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EDUCATION: Post-secondary, higher education receive total funding of $228 million
          (AlbertaIndex, September 5, Friday) --- Alberta’s government has set aside a total of nearly $228 million for post-secondary capital maintenance and additional places in university and higher education institutions.
          At almost $155 million, funding allocated to capital maintenance and renewal is the largest ever approved by the Alberta government to public post-secondary institutions.

Another $73 million will be invested in creating 2,447 new spaces in universities, colleges, and technical institutes across the province.

In addition, funding for 1,989 spaces will be provided to Mount Royal College and Grant MacEwan College to convert their existing university transfer and applied degree programs to bachelor’s programs.  This brings the total number of added funded spaces in 2008 to 4,436.

Post-secondary investment

Of the nearly $155-million for post-secondary investment, $82.5 million will be distributed over two years through the province’s surplus allocation policy. This will fund 26 high priority infrastructure maintenance and renewal projects at 12 post-secondary institutions.

The remaining $72.3 million will be provided in 2008-09 to all of Alberta’s public post secondary institutions through the Infrastructure Maintenance Program. More than double the investment from last year, these funds will be used to address annual maintenance and renewal needs at 21 public institutions.

“We are listening to our post-secondary institutions and working hard to provide essential support for capital maintenance and renewal in their facilities and on their campuses,” said Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology.

“With this biggest-ever investment, we are taking a chunk out of the backlog and addressing ongoing maintenance needs before they become pressing issues.”

“A well-maintained learning environment plays an important role in the success of students,” says Jack Hayden, Minister of Infrastructure. “By investing in the infrastructure of our post-secondary institutions, we are investing in the future of our students and our province.”

Expanded universities, colleges and technical institutes  

The additional spaces in the province’s higher education institutions include 1,824 in Calgary is 1,824 and 2,135 in Edmonton, which includes the new bachelor’s degree programs at Mount Royal College and Grant MacEwan College.  As capital projects are completed in the Calgary region in the coming years, they may have an opportunity to receive more post-secondary spaces than the Edmonton region.

To meet the demand and labour market needs set out in the Health Workforce Action Plan, 40 per cent of the new spaces are in the health care sector, including registered nurses, doctors, licensed practical nurses, x-ray technicians and medical laboratory technologists, among others.

This year’s funding also addresses demand and capacity issues across the province, specifically in Calgary and Edmonton.
The government said it was able to work with and fund most of the expansions institutions proposed.

Approval of proposals is based on criteria outlined in the Alberta Access Planning Framework, which includes data on labour market demand and student demand. Other factors that are considered are institutional capacity and resources, and the readiness of the program.

“Alberta’s post-secondary system continues to be responsive to the needs of our economy and the priorities of Albertans,” said Advanced Education and Technology Minister Doug Horner.

“Building a knowledge-based economy takes educated, innovative and highly-skilled people and our Campus Alberta system is taking a strong leadership role in realizing Alberta’s future.”


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