Transcript Universities for the 21st Centruy MPHEC

Universities for the 21st Century
- Nolens Volens
Strategic Options in a Changing Enrolment Landscape,
MPHEC, Feb 12 2008
Assertion
The coming 20-year demographic crunch
is the best thing that can happen to
Maritime universities. It will force them to
think deeply about what a 21st century
university must be, and make them
implement long-needed and essential
changes. As a result they will emerge by
2026 undiminished in size and
immeasurably stronger.
The Demographic Crunch
Between 2006 and 2026, the number of
young people (19-24) will reduce by:
39.7% in Newfoundland
30.6% in New Brunswick
23.9% in Nova Scotia
22.5% in Prince Edward Island
The Alleged Participation Rate
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AUCC: the participation rate for young
adults (18-21) is 23.1%, so can easily rise.
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How is it calculated?
True Young Adult Participation Rate
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StatsCan has confirmed that the true
Young Adult participation rate is now 40%
(and closer to 50% for young women.)
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Is this above saturation rate?
Effect by 2026 of Reduced Cohort
Combined with Reduced
Participation
Newfoundland: decline of 55%
New Brunswick: decline of 48%
Nova Scotia: decline of 43%
Prince Edward Island: decline of 42%
Cultural Pressures
University for their newborn child is now
close to a universal aspiration for parents
 90% of grade nine students say they want
to go to university or college
 The economy is ever-increasingly
knowledge based
 Governments are competing to up the
educational ante, and are seeking
participation rates of 50%+
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Degree Attainment Rate by Family
Income (US, 2006)
Top quartile:
Bottom quartile:
72.6%
12.3%
University Growth - Implications
1950: 5% of young people enter university.
Median student is gifted.
1970: 15-20% of young people enter
university. Median student is bright and
energized.
2007: 40% of young people enter university.
Median student is of normal ability,
attending because it’s expected.
Some Recent UK & Australian
Programs
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BEng Renewable Energy
Bachelor of Coaching Science
BA Events Management
BEng Pollution Control
BA Digital Arts
BA Recruitment
BA Professional Communication
BA Arts Management
BA Sports Tourism
BSc Security Technology
BA Sports Journalism
BSc Restoration Ecology
BSc in Business Statistics
BA Robotics
BSc Hacking Countermeasures
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BSc Mobile Computing
BSc Animation Technology
BSc Interactive Media
BA Sports Marketing
BA Adventure Recreation
BA Disaster Management
BSc Fire Safety
BSc Exercise and Nutrition
BA Moving Image Production
BA Sonic Arts
BSc Medialab Arts
Bachelor of Property
Management
BA Fundraising and Sponsorship
BA Managing a Small Business
Summary: A Vision for Maritime
Universities in the 2020s
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A university system which has ACCEPTED
the challenge of taking in 45-50% of young
people and thus provides the programs
and the pedagogy SUITED to 45-50% of
young people.
What is a University For?
Our traditional conception: universities
are, above all else, concerned with the
advancement of knowledge; gifted, bright
and highly committed students have a role
to play in this enterprise.
 The external world’s conception:
universities are, above all else, concerned
with teaching: with bringing out the best
in young people, preparing them for
effective careers and citizenship.
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The Challenge from Today’s Student
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“Students do not come to school to learn…we
come because a university education is deemed
socially and economically necessary….we have
been brainwashed into a game, whereby we
memorize vast amounts of material, regurgitate it
onto paper in a crowded room, and then forget
about it. The academic environment has trained
us to perform. Revolutionize the system! Start
now. And make society, and academia a more
productive and positive learning and living
environment.”