East | Dennis Cochrane to head N.B.'s Atlantic Education International

Education Minister Jody Carr says appointing Dennis Cochrane as president of Atlantic Education International for the next two years will help the company grow educational partnerships on the international stage.

Cochrane, a former educator, provincial Progressive Conservative leader and interim president at St. Thomas University, has already started the part-time position that pays $30,000 annually.

"There's a lot of growth potential for AEI, but growth needs to be done strategically and with a co-ordinated approach," Carr said in an email.

"Dennis Cochrane's experience, knowledge and proven track record make him well suited to oversee the execution of AEI's mandate and the development of a business and expansion strategy for international education in New Brunswick."

In addition to the N.B. International Student Program and a teaching abroad initiative, Atlantic Education International oversees operations at the Confucius Institute in New Brunswick and maintains partnerships with schools in China that use New Brunswick curriculum.

The first partnership was put in place in 1998 under the Liberal government. Since then, five schools have started teaching New Brunswick curriculum, including one that opened in July with a capacity for 3,000 students.

But while department officials say Cochrane's appointment will be good for Atlantic Education International, one man said he wonders what selling educational services to countries such as China means for the integrity of the New Brunswick curriculum.