A New Vision for Higher Education in Ontario: Submitted by the Presidents of Ontario's 24 Public Colleges

Ontario has an opportunity to implement meaningful and transformational changes that exploit the potential for growth in the new economy and drive it's prosperity to unprecedented levels. But the threats to Ontario's future are just as great. Failing to move forward now with significant measures could leave Ontario unprepared for the challenges ahead, and strand thousands of people as permanently unemployable. Ontario is fortunate. There is a solid foundation in place and the province is well-served by its large number of universities and colleges. Ontario has one of the highest postsecondary attainment rates in the world. But Ontario cannot rest on its laurels. Other jurisdictions are making significant investments in higher education and present a serious challenge to surpass the achievements made in Ontario. Ontario must set ambitious targets for achieving improvements in higher education, and it must meet those targets. To successfully implement a new vision for higher education, Ontario's colleges propose the government adopt the following four goals: (1) Improve student mobility and expand student choice; (2) Increase participation and attainment rates in postsecondary education; (3) Align postsecondary education with the needs of the transforming economy; and (4) Fund critical priorities to achieve sustainable outcomes. Fulfilling each of these goals will require new policies for improving postsecondary education, including apprenticeship training. The goals--and the policy changes required to support those goals--are described in more detail in this proposal.