UPEI president named chair of Association of Atlantic Universities

The president of the University of Prince Edward Island has been named chair of the Association of Atlantic Universities.

Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, who will lead the region's 16 university presidents for the next two years, was appointed this fall and was officially named to the post Wednesday.

Abd-El-Aziztold host Bruce Rainnie on CBC News:Compassthat he's extremely heartened by the results of the association's 2016 graduate retention study which showed:

• Eighty-seven per cent of Atlantic graduates are satisfied with the quality of their education.
• Seventy per cent would recommend their province of study as a place to live and work.
• Seventy-five per cent of international studentssaid they would stay in their province of study if offered work.

'It's not our limit yet'

"They're amazing numbers, but in the next few years I would really like to work hard with my colleagues in increasing this number," Abd-El-Aziz said. "We have a great start, but it's not our limit yet."

He stressed the importance of international students and noted that 65 countries are represented at UPEI. Abd-El-Azizsaid if international students stay in their province of study they becomefantastic citizens, and if they leave they build bridges and take "the flag" of their universities with them.

• UPEI attracting more international students

Abd-El-Aziz, who previously has been a member and vice-chair of the association, said the co-operationbetween the 16 presidents is strong. He pointedto the $100 million in research funding recently announced for the Ocean Frontier Institute, whichwill bring together international scientists, students and industry to focus on issuessuch as reversing fish species collapseand evaluating the sustainability of aquaculture.

The money was the largest program award in the country from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

"Why? Because Dalhousie, Memorial andUPEI, the three universities, have worked very, very well together," Abd-El-Aziz said.

• UPEIpart of 'unprecedented' ocean research program

The UPEI president said his colleagues all face the same challenges of attraction and retention and allwork to be an economic driver in the region.

'Size is not everything'

Abd-El-Aziz said it's healthy forP.E.I. to play a leadership role among universitiesbecausethe province has led since Confederation.

"Size is not everything," he said.

Abd-El-Aziz received his undergraduate and masters degrees in Cairo, his PhDfrom the University of Saskatchewan, and did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto. He also worked atUBC and theUniversity of Winnipeg.

He has been president since 2011 and was reappointed for a second five-year term.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |School overcrowding fix can't be delayed, meeting told
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS |The Butler Is in: Thanksgiving tips for being a good guest