Access

Alberta’s record on post-secondary participation is the worst in Canada - only 16.9% of Albertans between 18 and 34 enrol in post-secondary education. We need thousands more spaces at our institutions to improve that rate, but since 2005 Alberta has backed off its commitment to build 60,000 additional full-load equivalents by 2020. There is a strong demand for more spaces, especially with the economic downturn as more Albertans look to go back to school to upgrade their skills.

The Problems:

Alberta needs more post-secondary graduates, as up to 70% of all new jobs require a post-secondary credential and as we come to the end of the economic downturn we will see a growing demand for skilled labour in our province. Indeed, the Government of Alberta is projecting a labour shortage of 77,000 workers following the recession but is not taking the necessary steps to educate more Albertans, get our participation rate up, increase spaces and lower entrance averages so every qualified Albertan can get the skills they need to succeed. 

The Changes Needed: 

Alberta needs to do more, which is why Public Interest Alberta is advocating that we create more quality spaces for students at our public universities, colleges and technical institutes. The government is planning on increasing spaces by only 14,445 full-load equivalents, or 9.5% by 2019. That is a far cry from the 60,000 promised only five years ago, and less than the over 44,000 graduates our economy will need. 

These new spaces must be built across the spectrum and in communities all over Alberta. Post-secondary institutions are often the heart of rural Albertan communities, and by cutting spaces and consolidating operations at these institutions, the impact is not just felt by students and staff, but the whole community suffers. Our major centres also rely on post-secondary institutions, needing graduates and research to fuel their economies. 

Solutions for improving access to post-secondary education in Alberta:

• Create more quality spaces for students in Alberta's colleges, universities and technical institutes.
• Support deferred maintenance and other infrastructure projects needed for the expansion of the system.

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