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AUCC

Presentation to NATVAC Claire Morris, AUCC President

October 11, 2007

Update on AUCC’s Advocacy and Quality Assurance efforts




Presentation Outline

• AUCC advocacy update

• Objectives for future investments in PSE

• Trends in Higher Education

• AUCC's role in quality assurance in Canada

•Questions?




AUCC Advocacy Efforts and Special Projects 2006/07

•Federal roles and responsibilities brief•Science and technology brief•Pre-budget submission•Lobbying act changes•Strategic Counsel polling on higher education and research•Study on foreign credential recognition•Trends vol. 1, enrolment




AUCC’s work on the S&T Strategy

•Brief submitted in February•Taking research to another level•Developing research talent•Getting the right structures and measures in place

•2007 budget acknowledged several elements of the brief•S&T strategy released in May

•Achieving knowledge, people and entrepreneurial advantages•Four key principals: promoting excellence, encouraging partnerships, focusing on priorities and enhancing accountability

•Follow up implementation




AUCC’s Advocacy Approach

•Focus on providing good information and advice•Involve AUCC members in committees to help advise us•Work with government of the day•Strong relationships with civil service•Respect the minority parliament context•All party approach in parliament•Contact with policy people for each party’s electoral platform•Upcoming events of interest will include the Throne Speech, the review of student financial aid and the fall pre-budget hearings




2007 AUCC Pre-budget Submission

• Committee’s theme this year is the Canadian tax system• Countries are competing with each other for top talent• Further, the percentage of the population that is working and aged 25 to 65 will begin shrinking• It is essential that Canada create the conditions necessary for economic growth through productivity gains•Advantage Canada recognized developing a knowledge advantage is essential to meeting these challenges• Investments in higher education and university research will drive long term growth




2007 AUCC Pre-budget Submission continued

• Five key priorities:•Invest in the four pillars of university research, with particular attention paid to indirect costs•Increase the number of graduate students and young researchers•Attract more international students •Increase university participation through enhanced outreach and increased capacity•Secure long term funding for needs-based, non-repayable student financial assistance




Current federal policy on transfers

•As of 2007/08 the Canada Social Transfer is now on a per capita basis•Starting in 2008/2009 an additional $800 million per year in the CST for PSE•3 percent annual escalator for CST until 2014•HRSDC Minister to work with the provinces to identify priority areas for investment•No enforcement mechanisms•Government commits to working with partners to strengthen accountability by reporting on results




Objectives for future investments in PSE

•AUCC has established 5 broad objectives for PSE investments:

•An internationally competitive research effort•More capacity for more students•Providing a quality education•Ensuring access for qualified individuals•Encouraging internationalization and mobility

•Both levels of government have previously stated support for these types of objectives




Time to work together

•The time is right for governments and institutions to work together•$800 million will be entering the system next year•Additional public investments will be required to meet the challenges facing the PSE system •AUCC is prepared to play a role in Canada-wide reporting towards mutually agreed upon objectives




Trends in Higher Education

• Trends is a flagship AUCC publication• It provides key data for policy making and analysis across the country• This year’s edition of Trends was divided into several volumes• Trends vol. 1 is on enrolment• Major finding is that overall enrolment will significantly increase, though this will vary from region to region• Increased labour market demand is key reason for increased enrolment demand• Trends vol. 2 is on faculty and will be released in the late fall




AUCC’s role in Quality Assurance

• Two key ways AUCC plays a role in promoting and enhancing a quality culture in higher education at home

• Criteria and process for Institutional

Membership

• AUCC's “Quality assurance at Canadian

universities” website




Institutional Accreditation

• Canada has no national system of institutional accreditation

• AUCC is not an accrediting body

• However, membership in AUCC, particularly when combined with appropriate provincial charter, is widely accepted in lieu of accreditation, both in Canada and abroad




Membership Criteria

• AUCC criteria for membership represents the organization’s collective definition of the fundamental characteristics of a university• Key criteria for Institutional Membership:

• Legislative authority; Governance and administrative structures;

Mission statement and appropriate academic goals; Scope of

academic programs; Commitment to scholarship and research;

Academic freedom and intellectual integrity; Size of student body;

etc.

• As of 2005, AUCC members have been invited

to reaffirm their adherence to the membership

criteria every five years




Membership application process

• Applicant institution submits extensive

documentation to AUCC • Staff recommendation to AUCC Board on

establishment of visiting committee• Visiting committee reviews documentation

and holds range of meetings at institution • Recommendation and report of visiting

committee to AUCC Board • Membership votes on AUCC Board’s

recommendation




Impact of AUCC’s approach to membership

• Creates strong “stamp of approval” in terms

of institutional quality

• Growing demand for membership

• Ongoing reflection of AUCC Board and Standing Advisory Committee on the Act and By-laws on appropriate application of membership criteria

•As Canadian higher education scene becomes more diverse, AUCC must clearly articulate the meaning of membership and its role as a membership organization




AUCC’s QA website

• Given the need to share information in a

proactive way on Canadian QA approach,

AUCC formed a working group to:• Articulate principles of institutional QA in Canadian higher education• Devise an institutional survey of all members’ QA policy and

practice

• AUCC’s quality assurance website

www.aucc.ca/qa is a clearing house of

information for national and international

audiences




QA principles

• “Principles of institutional quality assurance

in Canadian higher education” endorsed by

the executive head of each member of AUCC• Central elements:

• Quality assurance and improvement• Scope and frequency of reviews• Self-evaluation and peer review• Information to the public




Members’ QA approaches

• Each AUCC members has its own page which

provides information on its institutional QA

policy and practice:• Scope• Aspects under review• Actors involved in implementation• Frequency of reviews• Role of professional bodies in accrediting professional programs• Overarching provincial/regional policy framework




Impact of AUCC’s QA website

• Effective profiling of QA regime in Canadian universities for national and international audiences

• Principles and survey have resulted in

enhanced quality culture

• AUCC more active in monitoring national and international QA developments




Concluding thoughts on QA

• AUCC can make a difference by promoting quality culture within its membership• Initiatives that increase transparency of information on QA approaches can stimulate improved quality culture




Thank You

• Questions?

• www.aucc.ca

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