Universities for the 21 st Century - Nolens Volens

1. Universities for the 21st Century - NolensVolens Strategic Options in a Changing Enrolment Landscape, MPHEC, Feb 12 2008

2. Assertion The coming 20-year demographic crunch is the best thing that can happen to Maritime universities. It will force them to think deeply about what a 21st century university must be, and make them implement long-needed and essential changes. As a result they will emerge by 2026 undiminished in size and immeasurably stronger.

3. The Demographic Crunch Between 2006 and 2026, the number of young people (19-24) will reduce by: 39.7% in Newfoundland 30.6% in New Brunswick 23.9% in Nova Scotia 22.5% in Prince Edward Island

4. The Alleged Participation Rate • AUCC: the participation rate for young adults (18-21) is 23.1%, so can easily rise. • How is it calculated?

5. True Young Adult Participation Rate • StatsCan has confirmed that the true Young Adult participation rate is now 40% (and closer to 50% for young women.) • Is this above saturation rate?

6. Effect by 2026 of Reduced Cohort Combined with Reduced Participation Newfoundland: decline of 55% New Brunswick: decline of 48% Nova Scotia: decline of 43% Prince Edward Island: decline of 42%

7. Cultural Pressures • University for their newborn child is now close to a universal aspiration for parents • 90% of grade nine students say they want to go to university or college • The economy is ever-increasingly knowledge based • Governments are competing to up the educational ante, and are seeking participation rates of 50%+

8. Degree Attainment Rate by Family Income (US, 2006) Top quartile: 72.6% Bottom quartile: 12.3%

9. University Growth - Implications 1950: 5% of young people enter university. Median student is gifted. 1970: 15-20% of young people enter university. Median student is bright and energized. 2007: 40% of young people enter university. Median student is of normal ability, attending because it’s expected.

10. Some Recent UK & Australian Programs • BEng Renewable Energy • Bachelor of Coaching Science • BA Events Management • BEng Pollution Control • BA Digital Arts • BA Recruitment • BA Professional Communication • BA Arts Management • BA Sports Tourism • BSc Security Technology • BA Sports Journalism • BSc Restoration Ecology • BSc in Business Statistics • BA Robotics • BSc Hacking Countermeasures • BSc Mobile Computing • BSc Animation Technology • BSc Interactive Media • BA Sports Marketing • BA Adventure Recreation • BA Disaster Management • BSc Fire Safety • BSc Exercise and Nutrition • BA Moving Image Production • BA Sonic Arts • BScMedialab Arts • Bachelor of Property Management • BA Fundraising and Sponsorship • BA Managing a Small Business

11. Summary: A Vision for Maritime Universities in the 2020s • A university system which has accepted the challenge of taking in 45-50% of young people and thus provides the programs and the pedagogy suited to 45-50% of young people.

12. What is a University For? • Our traditional conception: universities are, above all else, concerned with the advancement of knowledge; gifted, bright and highly committed students have a role to play in this enterprise. • The external world’s conception: universities are, above all else, concerned with teaching: with bringing out the best in young people, preparing them for effective careers and citizenship.

13. The Challenge from Today’s Student • “Students do not come to school to learn…we come because a university education is deemed socially and economically necessary….we have been brainwashed into a game, whereby we memorize vast amounts of material, regurgitate it onto paper in a crowded room, and then forget about it. The academic environment has trained us to perform. Revolutionize the system! Start now. And make society, and academia a more productive and positive learning and living environment.”