The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every industry and sector that enable Ontario’s diverse regions to thrive, and the university sector is no exception. As Ontario focuses on restoring its competitive economy, increasing investments in a high-quality university sector over the long-term will ensure Ontario’s universities can continue to make their fullest contributions during recovery and beyond.
Ontario’s university sector has incurred many costs due to COVID-19 that include developing alternative modes of course and exam delivery, as well as mental health and wellness services; reconfiguring classrooms and residences to accommodate distancing protocols, creating quarantine spaces and ensuring access to appropriate personal protective equipment; and providing emergency relief funds for students.
These financial challenges have been further compounded by reduced revenue to the sector with universities seeing a decline in inflation-adjusted operating grants per student by 21 per cent since 2006-07.
An ongoing tuition freeze and a 10 per cent cut to domestic tuition has cost the sector $1.2 billion since 2019. Each additional year of a tuition freeze means universities will lose $740 million in foregone revenue.
This pattern of reduced investment by government threatens universities’ ability to address growing needs for modernized programs and learning environments; increased campus services in areas such as student mental health; and more cost-intensive resources to foster a culture of innovation.
In order to ensure Ontario successfully recovers from the pandemic and meets the needs of a growing economy, government and universities need to work together to expand university education in Ontario.
In Partnering to Drive Ontario’s Recovery through Talent and Innovation, we outline how, as Ontario looks to rebuild and recover from COVID-19, Ontario’s universities are at the forefront of rebuilding a world-class health-care system; developing job-ready graduates; driving regional economic development; and creating solutions to Ontario’s challenges.
Browse through reports and related materials to find out about Ontario universities' role in everything ranging from university graduate employment to family medicine and community transformation.
