Premier Receives Report Aimed at Strengthening Universities

NOTE: A social media version of this release with high-res, downloadable photos, audio and video clips is available at gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2010-09-17-Universities/ . Additional content from the event will be added later today.

Premier Darrell Dexter, today, Sept. 17, received advice and recommendations from economist Tim O'Neill on how to make Nova Scotia's universities more competitive and sustainable.

Mr. O'Neill's recommendations include restructuring the province's student assistance to make it more accessible and to address the needs for low-income students, improving the quality of universities by monitoring performance and accountability through a report card, and increasing co-operation among university administrations to maximize savings.

"Mr. O'Neill's report outlines innovative and strategic ideas that will allow government and universities to ensure that Nova Scotia's university system keeps improving," said Premier Dexter. "Some of the recommendations will be instrumental in helping government make improvements to things like financial aid for students. Others provide options to universities to help them make strategic decisions that are in their best interest."

"Nova Scotia's universities are significant contributors to the province's economic, social and cultural development," said Mr. O'Neill. "The aim of my report is to address options for ensuring they remain so in light of the emerging population challenges and fiscal realities facing universities across the country, and indeed, worldwide."

The report suggests that the best way to ensure universities in Nova Scotia continue to succeed is to focus efforts on a modest restructuring of the university system, with individual institutions exploring and deciding on merger and restructuring options.

Other significant recommendations include:

• allowing tuition fees to increase, with a possible cap on rate increases
• encouraging universities to find mutual savings through increased co-operation on administration
• negotiating the operating grant for universities in the long run could be based on one of either population growth, government spending growth or rate of GDP growth.
• exploring private/public partnerships and management of some facilities.
• increasing research, technology adoption and commercialization
• addressing infrastructure needs, after an independent assessment of deferred and ongoing maintenance
• maintaining current funding formula and multi-year agreements.

"Nova Scotia's universities are one of this province's best assets and I am pleased that Mr. O'Neill put forward recommendations that will allow them to continue to thrive," said Premier Dexter. "I look forward to hearing from colleagues and stakeholders over the next few months, their thoughts and opinions on what Mr. O'Neill recommended."

Mr. O'Neill was recruited by the province in January to identify policy options that will ensure the long-term viability of the university sector.

Premier Dexter thanked Mr. O'Neill for this report and said he looks forward to working with his colleagues and universities over the next few months to make strategic improvements to the university system.

For a complete list of the recommendations and options, along with the full report, visit www.gov.ns.ca/premier .