Report Fuelling the Surge: The University of Regina’s Role in Saskatchewan’s Growth The Conference Board of Canada July 2012 Fuelling the Surge: The University of Regina’s Role in Saskatchewan’s Growth 2 Fuelling the Surge: The University of Regina’s Role in Saskatchewan’s Growth by The Conference Board of Canada About The Conference Board of Canada We are: The foremost independent, not-for-profit, applied research organization in Canada. Objective and non-partisan. We do not lobby for specific interests. Funded exclusively through the fees we charge for services to the private and public sectors. Experts in running conferences but also at conducting, publishing, and disseminating research; helping people network; developing individual leadership skills; and building organizational capacity. Specialists in economic trends, as well as organizational performance and public policy issues. Not a government department or agency, although we are often hired to provide services for all levels of government. Independent from, but affiliated with, The Conference Board, Inc. of New York, which serves nearly 2,000 companies in 60 nations and has offices in Brussels and Hong Kong. Acknowledgements This report was prepared under the direction of Diana MacKay, Director, Education, Health and Immigration. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Organizational Effectiveness and Learning provided strategic advice and oversight. The primary author was Jessica Brichta. Michael Bloom, Caitlin Charman, Ryan Godfrey, Michael Grant, and Diana MacKay made Conference Board staff contributions to the report. Marie-Christine Bernard, Michael Burt, Donna Burnett-Vachon, Len Coad, Mario Lefebvre, Dan Munro, Matthew Stewart, Hitomi Suzuta, and Douglas Watt conducted internal Conference Board reviews. The report benefitted from the participation of more than 30 key informant interviews with experts and stakeholders. Approximately 1,500 University of Regina students participated in a survey. The University‘s senior administrative team provided valuable literature, data, and insights on our research questions. We extended our thanks to all of the individuals who gave generously of their time and knowledge. The Conference Board extends special thanks to the following external reviewers for providing feedback: Dr. Andrea Rounce, Assistant Professor, Chair of the Joint Masters of Public Administration Program, and Campus Director, University of Manitoba; and Larry Hiles, President and CEO of the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission. The University of Regina provided financial support for the report. Any errors or omissions in fact or interpretation remain the responsibility of the Conference Board. Fuelling the Surge: The University of Regina’s Role in Saskatchewan’s Growth i Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING AND ASSESSING THE UNIVERSITY’S IMPACT ................................... 1 The Dynamics That Surround the University’s Seven Major Roles.......................................................................... 1 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Research Methodology .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Understanding the Impact of a University ................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER 2: THE UNIVERSITY IS WELL POSITIONED FOR SASKATCHEWAN’S SURGE ................. 5 Harnessing Saskatchewan’s Storied History ............................................................................................................. 5 Benefiting From and Contributing to Saskatchewan’s Success ................................................................................ 7 The University's Vital Relationship With the City of Regina................................................................................ ...11 CHAPTER 3: THE UNIVERSITY AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE..................................................................... 12 The University as an Economic Enterprise ............................................................................................................. 13 Impacts Associated With University Spending ...................................................................................................... 14 Out-of-Province Visitor Spending ........................................................................................................................... 19 Current Spending Impact ......................................................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 4: THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF EDUCATING SKILLED GRADUATES TO MEET SASKATCHEWAN’S NEEDS ................................................................................................................................. 22 Meeting Saskatchewan’s Need for Skilled Graduates ............................................................................................. 22 Developing Human Capital Is Good for the Economy ............................................................................................ 25 Estimating the Economic Impact of Graduates ....................................................................................................... 25 Beyond the Economic Impact—Immeasurable Social Good .................................................................................. 28 Means for Increasing Student Enrolment to Meet Demand .................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 5: THE UNIVERSITY AS A DRIVER OF KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION ........................ 30 A Centre of Learning and Discovery ....................................................................................................................... 30 The Value of Research and Global Collaborations...................................................................................................31 Commercial Ventures and Partnerships .................................................................................................................. 37 CHAPTER 6: THE UNIVERSITY IS INTEGRAL TO COMMUNITY AND CULTURE ............................... 41 Valuing Cultural Industries ..................................................................................................................................... 41 Sharing Arts and Culture With the Broader Community ........................................................................................ 43 Advancing Social Policy ......................................................................................................................................... 47 Supporting Events and Organizations in the Broader Community .......................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 7: THE UNIVERSITY AS A LEADERSHIP CAPACITY BUILDER ............................................ 53 Outstanding Alumni Leadership .............................................................................................................................. 54 Transforming the Public Service Sector .................................................................................................................. 60 Building Educational Capacity at Home and Around the World ............................................................................ 64 CHAPTER 8: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ..................................................................................... 66 Achievements and Impacts ...................................................................................................................................... 66 Key Findings and Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 68 Case Study 1: Building Leadership Capacity at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy ............ 77 Case Study 2: Becoming a World Leader in Carbon Capture and Storage Technology and Development ............ 84 Case Study 3: Creating a Hub of Health Innovation ............................................................................................... 88 Case Study 4: Promoting Humanities Research ...................................................................................................... 91 Case Study 5: Increasing Aboriginal Engagement .................................................................................................. 95 Case Study 6: Improving Educational Outcomes .................................................................................................. 101 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................................... 110 INTERVIEWS ......................................................................................................................................................... 124 Fuelling the Surge: The University of Regina’s Role in Saskatchewan’s Growth ii Executive Summary The University of Regina plays a vital role as a driver of economic, social, and cultural well- being. This report explores the impact of the University. It takes a broad lens and considers both the quantifiable and non-quantifiable dimensions of the University‘s: 1) day-to-day operations (including the University‘s