In October, the six universities making up membership in The Research Universities’ Council of BC made a submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

The document and initiative is called the Opportunity Agenda for BC and contains proposals and reasons why the provincial government must spend more money on university eduction in BC if the province is to remain competitive, a leader, and innovator. READ THE PDF

Following is an open letter to the TRU community from Alan Shaver, TRU President and Vice-Chancellor.

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Dear TRU Community,

Last week, I and the other presidents of BC’s six research universities released “Opportunity Agenda for BC”—a practical plan to expand post-secondary opportunities for young people, close the skills gap, and create jobs throughout British Columbia.

I joined the other presidents in Vancouver to bring awareness to the presentation Research University Council of BC made to the BC Legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Finance in Victoria on Oct. 18.

A screen capture of one of the proposals contained in the Opportunity Agenda for BC.

The “Opportunity Agenda” is about supporting students and meeting the competitive needs of BC’s economy now and for the future. An increasingly global economy requires that British Columbians have the right education and the right skills to be successful.

While we are working with the province on many files, and they have been a valuable partner in various core priorities, I believe we can do more.

At TRU we are prepared but not funded to do more to close the skills gap and create jobs.

Our current government grant limits our ability to open more trades seats, leaving us unable to meet the growing demand for trades training in this region.

We do not yet receive government funding for any of our graduate student spaces, yet new research drives innovation. By expanding the system of student aid to include undergraduate grants, loan reductions and graduate scholarships the barriers would be removed to the undergraduate education and graduate education so many students are currently facing.

The entire “Opportunity Agenda” is attached to this email so you can become more familiar with the three pillars being presented.

In the following weeks we will have ample opportunity to discuss how TRU’s needs and agenda will be supported by RUCBC’s forward-looking and practical plan to expand opportunity, create new jobs, and grow a sustainable economy in every part of the Province.

Alan Shaver
President and Vice-Chancellor