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Montreal, March 17, 2011 – The Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ) is delighted that today Quebec has adopted a funding plan for Quebec universities that is stable and foreseeable for six years. The plan will reduce the funding gap between Quebec universities and those in other Canadian provinces and will give our universities the means to contribute even more to the development of Quebec society.

University funding

Under the University Funding Plan announced today by Finance Minister Raymond Bachand, Quebec universities can count on additional annual revenue that will reach $850 million in 2016-2017. Of that amount, $320 million will be increased core funding, while $530 million will be additional resources. The funding will increase progressively, starting in 2012-2013.

The cost of this reinvestment will be shared among the various groups that benefit from university education, as recommended by CREPUQ. By 2016-2017, the increase in tuition fees will bring rates back up to 1968 levels, adjusted for inflation.

CREPUQ is also pleased that the government has acted on our recommendation and created Placements Universités, a program to increase donations by individuals and business.

In addition, universities will be called upon to increase their independent sources of revenue.

“With this plan, our universities will be able to provide an education that meets the highest international standards, thereby improving the competitiveness of their graduates around the world,” noted Denis Brière, Chair of the CREPUQ Board of Directors and Rector of Université Laval.

Increased financial aid keeps education accessible

The government made it clear that the University Funding Plan should not affect access to a university education. It therefore announced a significant increase to the Loans and Bursaries Program, along with several other measures to benefit students. Thirty-five percent of the increase in tuition fees, or $118 million, will be allocated to the program and other measures.

“We are very pleased that the government has placed such importance on increasing student financial assistance, as we had recommended. It is noteworthy that so many measures have been announced to ensure that no student with the desire and ability to attend university be prevented from doing so for financial reasons. Only by adequately funding our universities and increasing financial assistance can we protect both the excellence of a university education and access to it,” added Mr. Brière.

Partnerships

Partnership agreements will be concluded between the government and each university, as proposed by CREPUQ at the Rencontre des partenaires en éducation on December 6, 2010. The agreements will be based on the following principles:

• Students are central to the mission of universities.
• The additional revenue that will be made available to universities should lead to an increase in the number of graduates and improve the quality of teaching and research.
• The development of Quebec universities is dependent on their competitive positioning in Canada and abroad.
• Sound management is characterized by transparency, efficiency and effectiveness.

“Universities are a major development asset for a society. With the plan introduced today by the government, the universities commit to continuing their efforts to provide an excellent university education, strengthen Quebec’s competitiveness in research and promote strict, transparent governance. We therefore welcome the signature of partnership agreements between the government and the universities,” noted Daniel Zizian, President and Director General of CREPUQ.

“CREPUQ thanks all those who worked so hard in recent years and particularly in recent months to promote the value of investing in our universities so that they can contribute fully to Quebec’s economic, social and cultural development,” concluded Mr. Zizian.

CREPUQ includes all 18 Quebec universities. The organization acts as their voice in relations with government and milieus concerned with university education and research. It also fosters coordination and collaboration between universities, is a research centre for university administrations, acts as a centre for coordination and joint service delivery, and is a resource centre and think tank for its members.

Source :
Chantal Pouliot, Director of Communications
Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities
514 288-8524, ext. 244
chantal.pouliot@crepuq.qc.ca