Programa de Lenguas y Culturas Iberoamericanas con Northern Telecom en el Departamento de Español y Portugués de la Universidad de Toronto

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Signed in Ottawa, 15 April, 1994

This Memorandum reaffirms the intention of the University of Toronto, Northern Telecom and the Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited in Canada, as stated in the letter dated March 17, 1993, to support the objectives of the Ibero-American Program at the University of Toronto.

The Ibero-American Heads of Mission hereby acknowledge and express their appreciation of the interest shown by the University of Toronto and Northern Telecom in working with them to develop a basis for cooperation to further Ibero-American studies in Canada.

The understanding described in this Memorandum is the following:

a) The University of Toronto has prepared an Ibero-American Program founded upon the teaching of the Spanish and Portuguese languages, as well as courses on the history and cultures of Ibero-America. It also includes an internship program to prepare students for employment opportunities in the Ibero-American World.

b) The innovative feature of this effort is the involvement of a major Canadian private corporation and a Canadian Aacademic Institution of high standing in providing an effective tool to executive officers (public and private), researchers and students in Canada who wish to obtain a working knowledge of the languages, history and cultures of Ibero-American countries, thus enhacing the perspectives opened by increased awareness of the opprtunities within the hemisphere and in the European Continent as a result of ongoing political, economic and commercial developments.

c) With these goals in mind, the University of Toronto and Northern Telecom reaffirm the importance they attach to the continuation of their cooperation in this field with the Ibero- American countries through their Embassies in Ottawa.

d) To ensure the attainment of these goals, Northern Telecom will provide financial support to the Ibero-American Program of the University of Toronto, up to a total of Can$750,000.00 over the next five years, as of the signing of this document. The University of Toronto will provide matching academic support, through its Faculty of Arts and Sciences, to implement its Ibero-American program. The Ibero-American Embassies in Ottawa will contribute to this cooperative undertaking through the advice of a Consultative Council, with the following composition:

1) The Ibero-American Heads of Diplomatic Missions to Canada, who may delegate to their Consul-Generals or Consuls in Toronto;
2) The Rector of the University of Toronto;
3) The Vice President for External Research of Northern Telecom as well as another person to be named annually by Northern Telecom;
4) The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the University of Toronto.

e) The Ibero-American Heads of Mission in Ottawa shall convey this memorandum to their respective Governments, with a view to its being taken before the next Summit Meeting of Ibero-American Heads of State and Government (Colombia, 1994) as an innovative and advanced example of cooperation with the private sector and an academic institution in fostering common goals.

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