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S&T briefs and papers |
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Media release
Bold action, fresh thinking key to success in S&T strategy
OTTAWA (February 12, 2007) — The federal government should expand and enhance Canada’s knowledge advantage with a science and technology strategy designed to secure Canada’s position as a world leader in research and to ensure that Canadians have the advanced education and skills required for the 21st century, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada said in a brief released today.
AUCC’s brief contributes to the process of developing a national science and technology strategy. The development of that strategy was announced by the federal government in the May 2006 federal budget, and was emphasized in Advantage Canada , the federal government’s economic plan.
“While Canada has a strong base of research excellence as well as broad strength in a range of disciplines, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels in the face of growing international competition,” the brief concludes.
“More than ever, research and a highly-educated and skilled workforce are the cornerstones of our country’s global competitiveness and its capacity to nurture innovation,” said the association’s president, Claire Morris, in releasing the brief. “University research represents Canada’s strength and advantage in today’s changing world.”
In preparing the brief, AUCC undertook an analysis of science and technology policies in competitor countries, such as the U.S., U.K., Ireland, and Australia. The brief drew on the experiences and results in those countries to make recommendations appropriate to the Canadian research enterprise. The brief’s recommendations ask the federal government to focus its efforts in three key areas:
- Taking it to another level: Identify areas of research excellence where Canada can be a world leader, while continuing to nurture the country’s broad base of research strength
- Developing new research talent: Promote a research and science culture and encourage more talented individuals to pursue advanced degrees and acquire research skills and experience that will drive innovation
- Getting it right: Maximize the impacts of investments already being made in university research by ensuring better coordination among the various funding agencies, putting in place effective outcome and accountability measures, and better linking research in universities and federal government facilities
“We need to create the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. To do that, the federal government needs to undertake new, bold measures targeted to developing and enhancing our knowledge advantage and research talent in every sector,” said Ms. Morris.
“As our traditional competitors in the OECD and emerging economies, such as China and India, continue to increase their investments significantly in research and higher education, we must ensure Canada continues to reap the rewards from all the important research happening on campuses and in university labs across the country.”
In addition to the S&T brief, the association today also released a brief on international education that calls for a national strategy to brand and market Canada’s postsecondary education system, along with two discussion papers related to university research. All are available on the AUCC’s website.
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Editor’s note: 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
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