This story was written and published by Wilfrid Laurier University. You can find the original article here. 

Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier) and Michigan State University (MSU) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance international cooperation in music education, performance and research. This partnership begins with faculty exchanges and shared research initiatives, laying the foundation for future student opportunities.

"Laurier is happy to provide this exciting opportunity for our faculty to share and exchange with fellow musicians," says Cynthia Johnston Turner, dean of the Faculty of Music at Laurier. “We’re excited to begin with faculty exchanges that will enrich both institutions—and we’re hopeful that student exchanges will follow in the near future.”

The General Agreement encourages cooperation in key areas such as joint research projects, academic publications, educational programming, and faculty mobility. Both institutions will also explore opportunities to co-develop online learning content and pursue collaborative outreach initiatives.

"At the Michigan State University Canadian Studies Center, we are proud to partner with Laurier,” says Rebecca Malouin, director of the Canadian Studies Center at MSU. “This MOU represents a meaningful step forward in the academic collaboration between our two schools and our two countries as well.”

The agreement reaffirms both institutions’ commitments to the free exchange of ideas, performance excellence, unique student and faculty opportunities, and enhanced avenues for growth and innovation.

About Laurier’s Faculty of Music

At Laurier’s Faculty of Music, located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, we nurture students’ artistic and scholarly potential and provide a creative environment for students to thrive. Laurier’s Music faculty is known for its excellence in performance and collaborative music-making and is a global leader in community music and music education. Community members can enjoy and participate in more than 100 concerts and events a year, featuring students, faculty, and guest artists.

Laurier’s Faculty of Music is also home to two cutting-edge research centres: the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research and the Laurier Centre for Music in the Community. These centres are dedicated to advancing knowledge in music therapy and community music respectively.

About Michigan State University

The College of Music is located on the north side of the Michigan State University campus in an area noted for its exceptional natural beauty. Adjacent to the world-famous W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, the College consists of two neighboring buildings and a state-of-the-art music pavilion that include rehearsal and performance halls, classrooms, composition labs, a computer-assisted-instruction classroom, private teaching studios, and a large number of practice rooms, among other features. The facilities sit across the street from the main library, which houses the music library, and next door to Adams Field which is a beautiful outdoor space that comes alive with marching band activities on game days. The north part of campus also allows for easy access to the MSU Union and downtown East Lansing.

The College of Music mission is to provide the highest quality professional instruction; to instill in students a dedication and desire to achieve excellence and understanding in all aspects of their musical education; to develop their abilities to the highest professional standards; to expand cultural awareness and diversity; to provide access for comprehensive non-degree instruction; to participate in community, state, regional, national and international arenas through service, teaching, research and performance; and to support an excellent faculty vitally engaged in significant research, scholarly and creative endeavors.