Above: MPP Michael Chan, MPP Indira Naidoo Harris, York President Mamdouh Shoukri, Schulich School of Business Dean Dezsö J. Horváth at the Schulich campus in Hyderabad
York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri was part of a group of government officials, business and postsecondary education leaders from the Province of Ontario participating in a trade mission to India, Jan. 31 to Feb. 5.
The trip saw delegates visit four major cities – New Delhi, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Mumbai and provided opportunities for Shoukri to meet with government officials, industry and postsecondary education leaders and researchers.
Above: From left, York honorary degree recipient, Ratan Tata with President Shoukri
The six-day mission, led by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, was organized to attract new investment, grow the provincial economy and create jobs. This mission also overlapped with a ten-day City of Markham Business delegation to India, in which Sushanta Mitra, associate vice-president research, represented York University. Also participating in outreach efforts in India were Schulich School of Business Dean Dezsö J. Horváth and Ananya Mukherjee-Reed, dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies.
Highlights of the Markham Business mission were many, but most notable were tours of the University’s new Schulich School of Business campus in Hyderabad and a roundtable on global health in Mumbai.
Delegates tour the new Schulich School of Business campus in Hyderabad, India
“York University was proud to participate in this highly successful India mission, particularly given that India is a strategic partner for us. This was an important opportunity for us to build on our already strong relationships with Indian institutions, as well as with our local and provincial partners,” said Shoukri. “One of the highlights of the trip was a global health roundtable hosted by the City of Markham, Seneca College, and Markham Stouffville Hospital, which Professor Mitra and I participated in. We were also delighted to welcome Minister Michael Chan, Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Markham councilors and other delegates for a tour of our impressive new Schulich School of Business campus in Hyderabad.”
Above: From left, City of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, York President Mamdouh Shoukri and Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth
The roundtable “The Role of Educational Institutions as Partners in Global Health Equity” focused on the global health challenges related to the increase in human migration between India and Canada. It brought together stakeholders from education, government and hospitals to discuss the challenges in global health. Specifically, the roundtable explored the role of educational institutions as partners and innovators in the health care and how this could enhance the global health care industry and provide meaningful solutions to address the needs of diverse populations, including cultural and spiritual preferences embedded in the care provided to the patients. The roundtable provided an interactive venue in which participants probed innovative solutions and training programs that could be of mutual benefit for both India and Canada in the health care sector.
Above: The participants in the global healthcare roundtable
In addition to Shoukri and Mitra, the roundtable included City of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, May Chang, executive vice-president of the Markham Stouffville Hospital, and David Agnew, president of Seneca College.