Benoit Courcelles, assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, is representing Polytechnique Montréal at the event.

Organized by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), the Secretary General of the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) and senior Canadian government officials, the colloquium's objectives are to explore best practices for higher education in both countries, with a focus on quality assurance, research, institutional performance and improving students' experience.

Mohamed Mebarki, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, will be speaking to the more than 250 delegates. Topics of discussion include: the Government of Algeria's goals to invest in higher-education research, institutional performance and partnerships; current challenges in improving access to postsecondary schooling; and an overview of growing sectors in the country.

The colloquium builds on other CBIE initiatives focusing on Francophonie countries, including the Canada-Arab Education Forum (2011) and Canada-Francophonie Education Forum (2012), organized with support from Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

CBIE is Canada's national organization dedicated to making Canada a global leader in international education by mobilizing expertise, knowledge, opportunity and leadership. CBIE's pan-Canadian membership comprises 150 colleges, institutes, universities, school boards and language schools with enrolment of over 1.2 million students from coast to coast.

As of March 1, 2013, a total of 45 of the 251 Algerian-born students attending Polytechnique were studying at the graduate levels.

See also:
Canadian Bureau for International Education website
Professor Benoit Courcelles' expertise