The Senate Task Force on Access to Post-Secondary Education was struck in response to growing concerns that certain barriers to post-secondary education are denying academically capable Albertans the opportunity to pursue higher learning. While there are many positive incentives to undertake a post-secondary education, the challenges and barriers to access are seen to be growing rather than lessening.
The benefits of advanced education, both to the individual and to the Province, are undeniable. University and college graduates are using their skills for the betterment of our society on a daily basis - as doctors, teachers, scientists, engineers, daycare workers, and artists. Education is also driving the rapidly expanding 'know-ledge-based' economy that characterizes global commerce in the information age. In addition, as numerous reports demonstrate, individuals with a post-secondary diploma or degree continue to enjoy higher employment and salary levels when compared to high school graduates. As we enter a new century, the importance of a highly educated workforce is greater than ever.
Yet despite the obvious value of post- secondary education, a surprisingly low percentage of the population has taken advantage of the learning opportunities available to them. Systemic barriers limit access to post-secondary education for Albertans from lower-income backgrounds, as they do for those from rural, northern and Aboriginal communities. Rising instructional fees and high student debt are also discouraging many Albertans from enrolling in the quality programs offered by our Province's post-secondary institutions. As a result, certain segments of the population are not generally afforded the economic, social, and cultural benefits of higher learning.
Although the Government has recently been reinvesting in post-secondary education, a decade of funding cuts to universities, colleges, and trade schools has created barriers that will not be easily lowered. Post-secondary institutions have done an excellent job of maintaining high quality programs in the face of fiscal restraint, in part through increased cooperation under the Campus Alberta initiative. However, the maintenance and renewal of campus facilities has been deferred for several years, and capital expenditure is required to properly serve the student body at present levels. The process of faculty renewal and retention is also crucial to the future success of the post-secondary education system.
Moreover, demographic evidence suggests that even if the status quo is maintained, pressure on the capacity of the post-secondary education system will continue to rise. A dramatic increase in the youth population (the "baby boom echo") will require post-secondary institutions to offer more places or turn away many qualified students. The importance of higher education in the rapidly changing job market - as evidenced by the Federal Government's estimate that nearly half of all new jobs in Canada will require a minimum of sixteen years of education and training - will further inflate demand for post-secondary education. Add to that the rising interest in lifelong learning from Albertans who realize that continual educational upgrading is necessary in the information age, and the ability of the system to deal with demand is called into question.
Several measures have been implemented by stakeholders in an effort to reduce barriers to post-secondary education so that academically capable Albertans are provided with the opportunity to pursue the bright future that higher learning can offer. Grants, bursaries, and scholarships have been augmented, though the effectiveness of the distribution and promotional systems is uncertain. The Government of Alberta has also made efforts to check mounting student debt loads by providing student loan remission, though many Albertans remain unaware of this program. A sophisticated inter-institutional credit transfer system has been developed, reducing geographical and financial barriers by allowing students to begin degree programs at local colleges. Furthermore, institutions are utilizing new learning technologies to further improve the efficiency and flexibility of the post-secondary education system in our Province. These measures have been breaking down barriers to post-secondary education, but, as this report demonstrates, much more needs to be done.
The Task Force has four main recommendations to improve access to post- secondary education in Alberta, and to the University of Alberta in particular. We believe that the implementation of these recommendations will lessen the barriers to higher learning, allowing more Albertans to reap the benefits offered by our Province's world-class post-secondary education system. Achieving these goals will require the involvement of all stakeholder groups, including businesses, governments, parents, students, teachers, and post-secondary institutions.
To this end, the Senate Task Force on Access to Post- Secondary Education makes the following recommendations:
- Ensure that all Albertans are given the opportunity to attain the necessary academic qualifications to pursue post-secondary education.
- Ensure that the post-secondary education system in Alberta provides flexible, high-quality learning opportunities for all qualified Alberta applicants.
- Improve the overall system of financial support for students to ensure that all Albertans are able to afford post-secondary education.
- More effectively communicate the social, economic and cultural benefits of higher learning, for both the individual and the Province, to all stake-holders and potential students.
