Canadian Universities’ Collaboration With Chinese Institutes Deemed Risky

Before Canada’s recent designation of 85 Chinese academic institutions as potential threats to national security, several Canadian universities had engaged in extensive interactions with some of those institutions.

However, many of the collaborations, in particular those between individual professors in Canada and China, remain undisclosed. Some instances indicate ongoing research partnerships and academic exchanges involving several leading universities within Canada’s U15 group, such as University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.

There are also a few Canadian schools, including University of Saskatchewan, and Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, that continue to host the controversial Confucius Institute, which has faced long-standing concerns over alleged undue Chinese influence.

The research collaborations span fields now deemed by the feds as “Sensitive Technology Research Areas.” They include artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, biotechnology, quantum science, robotics and autonomous systems, and aerospace, space, and satellite technology.

EduCanada’s CCSEP page says GAC and the Chinese Education Ministry offer post-secondary scholarships to Canadians wishing to study, do research, or undertake Chinese language training at participating Chinese institutions. The page links to the Campus China website, which lists some 300 Chinese academic institutions where people can apply for scholarships.