Inuit educational leaders earn master degrees from UPEI

Inuit educational leaders earn master degrees from UPEI

Charlottetown, The Guardian - Charlottetown,Prince Edward Island,Canada

Twenty-one Inuit educational leaders from across Nunavut will graduate with a Master of Education degree from the University of Prince Edward Island on Canada Day during a special convocation in Iqaluit.
The Master of Education in Leadership in Learning is the first graduate degree program to be offered in Nunavut. 

Most of the graduates are mature students who are already working as educators in their communities. They studied part-time over three years through face-to-face courses in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet combined with online learning. 

The specially tailored curriculum balanced western and Inuit knowledge of education and educational leadership. It was developed and delivered through a unique partnership between the University of Prince Edward Island, Nunavut Department of Education, Nunavut Arctic College and St. Francis Xavier University.

"This is a great achievement for UPEI and our faculty of education, in combination with the community in Nunavut, to offer this remarkable program," says UPEI president Wade MacLauchlan. 

"The greatest credit goes to the 21 graduates and to the faculty who have pioneered in the program and made a success of it."

MacLauchlan and the UPEI chancellor will take part in the Canada Day convocation, along with representatives of the UPEI faculty of education.

During the ceremony, Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak and Education Minister Louis Tapardjuk will join chancellor Bill Andrew in presenting honorary degrees to two respected elders, Mariano Aupilardjuk and Meeka Arnaquq. 

Mariano Aupilardjuk is a philosopher, artist, drum dancer, songwriter, cultural worker and activist who lives in Rankin Inlet. Meeka Arnaquq is well known for her innovative development of healing circles.
The UPEI Master of Education in Leadership in Learning will be re-offered in Nunavut in 2010.

30/06/09 


<http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=265252&sc=98>