Back to school 2015: Over one million undergrads returning to campus

August 6, 2015
News
twitter icon facebook icon
Media release

Canada’s universities preparing students for academic success, rewarding careers

OTTAWA – In the coming weeks more than a million undergraduate students are set to arrive on Canadian university campuses. Innovative learning opportunities will prepare them to hit the ground running after graduation.

Universities Canada is happy to provide journalists with data and interview opportunities related to the start of the new academic year. Learn how universities are nurturing Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurs, leading reconciliation efforts and preparing students for rewarding careers.

Some points of interest:

  • Today’s students are more connected than ever before to the world outside the classroom.  More than half of undergraduate students across all disciplines will take part in at least one internship, service learning or co-op experience, before graduation. (Source: Canadian University Survey Consortium, Graduating University Student Survey).
  • Between June 2008 and June 2015, about twice as many new net jobs were created for university graduates (1,065,000) than for college and trades graduates combined 620,000). (Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey).
  • Over their careers, university graduates earn on average 50 percent more than other full-time workers without a university degree. (Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey).
  • Ninety-seven percent of Canadian universities offer international experiences to students, including academic course work, service or volunteer opportunities, and research experience. (Source: Universities Canada Internationalization Survey).
  • Canada’s universities are committed to improving First Nations, Métis and Inuit students’ access and success in higher education. Canadian universities offer hundreds of programs designed to support Indigenous student achievement, with more than one-third offered off campus. (Universities Canada Aboriginal programs directory www.universitystudy.ca/indigenous-students).

Interview opportunities:

Universities Canada president Paul Davidson is available for media interviews related to the experiences and opportunities in store for students headed to university campuses this fall.

-30-

About Universities Canada
Universities Canada is the voice of Canada’s universities at home and abroad, advancing higher education, research and innovation for the benefit of all Canadians.

Media contact:

Lisa Wallace
Assistant Director, Communications
Universities Canada
[email protected]

Tagged:  Co-ops and internships, Indigenous education, Study abroad

← Previous
Why the liberal arts are vital to our prosperity
Next →
Universities Canada welcomes research excellence funding

Related news

Universities Canada