Universities and colleges in BC are subject to too much intrusive government regulation and micro-management. The province would benefit if these institutions had more authority to determine and revise their programs, manage their activities, and set their own fees. The current salary cap on senior personnel within universities and colleges is hindering efforts to build high quality institutions. It should be rescinded, along with the current freeze on tuition. Governments may wish to consider mandating institutions to set aside a portion of any incremental revenues from higher tuition fees to support need-based student financial aid programs, including an expanded system of grants.
Statistics indicate that the vast majority of school graduates end up working in the private sector.
Business must be a stakeholder in the process of determining how post-secondary programs can be better aligned with economic needs. Increases in productivity will require continuous upgrading of workforce skills. This has recently changed. 32 National Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Medical Research Council. 34 Question and answer session, Knowledge-Based and Advanced Technology Industry cluster, BC Business Summit, November 8, 1998.