Did you know universities are present in YOUR daily life???!! - Find out how<br>during the Journées du Savoir

MONTREAL, Oct. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - The Journées du Savoir, a unique initiative organized by the Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ), will take place November 4-7 as part of CREPUQ's comprehensive Knowledge Matters campaign.

"In order to raise awareness of their contribution to society, Quebec universities will share a sense of the vast range of knowledge created by our professors, researchers, scholars and students with participants in the Journées du Savoir," says Heather Munroe-Blum, President of the Board of CREPUQ and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. "The event will serve to demonstrate the contribution of universities to a variety of sectors, as well as their key role in the education and economic, social and cultural development of Quebecers."

"We aren't always conscious of it, but the universities of Quebec are present in our daily lives," points out Daniel Zizian, President and CEO of CREPUQ. For example, our universities contribute to the education of our children, to our quality of life and to our environment. The Journées du Savoir represent an extraordinary opportunity for the population at large to concretely explore the relationship of university activities to our day-to-day lives."

A diversified program

Over the course of four days, 16 universities will hold more than 50 innovative activities throughout the province. These activities will broach themes from aerospace and language to business in the wake of the financial crisis, environmental challenges and infectious diseases. Issues such as women and science and the challenges facing education will also be on the bill.

Events open to the public across Quebec are all free, and have a variety of formats: Student for a Day, field trips, guided tours, public lectures and more. There's truly something for everyone. To find out more about events and the detailed program, visit the website today at www.lesjourneesdusavoir.ca.

A website for the curious

In addition to presenting the program of activities, the website makes available some 30 fascinating clips on Quebec researchers and research projects. Learn how these have influenced our lives by consulting the Did You Know section.

As well, thanks to a partnership with Canal Savoir, the site hosts the 10 programs of the first season of Campus, a magazine-format show that takes viewers inside the campuses of Quebec universities. Each program looks at three different research programs pursued by Quebec universities.

About Knowledge Matters

Knowledge Matters was launched by CREPUQ in spring 2008 in order to build pride in the Quebec university network broadly among the Quebecers. The campaign also seeks to mobilize citizens and decision makers around the importance of becoming a true knowledge society. For further information on the campaign please visit www.whyknowledgematters.ca.

About CREPUQ

CREPUQ includes all 18 Quebec universities. The organization acts as their voice in relations with government and higher education. It also fosters coordination and collaboration between universities, is a research centre for university administrations, acts as a centre for coordination and joint service delivery, and is a resource centre and think tank for its members.

For further information: Diane Jeannotte, Media Relations Officer, Diane Jeannotte Communications, [phone], ext 2, Cellular: [phone], [email protected]; Source: Chantal Pouliot, Director of Communications, CREPUQ, [phone], ext. 244, [email protected]