News Release Archive
HIGHER EDUCATION--UNIVERSITY SYSTEM REPORT ------------------------------------------------------------ Following is a statement by Janet Halliwell, Chair, Nova Scotia Council on Higher Education, regarding the council's report released today: The Nova Scotia Council on Higher Education today released a major report on the university system "Shared Responsibilities in Higher Education" and a companion document "The Institutions -Their Roles and Characteristics." Universities face two opposing forces for change. Deficit reduction at federal and provincial levels is driving significant decreases in government expenditures on universities in Nova Scotia and elsewhere. At the same time there is an unprecedented demand for the university system to change in response to new expectations from students and society. To provide the same or more value for lower unit cost will not be easy, but is essential. Simply substituting student tuition fees for decreased government revenues is not the answer expected by students, parents or taxpayers. Universities must make improvements in their productivity and in the quality of outcomes in their core functions of instruction, service and research. Students will pay a greater share of their university education, but expect more say in the services, accountability of the institutions and attention by government to equity of access. The necessary institutional and program changes must be framed by a positive vision about the kind of higher education system that Nova Scotians want and how the university system assists in addressing the basic social and economic challenges of Nova Scotia. The council has articulated such a system vision and goals. Within that system vision and goals, each institution must confirm or reassess its distinctive role and how it is delivering its core services. Excellence can only be sustained in this new fiscal context with increased selectivity in institutional mandates and differentiation among institutions that collectively deliver the system goals and vision. Cooperative action among institutions holds particular promise for economies in administrative costs and evolution of program restructuring. The consortium announced today by the metro Halifax universities is a key step in the process of system reform. It delivers a commitment to shared systems and services and a framework within which there can be tough decisions on academic program restructuring. Council has recommended a set of actions and outcomes for system and institutional renewal. Three of the essential elements of change are the metro-based programs in business and computer science, and the development of a stronger research nexus. The consortium offers certain solutions to these priority issues that differ in their detail from the approaches advanced by council. The effectiveness of the metro solutions must be assessed, monitored and balanced with the interests of the universities outside metro. While the council believes strongly that those who design their own future are the most likely of success, it is an essential role for Council to ensure that the public interest is brought to bear on these decisions. With limited public funds, ensuring quality and the connection of the university system to the future of Nova Scotia is vital. With less government funding, the allocation of limited public dollars takes on a new importance. While universities must continue to be autonomous in operation, the future will bring increased distinction between what universities may chose to do and what governments choose to fund. The public policy expectations of the university system must be clear, with a clear connection to the use of public funds. During the next six months, the council will complete its review of how government funding should be allocated among institutions to achieve public purposes. -30- Contact: Janet Halliwell 902-424-6992 NOTE TO EDITORS: Copies of the reports are available at the Nova Scotia Government Bookstore 1-902-424-7580. Copies of the formal recommendations, system vision and goals and executive summary are available by calling Communications Services 1-800-670-4357 or 902-424-4492 or by accessing Internet address HTTP://WWW.EDNET.NS.CA. trp Dec. 06, 1995