Alberta has always been a province that experiments, innovates and leads. That spirit is alive in the current work to redesign our post-secondary funding framework.
Across universities, colleges and polytechnics, presidents have been asked to help shape an approach that reflects who we are, what we contribute and where we are going. This is a time of opportunity where our institutions can find ways to differentiate the value we provide to students, industry, faculty and the economy. Alberta is leading the way, again.
A Chance to Get the Balance Right
This is not simply a technical exercise. It is a chance to get the balance right across three important dimensions: enrolment growth, community impact and base operating costs. Each matters. What is less clear, and worth thoughtful exploration, is how sensitive each dimension should be, and how we best measure what truly counts.
At MacEwan University, we are optimistic about this funding framework. We are growing. By 2030, there will be 30,000 students on our campus. More students are choosing MacEwan, drawn by excellence in instructors, programs that align to labour market demands and a meaningful transformative experience. Areas of greatest growth are in the targeted enrolment expansion programs, where the Government of Alberta has identified the need for additional student spaces to ensure the system responds to Alberta's needs.
Efficiency and Rising Costs
We are efficient. Our model, grounded in undergraduate teaching, a highly connected campus, and strong community partnerships, allows us to deliver high-quality education with comparatively low tuition. At the same time, we are attentive to base costs that are real and rising across the sector, from growing and increasingly complex student supports, to rises in labour costs, to keeping the lights on.
And we are deeply rooted. Community impact is not an abstract concept at MacEwan; it is our daily work. Our students are largely from Alberta. They learn here, train here and, in many cases, stay here. They contribute to local industries through work-integrated learning, embedded in more than 90 per cent of our programs, and they enter the workforce ready to make a difference. Many remain closely connected to the university and to each other, extending our reach well beyond graduation.
Measuring Impact in a Meaningful Way
We have almost 100,000 alumni and over 90 per cent stay in Alberta and over 80 per cent stay in Edmonton. Our graduates are Nobel Peace Prize winners, Juno Award winners, nurses, accountants, social workers, presidents and CEOs, police officers, and many more professions. They are ubiquitous throughout the province. They also create hope and joy in their communities.
The question before us is how to measure that impact in a meaningful way. Metrics matter. We can track where students come from, where graduates go, how many stay and contribute to Alberta's economy, and how deeply they are engaged in their communities and professions. We can measure participation in work-integrated learning, partnerships with industry, and alignment with labour market needs.
