Provincial quality assurance systems
Each Canadian province has its own established system of higher education quality assurance. These systems may be managed by an organization representing universities, an agency, a provincial government, or a combination of actors. While the approaches differ, provincial quality assurance systems generally review programs to ensure the quality of degrees offered, monitor the frequency and efficacy of institutional reviews, and/or set guidelines to audit existing programs.
Information on quality assurance systems in each province
Alberta
Higher education in Alberta falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Innovation and Advanced Education.
In 2007, Alberta released a Roles and Mandates Policy Framework, with a six sector model that provides clarity on the role of each institution and its degree or diploma-granting powers.
The six sectors are:
- comprehensive academic and research institutions
- baccalaureate and applied studies institutions
- polytechnic institutions
- comprehensive community institutions
- independent academic institutions
- specialized arts and culture institutions
The quality of academic programs is maintained and enhanced in Alberta’s universities through internal program reviews and new program proposal review procedures. All new degree granting programs, with the exception of divinity programs, are reviewed and approved by the Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education.
The Campus Alberta Quality Council provides an external quality assurance review. It is mandated to conduct quality reviews of new degree program proposals and to monitor them once approved to ensure they continue to meet high standards of quality. The council is an arm’s length quality assurance agency, established through the Post-Secondary Learning Act. Its members are appointed by the Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education. Applications from universities seeking to offer new degree programs are reviewed by the council based on established standards. The council then makes a recommendation to the Minister.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
British Columbia
Higher education in British Columbia falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Advanced Education.
The 1996 University Act gives universities the power to issue degrees and establishes the institutional structure of universities in British Columbia.
Quality is maintained and enhanced in British Columbia’s universities through internal academic program reviews. This process includes a mandatory review of all new and substantively revised programs by each university senate. Public universities annually report their quality assurance activities for new and existing programs to the Minister of Advanced Education.
The external review of university quality assurance processes is done by the Degree Quality Assessment Board, an independent body appointed by the Minister and established through the Degree Authorization Act. Following the internal review by the university’s senate, the Board performs a second review to ensure that new degree programs and substantially revised degree programs meet consistent and high quality criteria.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
Manitoba
Higher education in Manitoba falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Advanced Education. The use of the term “university” is authorized by the Degree Granting Act of 2006.
The quality of university academic programs in Manitoba is ensured through each institution’s own internal program review processes and internal governing bodies.
The Council on Post-Secondary Education (COPSE) was dissolved in January 2015, and replaced with the Advanced Education Advisory Committee given authority through Bill 63: The Advanced Education Administration Amendment and Council on Post-Secondary Education Repeal Act which received royal assent in June, 2014.
The minister responsible for The Advanced Education Administration Act is also given authority to approve all changes to programs of study, services or facilities proposed by a university or college. In approving new programs, the minister is required to consider credit transfer arrangements, quality assurance processes and procedures and other relevant factors. Regulations may be made that exclude prescribed changes from requiring ministerial approval.
The advanced education advisory committee is established to give the minister advice on improving the post-secondary education and advanced learning system.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
New Brunswick
Higher education in New Brunswick falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.
The 2001 New Brunswick Degree Granting Act established a framework to evaluate the quality of programs leading to a degree. Under the Act, universities must submit program proposals prior to designation and every five years following designation. Universities that were created by an Act of the New Brunswick Legislature prior to the implementation of the Degree Granting Act are exempt.
Quality is maintained and improved in New Brunswick’s universities through internal policies and procedures for program review and self-study.
The external review of quality assurance in all publicly funded universities in the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) is done by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC). The MPHEC is an arm’s length organization accountable to the ministers responsible for postsecondary education in the Maritime provinces, which assists institutions and governments in enhancing the postsecondary learning environment.
The MPHEC reviews universities’ internal quality assurance activities including:
- new university program proposals
- modifications to programs
- programs being considered for termination
- collaborative programs such as international, joint and technology mediated programs.
In doing so, the Commission uses the Maritime Degree Level Qualifications Framework to ensure common structures and outcomes for academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate degree level within the Maritime provinces. The MPHEC also assesses institutional quality assurance policies and procedures to: (1) confirm that Maritime universities are reviewing their programs and services on an ongoing basis and (2) validate that their approaches are focused on students and learning.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Higher education in Newfoundland and Labrador falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills.
The 1990 Memorial University Act establishes Newfoundland and Labrador’s one university, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Quality is maintained and improved at Memorial University through a program review process for new programs, with final program approval laying with the University Senate. The quality of existing university programs is assessed through an internal process of self-study and review.
The university’s quality assurance processes are reviewed externally when Memorial University’s Board of Regents reports annually to the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills. The report is tabled in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador legislature.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
Nova Scotia
Higher education in Nova Scotia falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Labour and Advanced Education. Quality is maintained and improved in Nova Scotia’s universities through internal policy and procedures for program review and self-study. The 1989 Nova Scotia Degree Granting Act grants the Minister the authority to create regulations to ensure the quality of programs, instructors, facilities and academic standards of an institution.
The external review of quality assurance in all publicly funded universities in the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) is done by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC). The MPHEC is an arm’s length organization accountable to the ministers responsible for postsecondary education in the Maritime provinces, which assists institutions and governments in enhancing the postsecondary learning environment.
The MPHEC reviews universities’ internal quality assurance activities including:
- new university program proposals
- modifications to programs
- programs being considered for termination
- collaborative programs such as international, joint and technology mediated programs
In doing so, the Commission uses the Maritime Degree Level Qualifications Framework to ensure common structures and outcomes for academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate degree level within the Maritime provinces. The MPHEC also assesses institutional quality assurance policies and procedures to: (1) confirm that Maritime universities are reviewing their programs and services on an ongoing basis and (2) validate that their approaches are focused on students and learning.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
Ontario
Higher education in Ontario falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
The rigorous quality of Ontario’s publicly assisted university undergraduate and graduate university programs is ensured through a combination of each university’s institutional quality assurance processes and an external review of these processes, as set out in Ontario’s Quality Assurance Framework.
An independent body, the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance (the Quality Council), is responsible for approving all new undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the publicly assisted universities. All new program proposals are also subject to external review by disciplinary experts prior to program approval. The Quality Council also audits each university’s quality assurance processes on an eight-year cycle to ensure that each university is operating in conformity with Ontario’s Quality Assurance Framework when it is reviewing or modifying its existing programs. All programs are reviewed against Degree Level Expectations and all must identify learning outcomes and how their achievement will be assessed in undergraduate and graduate programs. The Quality Council communicates its decisions to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Public or private degree-granting organizations, either for-profit or non-profit, which are based outside the province and offer all or part of a degree program in Ontario, must apply for ministerial consent through the Post-Secondary Education Quality Assessment Board , an arms-length organization which makes recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, under the terms of the Post-Secondary Education Choice and Excellent Act, 2000. Ministerial consent is also required by all private organizations and by public organizations not empowered to grant degrees by Ontario statute, and to use the word “university” relating to an educational institution.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
Prince Edward Island
Higher education in Prince Edward Island falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning.
The 1969 University Act establishes PEI’s only university, the University of Prince Edward Island. Quality is maintained and improved at the University of Prince Edward Island through internal review and self-study policies and procedures.
The external review of quality assurance in all publicly funded universities in the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) is done by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC). The MPHEC is an arm’s length organization accountable to the ministers responsible for postsecondary education in the Maritime provinces, which assists institutions and governments in enhancing the postsecondary learning environment.
The MPHEC reviews universities’ internal quality assurance activities including:
- new university program proposals
- modifications to programs
- programs being considered for termination
- collaborative programs such as international, joint and technology mediated programs
In doing so, the Commission uses the Maritime Degree Level Qualifications Framework to ensure common structures and outcomes for academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate degree level within the Maritime provinces. The MPHEC also assesses institutional quality assurance policies and procedures to: (1) confirm that Maritime universities are reviewing their programs and services on an ongoing basis and (2) validate that their approaches are focused on students and learning.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
Quebec
Higher education in Quebec falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research.
The quality of university academic programs in Quebec is ensured through each institution’s own internal program review processes.
External quality assurance for Quebec’s universities is managed by the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire; university program assessment policies are reviewed by the Program Evaluation Review Commission.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
Saskatchewan
Higher education in Saskatchewan falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Advanced Education.
Individual provincial statues established the University of Regina in 1979 and the University of Saskatchewan in 1995 and outline the authority of each institution to govern itself and grant degrees.
In accordance with the new legislation, the Ministry of Advanced Education established the Saskatchewan Higher Education Quality Assurance Board (SHEQAB). SHEQAB is authorized by The Degree Authorization Act to oversee a quality assurance review of institutions seeking degree-granting status in Saskatchewan. The quality assurance review process ensures that new degree programs in Saskatchewan meet high quality standards that promote the recognition of Saskatchewan graduates both nationally and internationally for their academic achievements.
Many public universities also undergo accreditation at the program level by various provincial, national and international program accreditation agencies.
