POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FUNDING
For years, post-secondary institutions have indicated that without the ability to increase tuition and a lack of adequate provincial funding, they are struggling to make ends meet and compete with other jurisdictions.
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce believes that having world-class, quality post-secondary facilities is critical to our community, and the funding issue must be addressed because the current funding formula is contributing to an ongoing decline in institutions.
As part of its policy process, The Chamber invited representatives from the three major post-secondary institutions in the province (University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg and Red River College) to provide a greater understanding of the financial challenges they currently face.
In examining the issue of post-secondary education funding, the task force focused on three areas:
- The government's current tuition freeze policy
- The need for long-term funding agreements for post-secondary education
- The role of the private sector in funding education in Manitoba
Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Recommendations:
- Provide adequate and sustainable provincial funding to Manitoba post-secondary institutions to ensure they are able to deliver a world-class education
- Address the funding shortfall in the short-term by gradually phasing out the tuition freeze policy in favour of measures such as loans and bursaries
- Establish a task force to examine and identify the challenges, such as funding, faced by post-secondary education in the province
- Develop a stronger relationship between the private sector and post-secondary institutions to address the funding issue as well as challenges facing the business community
Adopted by The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce board of directors, June 2006