Ontario universities appreciate province's tough budget choices and are committed to greater efficiency

TORONTO, March 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario universities welcome the government's continued commitment to support the projected growth in student enrolment, as part of Ontario's path to continued prosperity.

Universities understand the tough choices that the Ontario government has had to make in its budget to address the challenging fiscal environment and enhance the economic future of the province.

"Universities are major contributors to the province's economic well being through the generation of ideas, technologies and discoveries as well as the education of highly skilled graduates who are vital to the workforce of today and tomorrow," says Alastair Summerlee, Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) and President of the University of Guelph.

In addition, Summerlee says that "universities continue to change and find efficiencies and we will work closely with the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities to accomplish these goals."

Ontario universities have already made significant advancements in productivity by accommodating 150,000 new students since 2000 with the lowest per student funding in Canada. At the same time, universities have improved degree completion rates and successfully prepared students for the job market: 91.7 per cent of university students are employed within six months of graduation and 93.8 per cent are employed within two years.

Collective and individual efforts to operate more efficiently in facilities and energy management, procurement, operational streamlining and technology are outlined in a report called Innovative Ideas: Improving Efficiency at Ontario Universities.

"Ontario's 21 universities also continue to make a significant economic contribution to the 35 communities in which they operate by providing talented workers for the local economy and through research efforts that impact the region, the province, the nation and indeed the world," says Bonnie Patterson, COU President and CEO.

Visit the Council of Ontario Universities website at www.cou.on.ca
Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CouncilofOntarioUniversities
Follow us on Twitter at @OntUniv

Jennifer Grass
Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs
416-979-4341 or 416-707-6787
[email protected]