PARTNERING FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR ONTARIO Full Report 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message from the Presidents of Ontario’s Universities 01 1. Introduction 03 Summary of Our Commitments and Recommendations 05 2. Moving Forward Together 09 2.1. A Year of Listening 10 2.2. Partnering to Help Students Thrive 12 Helping Strengthen Ontario’s Talent Pipeline 12 Supporting Ontarians in Accessing a University Education 16 Offering Full and Robust Supports to Students Throughout Their Studies 19 2.3. Partnering to Support Our Communities 22 Building a Better Future Through Research and Innovation 22 Ensuring a Healthy Future for all Ontarians 26 Strengthening Communities Across the Province 28 2.4. Partnering to Drive a Growing, Dynamic Province 31 Driving Economic Development and an Entrepreneurial Culture 31 Creating a Sustainable and Prosperous Future 35 Conclusion 38 Appendices: What We Heard From Ontarians 40 a. Adaptable Skills and Experience: 40 What Ontarians Said About Jobs and the Economy b. Broad and Impactful Research: 45 What Ontarians Said About Research and Innovation c. A Sustainable and Prosperous Future: 48 What Ontarians Said About the Environment d. A Society and Economy That Works for All Ontarians: 50 What Ontarians Said About Diversity and Access e. A Comprehensive Approach to Care: 53 What Ontarians Said About Health Care f. Vibrant Communities and Strong Regional Economies: 55 What Ontarians Said About Community Development A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTS OF ONTARIO’S UNIVERSITIES 01 OVER THE LAST YEAR, ONTARIO’S UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ONTARIANS ABOUT THE FUTURE. Through our survey, a series of roundtables, and at several conferences, many thousands of Ontarians have shared their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the province, and the hopes and concerns they have as they look to the future. In all, we reached more than half a million Ontarians through social media, our newsletters, and events like the Ontario Universities’ Fair. More than 30,000 visitors came to the Ontario’s Universities website to join the conversation, and more than 6,390 people took our online survey. We held or attended several dozen roundtables, consultations and conferences, hearing in the process from more than 1,000 business, government, and community leaders. On top of that, we spoke to experts and reviewed the latest research and reports to understand where the world is heading and how Ontarians will be affected. The insights and perspectives we collected were diverse, thoughtful and incisive. We are pleased to share them with you, and to outline how we plan to work with Ontarians to turn them into action. More than anything, Ontarians spoke about the need for the province to come together to build a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future. Ontario’s universities share the same conviction and are strongly committed to working in partnership with all Ontarians to help bring this vision for a better future to life. We hope you will join us on the journey – and keep the conversation going for years to come. — The Presidents of Ontario’s Universities 02 #FUTURING A Year of Listening As part of our listening 36,000+ 6,394 1,000+ campaign, #futuring, Visitors to the Ontario’s Universities People who completed Business, government we asked Ontarians to tell website: ontariosuniversities.ca our online survey and community leaders at us their hopes, concerns, round-tables, community ideas and aspirations breakfasts, consultations, for the province. conferences, and meetings We engaged with: 130,000+ 13,10 0+ Students, parents and educa- People who engaged with tors who attended the Ontario Ontario’s Universities on Universities’ Fair social media Visitors to the 2016 Ontario Universities’ Fair take part in the #futuring initiative. INTRODUCTION 03 INTRODUCTION Principles Ontarians The world is changing at Over the past year, Ontario’s universities Emphasized have carried out an extensive listening initia- a rapid pace: Our present tive, #futuring, reaching out and engaging with Partner up: tens of thousands of Ontarians who told us Ontario’s challenges is constantly evolving, and cannot be overcome their hopes for the future, what keeps them up by any one person, our future seems both at night, what issues our leaders need to focus organization or sector. glowing with opportunity on, and how universities can make valuable Employers of all contributions to a brighter future. sizes, universities, colleges, service and challenged by We wanted straight talk from Ontarians providers, government, unpredictable disruptions. on our role in producing graduates who are policymakers, and ready to make immediate and valuable con- hospitals all need to Ontarians see the world transforming around tributions to the province; on our relationship work together to create holistic solutions that them. They want the knowledge that will allow with communities; on our role in research and work for everyone in them to master new technologies, the skills innovation; and on the wider economic and our society. We need a that will help them thrive in the jobs of today social challenges that we believe we can help society of partners, not a and tomorrow, and the modern services that the province meet. society of silos. will advance society and improve their lives, We received these kinds of thought- Think big picture: their community, and the planet. provoking insights through a far-reaching online The broad and multi- Imagine a world where a wrist watch can survey, via social media conversations, at a faceted challenges that detect cancer in the body, where cars drive series of roundtables with leading thinkers from lie ahead for Ontario will require equally broad and themselves, and where new clean tech- every sector, and from thousands of students multi-faceted solutions. nologies have preserved our natural world and parents at the Ontario Universities’ Fair. To thrive in tomorrow’s while creating jobs and economic prosperity. So what did we learn? world we need to see Ontario’s universities are helping develop The overriding message is that Ontarians our opportunities and challenges as such life-changing discoveries – knowing that are optimistic about the future. They are excit- intertwined, and we need we must also help reimagine the skills and ed about the positive changes technology can to think imaginatively and technologies that citizens will need to thrive in bring, and about the ability of future genera- boldly to best seize and a world being transformed by automation and tions to contribute to a thriving province. They confront them. machine learning. believe Ontario’s biggest strength is its people When society undergoes such a metamor- and its talent. They love the province’s diversi- phosis, institutions of all kinds need to come ty and inclusiveness and believe it’s an advan- together and dream big − implementing the tage it can build upon. innovative ideas that drive success. University At the same time, they are concerned about research and expertise has played an import- how the province will tackle the substantial ant role in Ontario and Canada’s progress and economic and social challenges that lie ahead, prosperity for more than 150 years; and today’s including adapting to the technologies that disruptions will call for new, exciting solutions threaten job security, ensuring the health-care that extend beyond campus walls and run deep system remains robust and ready for an aging into the soil that helps farmers feed us, the population, and confronting the dangers of transit tracks that keep us moving, the factory climate change. They also expect a just society floors that help us prosper and the hospital where Aboriginal communities and all low- wards that save our lives. income or disadvantaged groups have equal access to the same hope and opportunity. 04 INTRODUCTION In the face of such challenges, they look Supporting our communities. for Ontario’s decision-makers to think big on We are committed to helping enhance the solutions that will help citizens be ready for quality of life for Ontarians through our research tomorrow. Above all, Ontarians want policies and local partnerships in areas such as health and decisions to be based on partnerships; care, the aging population, municipal services, they expect institutions such as universities, infrastructure, transit and arts and culture. colleges, and hospitals to work hand in hand with governments, business, planners and Driving a growing, dynamic province. other stakeholders to create solutions that We are committed to helping our economy benefit everyone. grow by educating the talented graduates They want a society of partners, not a that employers need to be competitive here society of silos. and abroad; supporting entrepreneurism and As well as secure jobs, Ontarians want innovation; attracting the best talent to Ontario to strengthen their communities by building from around the world; and contributing to the robust and flexible health care, cutting-edge clean technologies and low-carbon practices businesses, and enriching cultural experienc- to help promote sustainable growth. es that are pivotal to ensuring we can all lead fulfilling lives from kindergarten through to our This report details how Ontario’s universities senior years. are ready to work with partners across the pri- We think these opinions and suggestions vate and public sectors to achieve these three provide an inspirational blueprint for Ontario’s important goals. future. We believe