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Goodness Grantness USC to give out nearly $100K in grants >> pg. 3
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Volume 107, issue 7
Think tank forecasts soaring tuition costs Report suggests affordable education disappearing Richmond Raycraft News Editor If you’re worried about the declining value of your degree, you can rest assured that it’s costing you more than ever. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a think tank based in Ottawa, released a report on the rising cost of education in Canada. It found, among other trends, that tuition and associated fees are increasing at a rate that is much faster than inflation. Economists Erika Shaker and David Macdonald authored the report, officially titled Degrees of Uncertainty: Navigating the Terrain of University Finance, with University of Ottawa undergraduate student Nigel Wodrich. Amir Eftekharpour, vice-president external for the University Students’ Council and President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, explained some of the consequences of the rising tuition costs. “What you’ll find is that university or post-secondary attainment is increasingly important in the economy,” he said. “About 270,000
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jobs are going to be created over the next few years and about 70 per cent will require a university degree.” “So if tuition keeps rising and university becomes less accessible, that is quite simply a barrier for a student to achieve social and economic mobility,” he continued. With budget cuts pressing, universities have looked to shift costs to students, which has resulted in
increased debt load in a poor job market. Wodrich notes that other developed countries have developed education models that appear to address these issues more effectively. “We all know that Germany has a very well performing economic model that’s not unrelated to its education model,” he said. “Which ensures that education — both
university and vocational education — is very accessible to everyone.” The German model includes schools working with employers closely to create job-ready graduates. Eftekharpour noted that he is working on similar concepts being brought to Canada. “One of the things I’m working on right now is a recommendation that there be more work integrated
learning opportunities in school,” he said. “So that’s things like co-op, and paid co-op especially, and what that gives is students an opportunity to earn money while in school and gain skills in school, so they’re much more employable once they leave.” According to Statistics Canada, full-time undergraduate students >> see think pg.3
University graduates flock to college Cheryl Madliger Gazette Staff Though the winding lines for a bus pass might suggest otherwise, a report has found that more students are applying to college programs than ever. Earlier this week, Colleges Ontario found 180,000 people applied for full-time programs across the province. The upward trend in applications continued with a two per cent increase since 2012. According to the report, this trend is encouraging given the current
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skills mismatch in workplaces. Daniel Munro, principal research associate at the Conference Board of Canada, elaborated on the mismatch and what it means for Ontario. “Because there are people without the skills needed by employers, we are missing out on $24 billion worth of potential economic activities,” he said. His research identified those skills by surveying over 1,500 Ontario employers — roughly 13.5 per cent of the workforce in Ontario
— and also asked employers what kind of things they are looking for in job applicants. It was reported that while 44 per cent of employers are interested in graduates with four-year degrees and 44 per cent of employers preferred those with trades certifications, there’s a particular interest in college graduates, with 57 per cent of employers looking for a college diploma in their applicants. “I think you could argue that people are hearing the message that having a post-secondary credential,
whether from college or university, does improve your prospects,” Munro said. Citing an 81 per cent employment rate amongst college grads, compared with 82 per cent amongst university grads, Munro said employers and students alike are starting to value a college education as much as a university degree. “The increase in college applications in particular is likely driven by the increased awareness about what college can provide,” Munro said, citing things like placements,
co-ops, and other experiential learning opportunities as perks of a college education. Devin Robinson, manager of student recruitment at Fanshawe College, echoed Munro. “College really offers experiential learning in a specific program that’s going to lead to employment,” he said. Robinson also said that many of those driving the increase in applications are university graduates >> see diplomas pg.3