Agenda University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB FEBRUARY 6

QUALITY NETWORK FOR UNIVERSITIES

Agenda University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB FEBRUARY 6 – 7, 2014

This meeting focuses on two major themes: 1. Universities and their host cities. Participants will explore the state of awareness in Canada – among federal, provincial, and municipal government officials, business leaders, and universities themselves – regarding the role of higher education institutions (including all their parts) in driving the economic, social, and cultural well-being of the communities in which they operate. 2. Learner mobility and credit transfer. Participants will discuss best practices, strategies, and opportunities for enhanced student mobility. The meeting will also provide QNU members with an update on the Conference Board’s Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education.

Meeting Location: Glacier Room, 1-047 Lister Centre, University of Alberta. Visitor Parking: Lot M Hotel: Metterra Hotel, 10454 82 Ave, Edmonton, AB (780-465-8150)

Wednesday February 5, 2014 5:00 p.m. Optional pre-meeting dinner hosted by Carl and Ellen Amrhein at their home. Participants are to meet in the Metterra Hotel lobby at 5:00 p.m. to travel as a group, or can proceed independently. The address is 14704 41 Avenue NW, Edmonton. Telephone: 780-989-1108.

Thursday February 6, 2014 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Breakfast at hotel

8:00 a.m. Meet in the hotel lobby for departure

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Welcome and Agenda Overview

Carl Amrhein Provost and Vice President (Academic), University of Alberta Special Executive Advisor, Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education The Conference Board of Canada

Diana MacKay Director, Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education The Conference Board of Canada

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Opening Roundtable

QNU members are invited to present thoughts on the following questions:

 What is an example of a public discussion involving your university that has positioned your institution in a positive light with local government or business? What deliberate strategy or errant spark initiated that discussion?  On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is low and 10 is high, how engaged is your institution in your host community?  Who “owns” the conversation in your community regarding the contributions your university makes to the local economy and society? Why?  What are some systematic and individual challenges? (You are invited to identify points of pain, stories of experience, concepts worth testing, promising solutions, and opportunities for collaboration.)

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 – 12:00 p.m. Universities and Their Host Cities: Local and Global Perspectives

This session explores the issues from the viewpoint of key stakeholder groups – municipal government, business, and academia.

Panel Chair:

Rob Shields H.M. Tory Chair and Professor (On Sabbatical), University of Alberta

Panellists:

Sandeep Agrawal Director, Professor and Director, Planning Program, University of Alberta

Gary Klassen General Manager, City of Edmonton

Simon O’Byrne Vice-President, Stantec

Christian Schröder Vice-President (Research), University of Applied Sciences Bielefeld

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Should Canada Build Knowledge Cities?

Participants are invited to reflect on:  The article in SaskBusiness on creating knowledge cities (handout)  What non-Canadian cities, are leading examples of knowledge cities and why?  Which cities in Canada are ideally positioned to lead in the creation of a knowledge city that is a result of a deliberate partnership between the city/region and its PSE institutions?

Panel Chair:

Carl Amrhein Provost and Vice President (Academic), University of Alberta Special Executive Advisor, Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education

Edmonton Case

Don Iveson Mayor, City of Edmonton

Stephen Mandel Former Mayor, City of Edmonton

Regina Case

Glen Davies City Manager, City of Regina

Thomas Chase Provost and Vice-President, Academic, University of Regina

3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Roundtable Discussion

QNU members are invited to:  Dialogue with tomorrow’s workshop presenters  Share their insights and take-away messages from the panel discussion;  Develop recommendations for action by the Conference Board on research and/or communications;

Carl Amrhein and Rob Shields will kick off the discussion.

4:30 – 5:45 p.m. Free Time

5:45 p.m. Meet in the hotel lobby to travel as a group to the restaurant (approx 5 minutes) Location: Von’s Steak House and Oyster Bar 10309 81 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta. Telephone: 780-439-0041

6:00 p.m. Reception: A Panel Discussion on Credit Transfer and Assessment

Barriers to learner mobility present a challenge to Canadian PSE institutions as well as the governments, students, and businesses that operate within increasingly dynamic local and global economies. Other jurisdictions have made progress. In Canada too, initiatives are underway to develop effective credit transfer systems, including collaboration between the Pan-Canadian Consortium on Admissions and Transfer and the Association of Registrars of Universities and Colleges in Canada to develop a National Transcript and Transfer Standards Guide. The evening program will focus on how best to accelerate a pan- Canadian system that effectively supports learner mobility.

Chair:

Rhonda Lenton Vice-President Academic and Provost, York University

Panellists:

Robert Fleming Executive Director and Co-Chair, British Columbia Council on Admissions & Transfer

Robin Fisher Former Provost and Vice President Academic, Mount Royal University

7:00 p.m. Dinner: Table Discussions

8:30 p.m. Dessert: Reflections and Next Steps

Rhonda Lenton will invite reflections on the dinner discussions and present closing remarks that summarize agreed next steps.

Friday February 7, 2014 7: 30 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at hotel

8:30 a.m. Meet in the hotel lobby for departure

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Workshop: The Relationship between Industries, Universities, and Cities.

This workshop explores how industry-academic partnerships help universities contribute to the economic and social spheres of their host cities.

Chris Lumb CEO, TEC Edmonton

Rob Shields H.M. Tory Chair and Professor (on Sabbatical), University of Alberta

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Break

11:15 – 12:30 p.m. Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education

Carl Amrhein and Diana MacKay will provide an update on the research and initiatives of the Centre. A roundtable discussion will engage QNU members in the main research themes of the Centre: - A Skills and PSE Strategy for Canada – a holistic approach to Skills and PSE in Canada. - The Impact of Canada’s Skills and PSE systems – a measurement of the strategic importance of employment, productivity, innovation, economic growth, and competitiveness. - Skills and Learning Pathways Planning Tool – a road map of the network of skills and learning pathways available to learners.

12:30 p.m. Meeting Adjourned