Iqaluit, Nunavut (November 8, 2019) – The official signing ceremony of the 10-Year Strategic Partnership agreement between Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) and Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) took place today at NAC’s Nunatta Campus.

Delegates from Memorial University traveled to Iqaluit to join NAC staff and faculty, Members of Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly, and Inuit associations to celebrate this important event. The ceremony started with the traditional qulliq lighting, and featured remarks from Pauloosie Suvega, President of Nunavut Arctic College, Minister responsible for Nunavut Arctic College Patterk Netser, Minister of Education David Joanasie, MUN’s Provost Dr. Noreen Golfman, and Sue Ball, Chairperson of the NAC Board of Governors.

“Nunavut Arctic College is pleased to formalize a 10-year agreement with our esteemed partner, Memorial University of Newfoundland,” said Minister Netser. “By working together, we can provide Nunavummiut with the best possible education, and ensure the continued success of our students as they participate and thrive in the territory’s growing economy”.

“This ceremony concludes four years of hard work. I thank everyone involved in making this partnership a reality and I am excited to see the development of post-secondary education in Nunavut for the next 10 years,” said Minister Joanasie. “I invite all middle school and high school students from across Nunavut to see this ceremony as a celebration for their future”.

“This Memorandum of Understanding is an extension and enrichment of the work Memorial has done in, and with, Nunavut over the past several years,” said Dr. Noreen Golfman, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Memorial University. “Memorial is truly proud to have been chosen as the single generational partner with Nunavut Arctic College This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of us and we are committed to building a true partnership.”

In May 2019, NAC and MUN successfully completed negotiations of the 10-year strategic partnership to build administrative capacity, promote northern research opportunities and expand post-secondary programs available to learners in Nunavut through joint credentials, with the expressed purpose of increasing Inuit employment.

Through a competitive process held in 2018, representatives from NAC, the Government of Nunavut Department of Education and NTI selected MUN as the partnering institution.

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Media contact, Nunavut Arctic College:

Mariana Barney, Manager, Marketing, Communications, and Recruitment 867-979-7242

mariana.barney@arcticcollege.com

Media contact, Memorial University:

David Sorensen, Manager, Communications Marketing & Communications

709 864-2143/mobile 709 685-7134

sorensen@mun.ca