Royal Roads University has signed a memorandum of understanding with neighboring Brookes Westshoreschool in British Columbia, Canada to foster closer cooperation.

The university said the five-year MoU will set the foundation for cooperation in teaching and research with the IB school, which is opening in autumn 2018.

“Royal Roads looks forward to collaborating with Brookes Westshore as it offers a high-quality education next to our Hatley Park campus,” said Royal Roads University president and vice-chancellor Allan Cahoon.

“This partnership extends our commitment to innovative education and will create unique learning opportunities”

“We share a common vision of the importance of providing our students with an exceptional educational experience, through enhanced global understanding that supports our local community as well as the labor market needs in British Columbia,” he said.

Jerry Salvador, director of New School Development and director of the Americas for Brookes Education Group said the collaboration will create a vibrant learning community on the West Shore.

“This partnership extends our commitment to innovative education and will create unique learning opportunities for our students and faculty,” he said.

The schools will cooperate on marketing and recruitment, pathways for Brookes students to transition to university learning at Royal Roads, and teacher training.

However Pedro Márquez, Royal Roads vice-president Global, Marketing and Business Development told The PIE News that it is too early in the process to know exactly how the areas will develop.

“Now that the MoU has been signed, the collaboration and exploration work will begin. Details will develop as opportunities come to light,” he said.

Brookes Westshore is a member of the Brookes Education Group, which describes itself as a global network of like-minded schools that share a passionate vision for quality, international education.

Other Brookes Schools are located in Canada, Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, India, and Oman. New schools are scheduled to open in India and Ukraine in 2019 and 2020.