Council of Ontario Universities’ Post

Reading the newly released Universities Accord report, I was struck by the following... "Increasing the number of skilled workers. Australia must significantly increase participation in tertiary education. This is a matter of urgency. Australia is not meeting its current skills needs and will not meet them in the future unless we produce more higher education and VET graduates. Failure to increase student numbers to meet these needs will do lasting damage to Australia’s prospects of national economic success. It will also do lasting damage to social cohesion by preventing generations of Australians from enjoying the career opportunities and higher incomes that tertiary education makes possible." There's a lot of work required before we achieve this goal for Surveying, let alone for the other degree programs. We're reaching out to governments and the universities so we don't fall behind. Watch this space.

As the A-level results are out today, a reminder of our analysis of the challenges facing further and higher education by Sandra McNally Gu Ventura and Gill Wyness. * There are not enough graduates. The wage premium to university degrees is high everywhere in the country (although the level and trend varies). If the UK economy is to grow, it is especially important that “strategic sectors” (those in which the UK has a comparative advantage) are supported. These sectors - which include financial and business services, the creative and cultural sector and life sciences – employ a much higher fraction of graduates than the rest of the economy. * There are also too few people educated to sub-degree level compared to other countries. But the problem is not “too many graduates” but too many low-educated workers. https://lnkd.in/dc2i8BPG

The recent release of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report reveals 47 recommendations and targets to reform higher education and set it up for the next decade and beyond. The Report recommends that at least 80% of the workforce will need a VET or university qualification by 2050. This represents a 20% increase on the current 60% of qualified employees. “…raising tertiary education attainment to these levels will not be easy. It can only be achieved by making the higher education system far more equitable.” https://lnkd.in/gJkT2T8j #RegisteredTrainingOrganisations #VocationalEducation #HigherEducation #University #FutureStudents

Is UK Higher Education at a Crossroads? Research briefing from the House of Commons Library outlines some interesting, but concerning trends in student numbers across UK higher education. While international postgraduate enrolments are growing, serious issues remain: - The sharp decline in part-time undergraduate enrolments — are we failing to support flexible learning for working adults? - The steep drop in EU students post-Brexit — how sustainable is our international recruitment strategy if we lose vital diversity from Europe? - Continued challenges for disadvantaged and mature students — are current policies truly inclusive, or are we leaving these groups behind? As we focus on increasing overall numbers, are we ignoring critical sectors of our student population? This report brings to light gaps that need addressing if we want to remain competitive and inclusive in the long term. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gR2Rfedx What changes do you think are necessary to ensure the future success of UK higher education? #HigherEducation #UKUniversities

Canada’s #HigherEducation system serves nearly two million domestic and international students in any given year. Our colleges and universities are entrusted to educate students in preparation for their careers and civic lives. However, with little data on education outcomes available, students have a hard time making informed decisions about what to study and what returns to expect from their studies. In an age where learners report job and career outcomes as their primary objectives in obtaining a higher education, improved post-secondary data and information have become a key to program choice decisions and career pathway navigation - and for better performance in higher education in general. Do you think Canadian universities should report data on education outcomes?

Big changes are coming for Australian universities as the government introduces new international student caps for 2025. While 15 institutions, including the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne, and Australian National University, will face significant cuts (up to 14%), others like Federation University are hit even harder, seeing their intake slashed by over 50%. Meanwhile, 23 universities will experience only modest increases in enrolment. These changes have sparked criticism, with industry experts warning of widespread job losses, the closure of 300 independent colleges, and concerns over the impact on Australia’s education sector. #HigherEducation #InternationalStudents #EducationReform #StudyInAustralia #UniversityNews

New policy article: bridging the education outcomes with labor market needs,  researcher Shabir Abdul Wahab, emphasizes the importance of aligning education outcomes with the requirements of the labor market. He highlights the inability of higher education institutions to control market needs, adapt to constant changes, and keep up with the ever-evolving demands, amid the expanding demand for education and the inflated outputs, contributing to a rise in unemployment among graduates. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gdR53-6v #IPP #YourPlatformForPositiveChange

Despite the many challenges to higher education in the UK, it's great to reflect on the achievements in this sector compared to other countries. - The UK had the fastest growth in the population of 25 to 34-year-olds with tertiary education in the G7. - England and Scotland were among the six countries identified as ‘Advanced’ in relation to plans and targets for access and participation. - Employment rates of UK graduates are higher than the OECD average at 87%. Fantastic webinar from National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) on this subject, and a very useful nudge to review the full report on this in the House of Commons Library: 'Higher education around the world: Comparing international approaches and performance with the UK' #NEONHESeminar

This just one of a growing list of UK universities making cost savings: University of Aberdeen University of Brighton Coventry University University of East Anglia University of Essex The University of Huddersfield University of Kent Northumbria University Queen Mary University of London Sheffield Hallam University & University of Winchester have all recently announced cost cutting &/or staff redundancies. “Up to 140 jobs could be lost at the University of Surrey, in an open letter from University and College Union (UCU) to Surrey’s VC said members and the wider community were “extremely concerned” by plans set out in an all-staff meeting in March. A university spokesperson said these included high inflation, high energy costs, the “sustained devaluation of #tuition fees” and a recent decline in the number of international students.” Plus with damaging UK newspaper headlines daily & a government [& opposition] hell bent on reducing #immigration in the run up to the next #election, is there hope for #internationaleducation the #uk? Yes, but sector bodies & individual universities, must invest in data on international #graduateoutcomes, with which they can lobby government & avoid what would be a disastrous policy moves. Reducing #poststudywork & even capping #internationalstudent numbers at around 700,000, which would severely negatively impact both the reputation & finances of all UK universities! There have been warning bells since 2019! - #Internationalgraduates need more than #poststudywork #visas - 16 Sept 2019 https://lnkd.in/fdggtNk - After #Brexit, a fork in the road for UK higher education - 23 Nov 2020 https://lnkd.in/dgtTmBi - #Internationalstudents: UK must make hay while the sun shines - 18 Sept 2021 https://lnkd.in/eUiYfhcB - UK risks losing chance to be an ‘#outcomes destination’ - 16 April 2022 https://lnkd.in/eShNrQeR - Amid UK crisis, graduate #outcomes data even more critical - 22 Oct 2022 https://lnkd.in/e_WyS-92 - Is anyone listening? International #education is in a parlous state - 13 Dec 2022 https://lnkd.in/eAhKx6vb - Ticking time bomb of foreign students must be defused with data - 16 Sept 2023 https://lnkd.in/esqZ4AjE If the sector evidence now that inbound international #studentrecruitment is largely #immigration neutral, with by far the majority of #internationalstudents returning to their home countries & into successful #careers following their studies. MAC reports in the May, so if the sector commission Non EU #graduateoutcomes data in the Spring, they have a chance of submitting their findings before hand, universities would have a Plan B & #psw could receive a stay of execution? Asia Careers Group SDN BHD - Investing in International Futures AGCAS British Council BUILA Department for Business and Trade Department for Education Jisc Office for Students UCAS UKCISA Universities Scotland Universities UK Universities UK International