News and commentary

This op-ed was published in Embassy on June 15, 2011

By Paul Davidson
President and CEO
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada

When Canadians think of our major global trading partners, Brazil is not usually top of mind. We need to change that.

Canadians need to pay more attention to Brazil. The rate of progress and change taking place across Latin America and particularly in Brazil is largely unheeded in Canada. Conversely, while thoughts of Canada in Brazil evoke good feelings, we are not high on their priority list. The fact that President Lula did not make a single official visit to Canada during his two mandates is very telling.

As Brazil takes centre stage and plays host to the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016, the world will watch Brazil showcase its dynamic and bourgeoning economy. Investments that Brazil is making now in infrastructure and human resource development are creating opportunities for business and governments around the world to play a role in this large and growing economy.

In 2007, Prime Minister Harper rightly announced a strategy for Canada to re-engage with the Americas, with Brazil as a priority country. With a majority government, now is the time to advance that agenda. The urgency is clear: with Brazil set to be the fifth largest economy in the world, Canada must take action to strengthen our engagement with this economic powerhouse.

Canada and Brazil have much to build on. We share similar characteristics with our large landmasses, multicultural societies and workforces, diversified economies with large stores of natural resources, and significant research and development endeavours. And yet we have much to learn from each other’s cultures, languages and perspectives on plural societies.

Canadian universities are poised to take action. The university sectors in both countries have long recognized each other’s strengths and are keen to forge closer ties. Canadian universities are global institutions, with a global outlook and reach and it is only natural for Canadian universities to partner with their Brazilian counterparts when seeking the best and the brightest the world has to offer.

Beyond its economic power and vast natural resources, Brazil’s most prized commodity is its talent. Brazil already produces two times as many PhDs as Canada, especially in key areas of joint interest – clean energy, biosciences and transportation. Moreover, seven of the ten leading research intensive universities in Latin American are based in Brazil. Canada needs to strengthen links with them.

In terms of an exchange of students, today’s numbers are small; only 500 Brazilian students are enrolled in Canadian universities and even fewer Canadian students are in Brazil. We can do better. Given our hemispheric proximity, we should be natural partners in developing the global workforce of tomorrow.

On June 14th and 15th, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) will bring together representatives from over 40 of Canada’s universities to meet with key Brazilian institutions, government representatives and private-sector voices to look at concrete ways to advance this relationship. The workshop is part of AUCC’s strategy to deepen the academic and research relationship between Canada and Brazil and to establish Canada as a partner of choice for Brazil. This work will set the stage for an AUCC-led mission of Canadian university presidents to Brazil in spring 2012.

As Canada emerges from the global downturn, we have an opportunity to build new, effective relationships with rapidly emerging economic powers, including Brazil. Canada’s universities are ready to play a leading role in making this happen.

June 10, 2011, OTTAWA – With Brazil poised to become the fifth largest economy in the world, Canada must take action to strengthen our engagement with this economic powerhouse. That’s one of the messages being delivered at a workshop in Ottawa June 14-15 on Canada’s relationship with the thriving Latin American country.

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada is leading the two-day session under the theme of “Advancing Excellence in Strategic Engagement with Brazil.” The workshop will bring together leaders in each country’s government and university sectors to discuss best practices around raising the profile of the bilateral relationship and helping to build mutually beneficial partnerships.

“Beyond its economic power and vast natural resources, Brazil’s most prized commodity is its talent,” says AUCC President Paul Davidson. Brazil already produces two times as many PhDs as Canada, especially in key areas of joint interest – clean energy, biosciences and transportation. Moreover, seven of the ten leading research intensive universities in Latin America are based in Brazil.

“In terms of higher education, there is increasing competition to partner with Brazilian universities, so Canada has to increase its visibility in Brazil and demonstrate our tremendous learning and research opportunities,” says Davidson.

Canadian universities are poised to take action. The university sectors in both countries have long recognized each other’s strengths and are keen to forge closer ties.

“Canadian universities are global institutions, with a global outlook and reach and it is only natural for Canadian universities to partner with their Brazilian counterparts when seeking the best and the brightest the world has to offer,” notes Davidson.

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For more information or interview opportunities:
Helen Murphy
AUCC Communications Manager
Email: hmurphy@aucc.ca
Tel.: 613-563-1236 ext. 238

Ottawa, June 6, 2011 – The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) applauds the Government of Canada’s continued support for university research and international engagement as announced in Budget 2011.

“We’re very pleased to see this government honouring its commitment to Canada’s universities as initially presented in the spring budget,” says AUCC President Paul Davidson. “With a four-year mandate, the federal government has a meaningful opportunity to position Canada as a leader in research, discovery and innovation through investment in our university sector.”

Highlights of support for Canada’s universities include:

• a $37 million increase in the annual investment in the three major granting councils
• the establishment of 10 new Canada Excellence Research Chairs
• a total of close to $250 million over six years to strategic research initiatives led by or involving Canada’s universities, including an additional $65 million for Genome Canada to continue its ground-breaking work
• $10 million over two years to develop and implement an international education strategy that will reinforce Canada as a country of choice to study and conduct world-class research
• measures to build on recent efforts to strengthen connections between Canadian universities and India, including a $12 million investment in the establishment of a new Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence

“Canadian families know that a university education is the surest path to prosperity and economic security,” says Mr. Davidson. “These investments will help our universities strengthen communities and address Canada’s challenges and priorities in crucial areas such as health care, energy and climate change.

AUCC is the voice of Canada’s universities. It represents 95 Canadian public and private, not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

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For interviews and information, contact:
Helen Murphy
Manager, Communications
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
613.563.1236, ext. 238
Mobile: 613.608.8749

Mélanie Béchard
Communications Officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel: 613.563.3961, ext. 306
Mobile: 613.884.8401
mbechard@aucc.ca

May 26, 2011, OTTAWA – Demography is not destiny. That’s one of the lessons contained in the latest data on university enrolment in Canada, compiled and analyzed by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) in its new report, Trends in Higher Education, Vol. 1 – Enrolment.

This new publication looks at current trends in university enrolment and the drivers of demand for a university education in Canada.

“At a time when there’s a growing national dialogue on higher education and how we can best prepare our young people for the demands of a changing world, this data is very helpful to the decision-making process of not only governments, but also students and their families,” says AUCC President Paul Davidson. “There is very insightful information here about the income advantage of a university education, for example, as well as the growth and quality of employment opportunities for university graduates.”

Trends points out that even during the recessionary years of 2008-2010, 300,000 new jobs were created for university graduates. This compares to 430,000 jobs lost for those with no postsecondary education. The research also shows that the income advantage for a bachelor’s graduate over a registered tradesperson or college graduate working full-time is 40 percent ($1 million), while the advantage over those with a high school education grows to 75 percent ($1.3 million).

Among other interesting findings is that during times of declining population in the 18-to-24 age group, university enrolments continued to grow across Canada, proving that while demographics is an important factor driving enrolment, it clearly is not the most important factor.

Trends also looks at looming challenges facing Canada as they relate to university enrolment. For example, in the next two decades the number of Canadians over the age of 65 will double while the number of Canadians of typical working age will grow by only eight percent. And the more than six million baby boomers retiring during this time will cause greater demand for legal, health and social services throughout the economy. A more educated and productive workforce is vital to securing a high quality of life for Canadians in such challenging times.

Download Trends in higher education – enrolment

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For more information:
Helen Murphy
Communications Manager
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Email: hmurphy@aucc.ca
Tel.: 613-563-1236, ext. 238

OTTAWA, May 5, 2011 – Keep your eyes peeled for a little white bear, about 40 cm tall, wearing a dark blue graduation gown and looking for adventure. She may be coming to a university near you.

Ursula is a wooden polar bear who is making her way across Canada one university campus at a time. Her goal is to present a slice of life from more than 20 universities in all 10 provinces. She’ll be attending classes, visiting residences, catching a few varsity games, and capturing the flavour of the different campuses she visits. She’ll also meet some interesting personalities along the way.

As she travels, Ursula will be posting her stories, photos and video to her blog, www.ursulaontour.ca, and will be tweeting her adventures from @ursula_aucc.

Ursula began her tour at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s this week, and will be working her way west through the Maritimes into Quebec until mid-June, when she – like many students – will take a break for the summer. Ursula will resume her journey across Canada in late August when students return to campuses for the fall semester. This second leg of Ursula’s tour will take her through Canada’s western provinces and will wrap up in Montreal in late October, where the presidents of Canada’s universities will be holding their annual meeting.

“Ursula on Tour” is an initiative of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, which is commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2011. The polar bear is a prominent symbol in AUCC’s coat of arms, and represents both wisdom and Canada’s Aboriginal people.

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Media Contact:
Helen Murphy
Communications Manager
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Email: hmurphy@aucc.ca
Tel.: 613-563-1236, ext. 238