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鈥淥ne million young people will graduate from Canada鈥檚 universities by the year 2017,鈥� says Stephen Toope, president of The University of British Columbia and chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l be equipped with the knowledge, experiences and skills Canada will need for decades to come. And they鈥檒l have gained the ability to adapt to the jobs of today 鈥� and tomorrow.鈥�

鈥淐anada needs more university, college and trades graduates to compete in the new global knowledge economy,鈥� adds Paul Davidson, president of AUCC. According to a recent CIBC report, most jobs in high demand in Canada require a university degree, including managers in health, education, social and community services; human resources and business service professionals; and supervisors in manufacturing and processing.

The federal government鈥檚 research investments have made Canada a top research nation. 鈥淓ven in difficult fiscal times, the government recognizes that university research fuels a competitive advantage for Canada,鈥� says Mr. Davidson. 鈥淥ver successive budgets, the federal government has increased support for research and innovation in Canada 鈥搃nvestments that nurture talent, create jobs and make us more competitive internationally.鈥�
Canada鈥檚 universities also welcomed the importance that today鈥檚 budget places on international education initiatives. 鈥淚nvestments in international education leverage economic benefits of more than $8 billion a year 鈥� and they benefit every region of Canada,鈥� Mr. Davidson points out. 鈥淓mployers tell us they want a versatile international workforce. Canada benefits 鈥� and Canadian students benefit 鈥� from a global outlook.鈥�

AUCC is part of an education sector-led consortium that has urged the government to enhance international education efforts to drive Canada鈥檚 global competitiveness, and is ready to work with partners to help ensure the international education strategy advances.

A new element of the international education efforts announced today is enhanced funding for Mitacs鈥� Globalink Program, which brings top undergraduate students from around the world to Canadian universities to undertake research projects and will now allow Canadian students to go abroad for research experiences. 鈥淭his is an opportunity for Canada鈥檚 universities to enhance their profile and attract the brightest international students to our campuses,鈥� says Mr. Davidson.

University leaders also welcomed a new scholarship program that will improve access and achievement for Aboriginal postsecondary students. The budget provides funding to be matched by the private sector for new scholarships for Aboriginal students through an initiative of Indspire, in collaboration with Canada鈥檚 universities.

鈥淎boriginal youth is the fastest growing segment of our population, yet Aboriginal university graduation rates lag far behind those of the non-Aboriginal population,鈥� notes Mr. Davidson. 鈥淭hese measures are a concrete step towards closing the education gap.鈥�