Levin-Quebec Initiative
Levin was awarded a grant from The Government of Quebec's Ministry of International Relations in 2007 to create the "Levin-Quebec Initiative". This comprehensive initiative will facilitate a SUNY/Quebec partnership in New York City (NYC) to foster greater understanding of Quebec's role in international relations and commerce and also in science and technology. The Levin- Quebec Initiative has five main components which include the establishment of the SUNY/NYC Quebec Consortium, Quebec Speakers Series, Quebec NYC Business Symposium and Networking Events, Academic Roundtables and participation in Quebec Cultural Programs.
Levin, in collaboration with Quebec's Universite de Montreal and HEC Montreal (Universite de Montreal's Business School), will integrate Quebec scholars, business leaders, and innovation culture into Levin's academic programs, seminars, and events held in NYC. Possible seminars include "The Business of Cirque du Soleil" and "Energy: Quebec and New York in Partnership" and possible Academic Roundtable topics include "Quebec and The United Nations" and "Global Innovation: Quebec and NY".
The "SUNY/NYC Quebec Consortium" is the centerpiece of the Initiative. The goal of the Consortium is to work with SUNY NYC area schools to expand their activities and programming on and with Quebec. To date the Consortium has ten members: College of Optometry, Farmingdale College, Fashion Institute of Technology, Maritime College, Old Westbury, Nassau Community College, New Paltz College, Purchase College, Stony Brook University and University at Albany.
In collaboration with SUNY's Office of International Programs, Levin hosted two meetings in January to inaugurate the Consortium. The campuses identified their interests which included developing research opportunities with Quebec universities, creating faculty collaborations on such topics as the "Management of International Health Care" or "History Museums" and promoting student exchange programs. Levin and OIP are assisting in these interests. As well, the Consortium members received extensive information on SUNY Plattsburgh's "Institute on Quebec Studies" and encouraged their participation in Plattsburgh's established programs.
The Initiative is recently established and will be implementing more programs throughout the year. The Levin-Quebec Initiative is a great opportunity for Levin to develop programs related to its areas of expertise: international relations and commerce and technology. And Levin's location in NYC makes it well situated to work with other NYC SUNY schools in developing collaborations with Quebec. For more information, please contact the Director of the Levin-Quebec Initiative, Dr. Maryalice Mazzara, by email at maryalice.mazzara@levininstitute.org.