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Schulich introduces new infrastructure finance program that supports G7 initiatives

York University’s Schulich School of Business will launch a new program to teach the world’s latest advances in infrastructure financing and development to visiting G7 Fellows from emerging economies. The program was specially created in response to key challenges in addressing the infrastructure gap that G7 leaders plan to discuss in Quebec later this week, such as climate change, the health of the world’s oceans, and the use and production of energy sources.

Schulich School of Business

Schulich School of Business

The infrastructure education program is part of a major G7 Investor Global Initiatives project announced June 6 by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Ontario Teachers’) and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), in collaboration with other leading Canadian and international investors and the Government of Canada. The initiatives will focus on three themes: closing the infrastructure gap, climate change and gender equality.

York University’s Schulich School of Business, through the school’s Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure, is the initial educational partner.

“York University is working with partners around the globe and here at home to address the most pressing challenges of our time,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton. “As an educational institution that is dedicated to sustainability, York is proud to join with leading Canadian and G7 investors to build the expertise in infrastructure financing that is so critical in our interconnected world.”

The program will bring senior public sector infrastructure managers in emerging markets to Schulich for a three-month intensive business program, followed by an internship in the infrastructure group of a participating global investor. Fellows will also receive training on the Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation’s leading SOURCE platform for infrastructure project development.

“Schulich School of Business is proud to be the education partner, together with the Government of Canada and leading institutional investors, toward advancing the G7 goals of closing the infrastructure gap and addressing gender inequality and climate change in emerging and frontier economies around the world,” said Dezsö J. Horváth, dean of Schulich. “We look forward to welcoming the accomplished women and men selected as the first G7 Fellows to take our new custom-designed infrastructure program through the school’s Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure.”

The first cohort of 12 Fellows will start their studies a year from now, and the number is expected to grow to more than 30 in future years.

“Schulich’s Infrastructure program is global and collaborative in outlook so that the first Fellows will learn not only from their professors, but also from each other, returning to their countries of origin equipped with the expertise and international network they need to successfully achieve their infrastructure goals, as set out by the G7,” said James McKellar, director of Schulich’s Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure. “The Brookfield Centre is proud to play a role in addressing the challenges of city building and improving the quality of environment for people across the globe.”