Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Directorate for Education Education Management and Infrastructure Division Programme on Institutional Management in Higher Education (IMHE) Supporting the Contribution of Higher Education Institutions to Regional Development Peer Review Report: Atlantic Canada Steve Garlick, Gordon Davies, Mario Polèse and Fumi Kitagawa The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the OECD or its Member Countries. 1 This Peer Review Report is based on the review visit to Atlantic Canada region in September 2006, the regional Self-Evaluation Report, and other background material. As a result, the report reflects the situation up to that period. The preparation and completion of this report would not have been possible without the support of many people and organisations. OECD/IMHE and the Peer Review Team for the Atlantic Canada region wish to acknowledge the substantial contribution of the region, particularly through its Coordinator, the authors of the Self-Evaluation Report, and its Regional Steering Group. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS........................................................................................................6 PREFACE .......................................................................................................................................................7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................8 1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................12 1.1 Evaluation context and approach ....................................................................................................12 1.2 The conduct of the evaluation.........................................................................................................13 1.3 Atlantic Canada – key features of the region and HEIs ..................................................................14 1.4 The structure of this report..............................................................................................................15 2. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTEXTS...................................................................................17 2.1 Atlantic Canada: overview..............................................................................................................17 2.2 Resources and transport ..................................................................................................................19 2.3 Industry-HEI relationships..............................................................................................................22 2.4 Interregional competition for resources and the lure of the West ...................................................24 2.5 Many actors: diversified and decentralised governance structures.................................................27 2.6 Summary .........................................................................................................................................31 3. THE CONTRIBUTION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING TO THE REGION’S LABOUR MARKET AND SKILLS................................................................................................................................................32 3.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................32 3.2 Pressures and tensions in the provision of teaching and learning in Atlantic Canada ....................32 3.3 Localising the work of HEIs ...........................................................................................................35 3.4 Lifelong learning.............................................................................................................................37 3.5 Regional collaboration in teaching and learning.............................................................................39 3.6 Summary .........................................................................................................................................40 4. THE CONTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH TO REGIONAL INNOVATION..........................................42 4.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................42 4.2 Research and innovation in Atlantic Canada ..................................................................................42 4.3 Institutional strategies for industry-university innovation links in Atlantic Canada.......................46 4.4 Research capacity building .............................................................................................................50 4.5 Summary .........................................................................................................................................53 5. CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT.............55 5.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................55 5.2 Social development.........................................................................................................................55 5.3 Environmental sustainability...........................................................................................................56 5.4 Cultural development......................................................................................................................57 5.5 Summary .........................................................................................................................................59 3 6. CAPACITY BUILDING........................................................................................................................60 6.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................60 6.2 “Reaching-in” goals at the institutional level..................................................................................61 6.3 “Reaching-out” goals between the institution and the region .........................................................62 6.4 Policy changes at a government level .............................................................................................63 6.5 Monitoring and evaluation ..............................................................................................................64 7. CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................65 7.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................65 7.2 Promoting greater co-operation within Atlantic Canada.................................................................65 7.3 Human capital .................................................................................................................................65 7.4 Research..........................................................................................................................................67 7.5 Innovation .......................................................................................................................................67 7.6 Structural considerations.................................................................................................................68 7.7 Social, cultural and environmental development ............................................................................69 REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................70 APPENDIX 1: THE OECD REVIEW TEAM..............................................................................................72 APPENDIX 2: REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR, REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE, AND THE AUTHORS OF THE REGIONAL SELF-EVALUATION REPORT ..........................................................73 APPENDIX 3: PROGRAMME OF THE REVIEW VISIT..........................................................................74 Tables Table 2.1 Selected Data by Province. 2001 Census ................................................................................19 Table 2.2 Location and Enrolment Data of Atlantic Canada Universities and Community Colleges.....21 Table 2.3 Science Expenditures in Atlantic Provinces............................................................................24 Figures Figure 1.1 Personal Disposal Income per Capita by Region 1992-2002 ..................................................15 Figure 2.1 Employment in High-tech Manufacturing (Total and as a % of total manufacturing employment. Urban Areas. 2001)..............................................................................................23 Figure 2.2 Net Migration Rates for University Graduates Aged 20-34 (as a % of all graduates in the province aged 20-34 in 2001) by Province. 1996-2001 ................................................25 Figure 3.1 The New Economy and the Demand for Better Educated Workers, Total Employment, Atlantic Canada by Educational Level 1992-2001....................................33 Boxes Box 2.1 L’Université de Moncton: A symbol of local cultural pride and catalyst of economic .............