Canada Needs More University Graduates

Despite record high enrolment numbers across the country, The Association of Colleges and Universities Canada (AUCC) says we need more college and university graduates.

The AUCC feel that Canada, as a nation, has to do more to attract the best minds (from home and abroad) and keep them working on Canadian soil after graduation.

“There seems to be a myth out there that we’ve got enough university grads,” said Stephen Toope, AUCC’s chair and the president of the University of British Columbia on Monday during a meeting with the Ottawa Citizen’s editorial board.

“We actually don’t in this economy. There’s a real appetite for more, and it’s only going to grow more profound over the next 10 years.”

Statistics Canada data shows that there was a net increase in new jobs for university grads between July 2008 and July 2012 of 700,000, compared with 320,000 net new jobs for college grads. Experts estimate that an additional 2.1 million jobs will be created for university graduates between now and 2020.

“If we think our economy is going to be healthy going forward without a well-educated population, we’re kidding ourselves. It is not going to happen,” said Toope.

The AUCC represents more than 90 universities and degree-granting colleges.