Due diligence required, says OPSEU.
from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Three Ontario colleges–Fanshawe, Mohawk and Seneca — have formed a consortium requiring each to commit $2.5 million to a college in Saudi Arabia, says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
According to a report issued to the Fanshawe College board of Governors, the five-year deal will include issuing Ontario college certificates to students graduating from programs at Madinah College in Saudi Arabia.
“This is a questionable and risky international venture, and we want to know why it is being pushed through in such a hurry. We are calling for due diligence to be done,” said Thomas.
"Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries on earth. This is not about investing in making a difference in the developing world," he said. "This is about taking money out of the Ontario colleges system, and placing bets on profitiong from our colleges' good reputations. This plan is part of a disturbing trend to look abroad for funding. The systemic underfunding of our public education system is creating a race for possibly risky private fundraising ventures in other countries."
Thomas said the consortium's plans and similar plans by other public post-secondary institutions could do long-term damage to the reputation of Ontario colleges.
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