiations at the meeting.
At the Institute of English and American Studies of the University of Debrecen, Canadian Studies have been conducted since 1984, while courses on Canadian literature, history, and civilization offered for the students have been coordinated by the first Kanadisztikai Tanulmányok Kutatóközpontja [Canadian Studies Center] in Hungary.
The Canadian Confederation was proclaimed through a royal proclamation issued in 1867. The united Canadian Dominion was created on July 1, 1867, when the former provinces of Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick formed a separate administrative unit in its own right within the British Empire.
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