Exploring French-speaking Students’ Decisions to Attend French-language Institutions

In 2024, HEQCO explored the postsecondary pathways of French-speaking students in Ontario. As part of this research, we partnered with one publicly assisted French-language postsecondary institution in Ontario to survey current students about their postsecondary decision making. The goal of this survey was to gain insight into the institutional preferences and choices of French-speaking students […]

A Shift in Accessibility: What’s Behind the Decline in College Support Use?

For years, colleges have been seen as a primary destination for students with disabilities in Ontario. The smaller class sizes, applied learning focus and hands-on teaching models were often upheld as being more accessible. Data reinforced this perception — colleges consistently reported a higher proportion of students registering with Offices for Students with Disabilities (OSDs) […]

Graduates’ Unmet Labour Market Expectations Reflect Unequal Realities

Authors: Ken Chatoor, Hagar Effah and Elizabeth Agoe The transition from postsecondary (PSE) to work is an exciting and important milestone that can also be challenging. In Ontario, the existing data infrastructure around PSE outcomes relies on provincial government key performance indicators and graduate surveys that measure students’ employment and graduate outcomes (Government of Ontario, […]

Graduates’ Perspectives on Career Services

Infographic created by Elizabeth Agoe HEQCO’s study on the school-to-work transition explores the experiences of recent PSE graduates as they enter the labour market. Institutions offer career services, activities and workshops to support this transition. HEQCO’s research found that recent graduates consider some of these services more helpful than others, which are highlighted below.

Preparing Students for a Labour Market That Values GenAI Skills

Authors: Miha Isik and Elizabeth Agoe Public access to Generative AI (GenAI) tools and software, such as ChatGPT, introduce new opportunities in the workplace. Both employers and employees expect the use of GenAI to increase in the workforce. This highlights the need for workers to expand their skillset and workplaces to adapt their processes to […]

Ontario’s Postsecondary Graduates Find Employment in a Wide Range of Occupations

Author: Hagar Effah When applying to postsecondary education, students and parents can find themselves grappling with the weighty decision of selecting the right program. We often assume that this important decision will open the door to a singular occupation that will determine the future of our entire career. However, the reality is that most careers […]

Imagining New Possibilities for Campus Mental Health Support

Authors: Ken Chatoor, Elizabeth Agoe and Amy Kaufman Earlier this year, HEQCO published an evaluation of the mental health support system in Ontario’s postsecondary institutions (PSIs). Based on a series of interviews with institutional staff and community partners, as well as scans of services and strategies, we reported that PSIs are struggling in a variety […]

Unlocking the Potential of Ontario’s WIL Data Landscape

Author: Sophie Lanthier Work-integrated learning (WIL) and other forms of experiential learning (EL) offer several well-documented benefits for students, postsecondary institutions (PSIs) and employers. Students who learn in a workplace environment can apply classroom learning and develop employability skills. When WIL programs are aligned with industry needs, they address skills shortages and support postsecondary students’ […]

Thank you for joining us at Access Reboot!

Access Reboot: New Directions for Higher Education took place on Friday, November 3 in Toronto. The event brought together institutional staff, community partners, representatives from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and other postsecondary education (PSE) stakeholders to share best practices, develop ideas and challenge traditional approaches to equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization and accessibility in […]