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Canada's Universities are becoming increasingly popular
Canada has roughly 65 Universities but they are challenged by increasing enrolment.
Canadian university enrolment will grow nationally by between 70,000 to 150,000 full-time students over the next decade despite challenging demographics in some regions of the country, according to a new study by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). The first volume of the 2007 edition of Trends in Higher Education focuses on enrolment. It contends that the demands of Canada’s increasingly knowledge-based economy will continue to drive national enrolment growth. With the labour market requiring more and more skilled knowledge workers, Canadians will keep looking to university education to develop the talent and expertise they need.
“While demographics remain important, the study shows that participation rates are a much more significant driver of enrolment increases than changes in the population,” said AUCC president Claire Morris.
“Students understand that Canada’s labour market requires a highly-educated and skilled workforce. This is why national enrolment numbers have hit new records over the past six years, as more students head to universities to gain the skills they need.”
The number of jobs for degree-holders doubled from 1.9 million in 1990 to 3.8 million last year and there’s no reason to believe that this trend will abate.
While Statistics Canada figures show the population aged 18 to 21 will begin to decline nationally in 2012, the increasing demand for university graduates points to a greater percentage of this cohort seeking higher education opportunities. A host of factors also influence participation rates, such as: urbanization, immigration and international students, parental influence, socio-economic status, labour market demand, demand for graduate education, and financial returns.
But Canada cannot afford to be complacent about university enrolment and participation, added Ms. Morris.
Trends points out that the extent of enrolment growth depends heavily on the country’s ability to supply and finance the required human and physical resources.
“The ability to add students is constrained by a university’s existing physical and human resources, as well as how they can be expanded and utilized. Investments in capacity and quality will be key determinants of the prospects for future growth in both supply and demand of higher education,” Ms. Morris said.
And while there will be an overall increase in university enrolment in Canada over the next decade, the study also projects that the national trend may not be reflected in all areas of the country and not every university will experience the same pressures.
“Some of our universities will face challenges due to significant declines in the population of the youth cohort in their regions, but it is important to note that this will not necessarily translate into enrolment decreases,” Ms. Morris added.
“Institutions and decision-makers in regions facing population declines must consider all the factors that influence participation rates in their planning rather than focusing solely on demographic projections.”
Canada has roughly 65 Universities but they are challenged by increasing enrolment.
Canadian university enrolment will grow nationally by between 70,000 to 150,000 full-time students over the next decade despite challenging demographics in some regions of the country, according to a new study by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). The first volume of the 2007 edition of Trends in Higher Education focuses on enrolment. It contends that the demands of Canada’s increasingly knowledge-based economy will continue to drive national enrolment growth. With the labour market requiring more and more skilled knowledge workers, Canadians will keep looking to university education to develop the talent and expertise they need.
“While demographics remain important, the study shows that participation rates are a much more significant driver of enrolment increases than changes in the population,” said AUCC president Claire Morris.
“Students understand that Canada’s labour market requires a highly-educated and skilled workforce. This is why national enrolment numbers have hit new records over the past six years, as more students head to universities to gain the skills they need.”
The number of jobs for degree-holders doubled from 1.9 million in 1990 to 3.8 million last year and there’s no reason to believe that this trend will abate.
While Statistics Canada figures show the population aged 18 to 21 will begin to decline nationally in 2012, the increasing demand for university graduates points to a greater percentage of this cohort seeking higher education opportunities. A host of factors also influence participation rates, such as: urbanization, immigration and international students, parental influence, socio-economic status, labour market demand, demand for graduate education, and financial returns.
But Canada cannot afford to be complacent about university enrolment and participation, added Ms. Morris.
Trends points out that the extent of enrolment growth depends heavily on the country’s ability to supply and finance the required human and physical resources.
“The ability to add students is constrained by a university’s existing physical and human resources, as well as how they can be expanded and utilized. Investments in capacity and quality will be key determinants of the prospects for future growth in both supply and demand of higher education,” Ms. Morris said.
And while there will be an overall increase in university enrolment in Canada over the next decade, the study also projects that the national trend may not be reflected in all areas of the country and not every university will experience the same pressures.
“Some of our universities will face challenges due to significant declines in the population of the youth cohort in their regions, but it is important to note that this will not necessarily translate into enrolment decreases,” Ms. Morris added.
“Institutions and decision-makers in regions facing population declines must consider all the factors that influence participation rates in their planning rather than focusing solely on demographic projections.”