Back to school 2018 quick facts
The 1.7 million students heading to Canadian university campuses this fall will benefit from innovations in teaching and learning as well as entrepreneurship, research and cross-border opportunities – all designed to equip them to adapt to, and succeed in, our rapidly changing global knowledge economy.
Universities nurture the curiosity, resourcefulness and resilience that build a mindset for lifelong learning.
Preparing for a disrupted labour market
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50%skills shift
Half of Canadian jobs will require a major skills shift in the next 10 years as technological advancements change the way we work.
Job-ready
Major employers agree that Canadian university graduates are adaptable and equipped with the strong foundational, technical, numeracy and literacy skills needed to respond to this skills shift.
Armed against automation
While many jobs are at risk of automation in the coming decades, several studies agree that university graduates will be best able to adapt to an automated future.
The new lifelong learning reality
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87%believe in lifelong learning
Nearly 9 of 10 employed Canadians agree that lifelong learning is crucial for career success, and essential to meeting society’s and individuals’ needs.
Today's learning is hands-on
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56%benefit from hands-on learning
More than half of today’s undergraduates benefit from experiential learning – such as co-ops, internships and service learning – as part of their university education.
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100%target for work-integrated learning
Canada’s universities support access to work-integrated learning for 100% of Canadian students.
Going global
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11%study abroad
Only 11% of Canadian undergraduates undertake an international mobility experience over the course of their degree, despite the clear benefits of global study to building future skills.
A social equalizer
Global study leads to better academic success, as well as higher employment rates and salaries. This is especially true for students from less-advantaged backgrounds such as Indigenous students, first generation university students and people with disabilities.
Opportunities in emerging markets
Students who do go abroad are still overwhelmingly traveling to traditional English- or French-speaking destinations. Canada needs more students pursuing international study in emerging markets that are priorities for economic and diplomatic ties, such as Asia, Latin America and Africa
Helping Indigenous youth succeed
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55%increase in Indigenous academic programs
Since 2013 there has been a 55% increase in the number of academic programs that include an Indigenous focus or are designed for Indigenous students.
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78%offer intercultural engagement
Seventy-eight percent of universities promote intercultural engagement through cultural activities, events, talking circles and cultural competency or reconciliation training.
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˃ 51%offer Indigenous language courses
More than half of Canada’s universities now offer Indigenous language courses, and a growing number of non-language courses are offered in an Indigenous language.
Preparing business leaders
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58%of entrepreneurs have a university degree
Entrepreneurship drives Canada’s economy and 58% of Canadian entrepreneurs are university students or graduates.
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60university entrepreneurial hubs
Canadian universities are home to more than 60 business incubators, accelerators and start-up programs that help fuel Canada’s entrepreneurial economic growth.
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40%of student entrepreneurs took an entrepreneurship program
Forty percent of student/graduate entrepreneurs have taken a university entrepreneurship program or course.
