HOLLAND COLLEGE
Holland College's Canada-China Educational Joint Venture wins Academic Collaboration Gold Award

Holland College's Canada-China Educational Joint Venture (EJV) won the 9^th Canada China Business Excellence Academic Collaboration Gold Award at the Canada China Business Council 46^th AGM & Business Forum held in Beijing recently. This award celebrates Canadian academic institutions that have developed and maintained a solid presence and partnerships with China or successfully navigated policy changes to continue engagement with China.

Doug Currie, Holland College's Vice President - Corporate Services, accepts the Canada China Business Excellence Academic Collaboration Gold Award on behalf of the college from Sarah Kutulakos, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of  the Canada China Business Council.

The EJV between Holland College and Chinese partner colleges implements the 3+0 in China delivery model. Under this model, Chinese students who complete their three-year study in China will obtain dual diplomas from the Chinese college and Holland College.

For more than two decades, Holland College has cooperated with 18 Chinese institutions on ten different programs resulting in more than 7,500 graduates and 10,000 registered students. Moreover, the EJV provided an opportunity for more than 250 Holland College staff and faculty to visit and teach in China, richly enhancing their international education and cultural experience. In addition, Holland College has trained about 200 Chinese instructors in Canada, more than 600 Chinese instructors during the best practice workshops held in China, and 100 Chinese instructors trained online during COVID-19. Many Chinese instructors have adopted a variety of pedagogies they learned from training at Holland College or attending workshops in China when teaching the EJV programs. In 2009, Holland College established the Canada-China Educational Joint Venture Scholarship to recognize EJV students who have outstanding academic performance as well as volunteer in their communities. Since 2009, over 370 students received this honor.

Holland College President Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald said the college remains committed to the EJV program.

"In 2025, the Educational Joint Venture will celebrate its 25th year of academic collaboration in China and Holland College looks forward to offering more programs that alleviate the skills shortage as well as to exploring the opportunity of establishing more partnered institutions in China," he said. "Holland College staff and faculty remained dedicated to overcoming the challenges and honour existing partnership agreements, as well as continuing to grow partnerships that benefit all parties."

Mr. Edward Dai, Regional Director - Atlantic Canada/Shanghai, China of Canada China Business Council said, "Holland College is the gold award winner of the academic collaboration category of CCBC 9th Business Excellence Award for impactful partnerships in China. The college's exemplary commitment to the bilateral education collaboration, alongside similar endeavors from the other Canadian institutions, enhances the brand value of a Canadian education in the Chinese market."