Media release

Universities applaud postsecondary education and research increases

OTTAWA (March 19, 2007) - Canada’s universities welcome the federal government’s move to earmark more long-term and stable funding for postsecondary education through the Canada Social Transfer in today’s federal budget, as well as a series of key investments in university research and graduate students.

“We’re pleased that the government recognized the vital importance of a high-quality postsecondary education system for Canada’s future,” said Claire M. Morris, president of the 91-member Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. “Canada’s universities now look forward to working with federal and provincial governments to help identify priority areas for investment and ways to ensure greater transparency and accountability to Canadians.”

In addition to an increase in the transfer to the provinces in support of postsecondary education, the budget contained a series of investments in university research and knowledge transfer. “These investments once again recognize the value of university research in helping to make Canada a more prosperous country and better place to live,” noted AUCC’s board chair, Bonnie Patterson, who is president of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.

The budget also pledged to release soon a new and comprehensive science and technology strategy that will provide the government with a “multi-year framework for action” on research and innovation.

“Today’s federal budget takes important steps to invest in research excellence at Canadian universities,” said Prof. Patterson. “We await the release of the S&T strategy with great anticipation.”

In particular, the association will look to the S&T strategy for long-term commitments in several key areas. Especially important are the indirect costs of university research, which cover such vital aspects as operating and maintaining facilities, laboratories and libraries and supporting knowledge transfer. “Today’s budget invested a further $15 million in the program, but we still have a long way to go until we appropriately recognize the institutions’ costs of doing research,” Ms. Morris said.

Universities will also look to the S&T strategy for a recognition of the importance of a broad base of research strength funded through the granting councils in addition to the targeted investments that were announced in today’s budget. The development of a flagship program to attract talented international graduate students to our country will also be important.

Overall, AUCC President Ms. Morris says universities are pleased with today’s research investments, which will help Canada to take its university research efforts to the next level. These include investments in cutting-edge research infrastructure through the Canada Foundation for Innovation, in talented young Canadians through more scholarships for graduate students and in a new program to provide hands-on research skills through private sector internships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. “This kind of support for the next generation of Canadian researchers will help launch exciting new ideas and innovation across the country,” said Ms. Morris. “Programs like these help to nurture our research strength and improve knowledge transfer between universities and the private sector.”

Finally, the association says that the budget announcement of $2 million over two years for an international education marketing campaign to help attract bright foreign students to enrol at Canadian universities is “a step in the right direction”. AUCC has long called for enhanced education marketing and high-profile international scholarships so that Canadian universities can compete for talent with universities in other countries and to help ensure that Canadian students benefit from new ideas and a global outlook that international students bring to Canadian campuses.

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AUCC is the voice of Canada's universities. It represents 91 Canadian public and private, not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

For additional information on this release and AUCC, please contact:

Jeff Pappone
Media relations officer
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Tel: (613) 563-3961, ext. 330
E-mail: jpappone@aucc.ca