On the morning of 14 October, 2015, Ms Rhonda Friesen, Manager, International Office, University of Manitoba, visited Griffith University to meet with a range of staff including the International Office, Griffith Business School and Griffith Global Mobility. Ms Heidi Piper, Director, Griffith International and Associate Professor Peter Woods, Director (International) in the Griffith Business School extended a warm welcome to Ms Friesen who said she was delighted to visit Griffith again. The two universities have maintained a long-standing exchange partnership since 2006 when an Exchange Agreement was first signed. Since then Griffith has sent students from the Law School, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, School of Education and Professional Studies, and the School of Applied Psychology.
The University of Manitoba was Western Canada’s first university, founded in 1877. The University is located on Anishinabe and Metis traditional land and is home to a thriving community of Indigenous researchers, staff and more than 2,000 First Nations, Metis and Inuit students, including over 150 graduate students — making it one of the largest Indigenous student bodies in Canada.
Griffith University is also committed to an inclusive and diverse population of many cultures and backgrounds. The recognition of cultural protocols of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is an important part of developing a culturally sensitive environment for the University’s students, staff and communities.
During the visit the two universities discussed the possibility of establishing an Indigenous Health Research Network, with both institutions sharing a particular interest in Indigenous Studies.