In challenging economic times, the need for funding becomes greater than ever in virtually every sector, including post-secondary education – but is the money there?
This month brings news on what kind of government support Ontario universities and colleges can count on with the provincial budget expected later this month and the federal budget coming down today (Mar. 4).
“We take a very positive, proactive approach to government advocacy at Western,” says Rob Esselment, Director of Government Relations. “In terms of specific projects that we seek funding for, over the last few years, we’ve really focused on collaborative, regional projects that provide advantages to the government, the City of London and the southwest region, not just to Western.
“For example, recent collaborative projects involving Western for which we are seeking government support include the Advanced Manufacturing Centre with the city and Fanshawe; the London Wastewater Treatment Centre, involving Trojan Technologies and then CSTAR, which brings together LHSC, and local industry.
“Examples of recent regional successes are the medical school in Windsor, the Sarnia Research Park and our involvement in the development of the Southwest Economic Alliance.”
In 2008-09, 49 per cent of Western’s operating revenue came from government grants. On the research side, 41 per cent of the university’s research revenue came from the federal government and 17 per cent from the province.
Overall government support for post-secondary education in Ontario is sought through two organizations – the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).
The following summarizes the pre-2010 budget recommendations from each:
AUCC recommendations to federal government
On Research
Significantly increase investments in direct costs of university research through the three federal granting agencies. Specifically, increases of $400 million in each of the next two years followed by increases of $228 million, $249 million and $270 million in the subsequent three years.
Increase the Indirect Costs Program by 40 cents for every dollar of increase in direct costs.
Establish a new post-doctoral fellow support program under the granting agencies with a total investment in 2010-11 of $50 million, with $100 million invested annually thereafter, to support 750 post-doctoral fellows in the first year, and 1,500 per year after that.
Redesign the Indian Studies Support Program to focus on supporting institutions with Aboriginal student outreach and support programs, and double funding distributed through the Program to $40 million. Over five years, this funding should increase to $150 million annually.
On research
On international initiatives
Invest $20 million per year for five years in an international student recruitment strategy, to include:
1. Enhanced promotional efforts;
2. More resources for study permit processing in key missions abroad;
3. Support for a not-for-profit, stakeholder-driven initiative to coordinate and deliver promotion and outreach on behalf of the Canadian education sector;
4. Seed funding for institutions to undertake market research and pilot missions to enter new international markets; and
5. Universities working with the federal government to establish recruitment goals and targets for a select number of countries.
On Aboriginal education
$65 million in new funding in the coming year, with increases of $55 million in each of the following four years to expand university education opportunities for Aboriginal Canadians by:
1. More financial support to Aboriginal students;
2. Investing in university programs and services which support Aboriginal students;
3. Establishing a pilot project fund whereby universities partner with Aboriginal communities to help raise K-12 completion rates.
Increase student assistance targeted exclusively to Aboriginal Canadians by $35 million in the next fiscal year. Create a $10-million pilot project fund to raise Aboriginal elementary and secondary school completion rates
COU Recommendations to Provincial Government
On transforming accountability
Multi-year accountability agreements between the province and universities should be transformed into strategic agreements that build on each institution’s mission and strengths, regional needs and provincial goals. Agreements would be plans for the next multi-year post-secondary strategy and would reflect each institution’s commitments to expanding access, enhancing the student experience through quality improvements, advancing student outcomes, and improving pathways between colleges and universities and among universities.
On access
Maintain the current quality of programs and support greater access, increase total base operating revenue by about $200 million in each of the next five years, assuming the current tuition framework remains the same.
Support greater access, invest significant amounts in new capital to accommodate desired enrolment growth.
On quality
Further increase universities’ base funding to allow new investments in quality to improve retention and graduation rates, student experience and engagement, and teaching and learning outcomes.
Better prepare students to lead Ontario’s knowledge economy, further increase universities’ base funding to allow new investments for quality. These investments could be phased in as provincial revenues and priorities allow. The province should announce a plan to increase this amount annually over the span of the next phase of Reaching Higher.
