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Montreal, May 10, 2012 – Following yesterday’s news story on Radio-Canada television, the Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ) feels compelled to clarify some facts regarding the way in which Quebec university operations are funded.

To begin with, there is a fundamental difference between funding for teaching activities and funding for research.

“It is important to understand that the funds allocated to teaching are well below those available to Canadian universities outside Quebec, as the government has recognized in A Fair and Balanced University Funding Plan, the document submitted as part of the 2011-2012 budget. It is estimated that Quebec universities are underfunded to the tune of $620 million, which is a shortfall of $3,100 per student,” said Luce Samoisette, Chair-Elect of the CREPUQ Board of Directors and Rector of Sherbrooke University.

As we have stated on numerous occasions, universities do not receive one budget, a portion of which is then assigned to research. Research is funded primarily by independent federal and provincial granting bodies. Research grants are awarded to teacher-researchers through a competitive process based on peer review. The amount of money committed to university research is specifically related to how competitive the researchers are. Such grants represent a very significant investment in Quebec’s knowledge economy.

Master’s and doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows benefit greatly from research grants and contracts. The funding many post-graduate students receive to help finance their studies comes from research grants. Researchers hire such students as research assistants and offer them bursaries. Cutting funding to research affects these students directly.

“Everyone acknowledges that Quebec universities are underfunded, and have been for many years. It is time for this issue to be resolved,” added Daniel Zizian, Director General of CREPUQ.

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