Ontario universities today welcomed the provincial government’s pre-budget announcement of 60,000 new spaces in universities and colleges over the next five years to provide enhanced access to the many more students seeking higher education.
“We appreciate the government’s continued commitment to addressing the growing numbers of new students applying for university,” says Sheldon Levy, Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities and President of Ryerson University. “Students recognize the importance of being equipped for the knowledge economy and Ontario universities are committed to educating them with the critical thinking skills and creativity they need to be successful in the jobs of today and the jobs yet to be created.”
University applications have increased by more than 60 per cent over the last decade, driven by the economic reality that 70 per cent of new jobs require postsecondary education.
“Education is an investment in future prosperity and social development and this government has continued to recognize the importance of investing in a highly skilled workforce, even in these difficult fiscal times,” says Bonnie M. Patterson, COU President and CEO. “Universities are committed to being excellent stewards of these investments, managing operations efficiently and providing students with a quality education.
Patterson also indicated that “university graduates get jobs quickly after graduation and earn more both annually and over their lifetime than those with high school or college diplomas. In the last 20 years, 1.3 million of the 1.5 million new jobs created in the professional and management occupations were filled by university graduates.”
Today’s announcement is on top of significant growth already experienced in the sector. There are currently 75,000 more students attending Ontario universities today than there were in 2003.
“We look forward to seeing the government’s capital plan for expanding classroom and laboratory space to accommodate the growth in enrolments,” says Patterson.
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For more information, please contact:
Jennifer Grass
Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs
416-979-4341
Cell: 416-707-6787
jgrass@cou.on.ca
