Principal Daniel Woolf has concluded a successful international trip to France and Germany aimed at strengthening relationships with partner institutions and building connections with alumni.

During the trip he met with representatives from universities in both countries, hosted a special reception for alumni and Queen’s students on exchange, and signed a renewed exchange agreement with Institut d’Études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po).

“Building partnerships with universities around the world helps to support Queen’s academic mission and the objectives of the Comprehensive International Plan,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “I was especially pleased to renew our exchange agreement with Sciences Po during this trip, as it is an institution with a strong international reputation and an important strategic partner for Queen’s in France.”

Principal Woolf and Frédéric Mion, President of Sciences Po, signed the renewed undergraduate exchange agreement in Paris. The two institutions have partnered since 2007 with more than 150 students having participated in exchanges during that time.

While in Paris Principal Woolf also met with the ambassador of Canada for UNESCO, representatives, including Queen’s alumni, from the Institut européen d'administration des affaires (INSEAD), hosted a special reception for Queen’s alumni and students on exchange in France, and delivered two academic papers at the Bibliothèque universitaire des langues et civilisations and the Université Paris-Sorbonne.

In Germany, Principal Woolf met with alumni as well as the consular officials in Stuttgart. He visited the University of Tübingen, one of Queen’s partners in the Matariki Network of Universities, as well as the University of Stuttgart, a growing research and academic partner for Queen’s, where a double degree program in chemistry is under discussions.

“International visits are vitally important for advancing the university’s internationalization priorities and raising Queen’s global profile,” says Kathy O’Brien, Associate Vice-Principal (International), who accompanied Principal Woolf on this trip. “The relationships that are developed and strengthened with our international partners support the Comprehensive International Plan by enhancing Queen’s student learning experience and research activities through deeper international engagement.”

Queen’s launched its Comprehensive International Plan in August 2015 to support its internationalization efforts. Among the plan’s goals are strengthening Queen’s international research engagement and creating more opportunities for student mobility through programs like academic exchange programs. The plan also aims to attract high quality international students to Queen’s and to increase international educational opportunities on the Queen’s campus.