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Pay InvoicePress Release - August 26, 2010
Chamber ponders the value of an education
August 26, 2010 - Halifax, NS – In the heat of the economic planning season and with the imminent release of the Government’s requested report on Nova Scotia’s universities prepared by Dr. Tim O’Neil, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce has been doing some thinking about our institutes of higher learning. “One cannot help but notice that at every level of economic planning, whether its purpose is to overcome the demographic challenges facing Atlantic Canada or to increase productivity through innovation, the attention keeps being drawn to the importance of universities,” ponders the Chamber President Valerie Payn.
The O’Neil report was commissioned in early January 2010 by Premier Dexter. O’Neil will examine the demographic trends and financial situation facing post-secondary education and assess the impact on the long-term viability of the university system.
O’Neil’s report will look exclusively at Nova Scotia’s university system and will not focus on other post- secondary institutions.
“Over the last few years community leaders have gotten very used to paying tribute to the innovative working initiatives that the Nova Scotia Community College has made in working with the community and business to produce programs and graduates that are exactly what employers want for new hires and exactly what new industries need to be competitive on a global scale,” says Payn. “The O’Neil report appears to be focusing on the university sector, and that being said, we can’t forget that it is our universities that have put us on the global map and keep us at the forefront of the knowledge economy.”
“If one is a believer of the creative class/knowledge economy theories of economic development then the abundance of world-class universities in Nova Scotia and particularly concentrated in Halifax should put us in a very enviable position and it does,” adds Payn. “This is as true of the exceptional creativity that is spawned from NSCAD as it is from the life sciences cluster centered around Dalhousie.”
Nova Scotia, often referred to as Canada’s Education Province, is home to 11 universities, Acadia University, Atlantic School of Theology, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University, University of King's College, Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, NSCAD University, St. Francis Xavier University, Saint Mary's University, and Université Sainte-Anne.
“We should also not forget that whether they produce graduates, research or canned beans they are major employer, a major contributor to our economy and a significant influencer of our culture and quality of life.”
In a 2006 report prepared by Gardner Pinfold for the Association of Atlantic Universities it was reported that Nova Scotia’s universities contributed almost $1 billion annually of the provinces GDP creating employment opportunities for more than 10,000 people, many of them prized knowledge workers. It is also reported that in 2004 universities spend over $1 billion between operating and capital expenditures and an amazing $194 million coming from expenditures by students and their visitors.
The O’Neil report is expected to be released in September 2010 and the Chamber is optimistic that the report will put forth policy options that will help ensure the future of Nova Scotia’s university system is a sustainable one.
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For more information contact:
Janet Creamer
Communications Manager
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
(902) 481-1240
cell: 499-6494
janet@halifaxchamber.com
