News Release Archive
EDUCATION/CULTURE--FORUMS ON UNIVERSITY QUALITY ASSURANCE ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission wants input on quality assurance in university education and is going to the public to get it. The commission will hold three forums next month -- one in each Maritime province -- to gather a cross-section of views on what Dr. David Cameron, interim commission chair, calls "the hot topic in higher education today." Dr. Cameron said the questions being asked are: "How do we ensure that students are getting quality programs? How do we help universities assure quality and improve quality?" But, he added, "The best approaches to achieving quality assurance are open to debate." To help focus the debate, the commission released a discussion paper earlier this year titled Options for Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the Maritimes. Through the forums, "we want to hear from students, parents, teachers, institutions, associations, governments -- everyone involved with or concerned about university quality assurance," said Dr. Cameron. The commission will consider input from the forums in drafting recommendations to the Council of Maritime Premiers and the region's universities. "The aim is to assure the public that university programs in this region are of appropriately high quality," said Dr. Cameron. The forums will be held May 5 in Halifax, at Dalhousie University Student Union Building, McInnis Room; on May 7 in Fredericton, at the University of New Brunswick's Wu Centre, Chancellor's Room; and on May 9 in Charlottetown, at Rodd Travel Lodge, Courtyard Room. The forums begin at 10 a.m. Groups or individuals who wish to participate should indicate their interest in advance by phone at 506-453-2844, fax at 506-453-2106 or e-mail at mphec@mphec.ca Copies of the discussion paper are also available. Cameron said the commission's role is to bring a regional perspective to higher education. "Since 1973, we have been working to help the whole Maritime region make the very best use of all our university resources. We believe that assisting in quality assurance is yet another way we can contribute to this objective." -30- Contact: Dr. David Cameron 902-494-6626 trp Apr. 21, 1997 - 12:30 p.m.