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The State of Post-secondary Education in Canada 2006

Canadian Post-secondary Education 
A Positive Record – An Uncertain Future

Key findings

Report resources

  • News release
  • Key findings
  • Chapter highlights
  • Backgrounder

  • Full report (PDF, 3 MB)
  • Report summary (PDF, 726 KB)

  • Support for the report
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    Canadian Post-secondary Education: A Positive Record – An Uncertain Future is the first-ever national overview of PSE. It is the result of an extensive study undertaken by the Canadian Council on Learning. The report draws upon the research of many PSE stakeholders, federal and provincial government departments, ministries and agencies, as well as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Australia, the United States and the European Union (EU).

    The report aims to inform Canadians about the extent to which Canada is meeting stated social and economic objectives through post-secondary education. It also reports on our ability to respond to a fast-changing global environment, and shows how Canada's approach to higher education compares with other leading developed countries.

    Among the key findings:
    • High-quality, affordable, accessible and flexible PSE is essential to achieve Canada's economic and social objectives in the 21st century.
    • Slowing labour-force growth, coupled with the increasing need for a knowledgeable, adaptable and flexible workforce, will result in labour-market shortages in key professions and occupations. Immigration alone will not fill the gap. The demand for workers will outpace supply starting in 2016, undermining Canada's productivity and competitiveness.
    • Canada's overall R&D intensity continues to rank 15th among 30 OECD member countries. The role of PSE institutions in R&D is much greater in Canada than in most other countries; they are almost the sole source of R&D activity in most provinces.
    • Access to, and benefits of, post-secondary education are not equally distributed among Canadians.
    • Two in five adults—or 9 million Canadians—have literacy levels below the minimum considered necessary for success in today's economy and society. Labour-market forecasts predict surpluses of people seeking jobs that do not demand PSE, especially those requiring only on-the-job training.
    • There is a significant unmet need for job-related education and training in Canada.
    • The post-secondary education sector is still largely designed to respond to the needs of traditional, younger learners. The lifelong learning requirements of many adults are not adequately addressed.
    • Most leading industrialized countries are actively addressing their PSE challenges, developing national strategies and implementing major reforms to ensure their systems are responsive to national needs and global realities.
    • Canada lacks mechanisms at the national level to ensure coherence, coordination and effectiveness on key priorities, such as quality, access, mobility and responsiveness.
    • Data required to track Canada's performance and progress are incomplete and scattered, are updated on different timetables and use different definitions. Filling such gaps is crucial to gain insight into PSE's challenges and opportunities in the 21st century, and to develop appropriate responses.
    Goals for PSE in Canada

    Based on reviews, research and the formal positions on PSE articulated by governments, the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) has attempted to build on the work of provinces and territories to develop a nationwide perspective on the performance and progress of Canadian post-secondary education. CCL has identified eight goals common to provincial and territorial PSE plans as a starting point for a national dialogue:

    As well as exploring these goals in detail, the report also weighs the PSE experiences of other countries (see Chapter 11 highlights).

     

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