News and commentary

This letter was published on the Montreal Gazette website on March 25, 2013

Christine Tausig Ford
Vice President
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

An important debate is taking place in Quebec and across Canada about the skills shortage. Unfortunately this debate often veers toward misinformed rhetoric, which clouds the real issues. 

Christopher Curtis’ post-budget story (Critics say Ottawa needs to start improving access to post-secondary education, March 21) does just that. Curtis repeats the erroneous statement that the average university graduate leaves campus with $28,000 in debt. It’s simply not true. 

In fact, 40 percent of university students graduate debt-free. Of those with debt, the average is $24,000. 

Thankfully, in this post-budget period, increased attention is being focused on where there are real shortages of qualified employees. As a recent CIBC study points out, most of the in-demand occupations in Canada – including those in health care, science and a variety of management positions – require a university degree.

OTTAWA – The federal government’s investments in university research, skills and talent will help to make Canada more innovative and competitive, says the organization representing Canada’s 97 universities across the country.

“One million young people will graduate from Canada’s universities by the year 2017,” says Stephen Toope, president of The University of British Columbia and chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “They’ll be equipped with the knowledge, experiences and skills Canada will need for decades to come. And they’ll have gained the ability to adapt to the jobs of today – and tomorrow.”

“Canada needs more university, college and trades graduates to compete in the new global knowledge economy,” adds Paul Davidson, president of AUCC. According to a recent CIBC report, most jobs in high demand in Canada require a university degree, including managers in health, education, social and community services; human resources and business service professionals; and supervisors in manufacturing and processing.

The federal government’s research investments have made Canada a top research nation. “Even in difficult fiscal times, the government recognizes that university research fuels a competitive advantage for Canada,” says Mr. Davidson. “Over successive budgets, the federal government has increased support for research and innovation in Canada –investments that nurture talent, create jobs and make us more competitive internationally.”

Canada’s universities also welcomed the importance that today’s budget places on international education initiatives. “Investments in international education leverage economic benefits of more than $8 billion a year – and they benefit every region of Canada,” Mr. Davidson points out. “Employers tell us they want a versatile international workforce. Canada benefits – and Canadian students benefit – from a global outlook.”

AUCC is part of an education sector-led consortium that has urged the government to enhance international education efforts to drive Canada’s global competitiveness, and is ready to work with partners to help ensure the international education strategy advances.

A new element of the international education efforts announced today is enhanced funding for Mitacs’ Globalink Program, which brings top undergraduate students from around the world to Canadian universities to undertake research projects and will now allow Canadian students to go abroad for research experiences. “This is an opportunity for Canada’s universities to enhance their profile and attract the brightest international students to our campuses,” says Mr. Davidson.

University leaders also welcomed a new scholarship program that will improve access and achievement for Aboriginal postsecondary students. The budget provides funding to be matched by the private sector for new scholarships for Aboriginal students through an initiative of Indspire, in collaboration with Canada’s universities.

“Aboriginal youth is the fastest growing segment of our population, yet Aboriginal university graduation rates lag far behind those of the non-Aboriginal population,” notes Mr. Davidson. “These measures are a concrete step towards closing the education gap.”

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For interviews and information, please contact:

Helen Murphy
Assistant Director, Communications
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
613.563.1236, ext. 238
Cell: 613.608.8749
hmurphy@aucc.ca

Nadine Robitaille|
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel: 613.563.3961, ext. 306
Cell: 613.884.8401
nrobitaille@aucc.ca

Read the media release of the Consortium for International Education Marketing.

Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, will be available from Parliament Hill (room 253-D, Centre Block) for media interviews on the university community’s response to the federal budget starting at 4 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

To arrange an interview please contact:

Nadine Robitaille
AUCC Communications Officer
613-563-1236 ext. 306
Cell 613-884-8401
nrobitaille@aucc.ca 

Ottawa, February 7, 2013 – Télé-université and St. Paul’s College, an affiliated college of the University of Manitoba, have officially returned to the membership of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

AUCC’s Board of Directors recently approved both institutions’ requests to return to AUCC membership.

“We’re pleased to welcome back these two institutions to membership in AUCC,” says Paul Davidson, president of AUCC. “We look forward to working with their leadership, faculty, staff and students to promote post-secondary education in Canada.”

Founded in 1972, TÉLUQ is Québec’s only university that is entirely distance learning. It now offers more than 400 courses and 75 programs in both the graduate and undergraduate level to some 18,000 full- and part-time students.

TÉLUQ was a member of AUCC from 1992 until 2005, at which time the Québec government merged the online university with the Université du Québec à Montréal. Last year, the government granted TÉLUQ independent university status as part of the Université du Québec system. AUCC’s Board of directors approved TÉLUQ’s return as an AUCC institutional member.

“TÉLUQ is pleased to, once again, join the collective voice of Canada’s universities,” said Raymond Duchesne, director general of TÉLUQ. “Distance and online education is about to experience major developments in Canada and around the world. It is important to have an institution such as ours among the ranks of Canadian universities.”

Located on the campus of the University of Manitoba, St. Paul’s College was founded in 1926 and instructs some 1,200 full-time students. It is home to the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice, which offers Canada’s only PhD program in peace and conflict resolution. St. Paul’s College had been a long-time member of the association until 1993.

“We are exceptionally pleased to be members of the AUCC,” says St. Paul’s College Rector Christopher Adams. “We look forward to building strong relationships with colleges and universities across Canada. As such, our faculty, students and staff are excited about new opportunities that will develop through the national organization.”

Under AUCC by-laws, a former institutional member that withdraws from the membership and that applies for re-admission to the Association and meets the criteria can be granted re-admission through a vote of the Board of Directors.

With the return of TÉLUQ and St. Paul’s College, AUCC now represents 97 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university degree-level colleges. AUCC is the national voice of Canada’s universities and advocates for higher education and university research with the federal government on behalf of its member institutions.

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Media Contacts:

Helen Murphy
AUCC Communications Manager
hmurphy@aucc.ca
613-563-3961 ext. 238 or cell: 613 608-8749

Nadine Robitaille
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
nrobitaille@aucc.ca
613-563-3961 ext. 306