Canada-India Centre for Excellence (CICE) (Carleton University, Ottawa) Partnership

The Canada-India Centre for Excellence (CICE) in Science, Technology, Trade, and Policy was established at Carleton University in Ottawa in 2011 (announced in 2010). This was thanks in large part to an $800,000+ donation from Barj & Rita Dhahan, Sarup & Indy Mann, Ajit & Manjit Thandi, Gurtek & Kuljinder Shoker, Harinder K. Dhahan and friends. While this donation came from personal efforts, many of the donors are CIES members. In addition to the contribution from the aforementioned individuals, funds were raised by the Indo-Canadian community in Toronto and Ottawa.

The goal of CICE is to improve the areas of science, technology, trade and public policy between Canada and India. It also speaks to the current issues between Canada and India in relation to learning, student mobility and Canadians who want to do business in India.

To give some examples, the organization offers professional development courses in a variety of sectors. It also offers a female-focused, entrepreneur accelerator program called the Canada-India Acceleration Program (CIAP).

CICE was the idea of Dr. Roseann O’Reilly Runte, the President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University. She successfully garnered the support of Barj Dhahan (the founder of CIES), and the participation of Narinder Chauhan, the Deputy Indian High Commissioner to Canada. It continues to have the support of the High Commission of India.

CICE also hosts The Dhahan Lecture every year. The Dhahan Lecture is named after the parents of Mr. Barj Dhahan, Mr. Budh Singh Dhahan and Mrs. Kashmir Kaur Dhahan in honour of their commitment to education and learning.

In 2019, CICE and the Guru Nanak College of Nursing, supported by CIES, signed an agreement to provide short term training programs for faculty and nursing students from India, at Carleton University.

Mia Yen, the Consul General of Canada attended the signing in Dhahan Kaleran at the celebrations of the 35th Foundation Day of Guru Nanak Mission Hospital. The Vancouver Police Pipe Band also attended and performed, alongside local, female dancers.

That same year, a cohort of 17 students from India visited Carleton for three weeks to learn about Canada’s healthcare system and how healthcare is delivered in Canada. They visited hospitals and clinics, and performed assignments. They received a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Afterwards, Carleton began delivering online training programs for the nursing faculty at the Guru Nanak College of Nursing.

Learn more here: https://carleton.ca/india/professional-development-courses-ga/

CIES supports this effort with donations for registrations and administrative tasks.

The Guru Nanak College of Nursing continues to encourage a segment of students to take online courses through CICE.

Indian students benefit from this program when they receive their certificate with the Carleton University name on it. It is a credential that can help with their career advancement, salary negotiations, social status and more.