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Informing the Future of Higher Education

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Career Opportunities and Requests for Proposals

Career Opportunities Title: Research InternLocation: Remote, with possibility for some in-person meetings in TorontoDuration: 8 months (January 15th 2026 to August 14th 2026)Type: Full-time contract positionNumber of positions: One Research Intern The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is an agency of the Government of Ontario that brings evidence-based research to the continued improvement […]

Quick Stats

How many Ontario students applied to the province’s colleges and universities during the last decade? How many enrolled? How many graduated? Find the answers to these and other good questions in Quick Stats, a compendium of data on Ontario’s postsecondary system. Note: All visualizations begin in 2013 and go up to the most recent year […]

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Simplifying the Application Process for Institutional Financial Aid: A Case Study at Brock University

Research Summary: Institutional Financial Aid Process Should be Simplified The application process for institutional financial aid can be long and complicated, often requiring students to speculate on financial details they may not know or feel comfortable raising with their family. A new report published by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) suggests that […]

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What is an innovative university?

I participated in a panel on “Innovative Universities” as part of a workshop on innovation held in September at the Perimeter Institute.  Two questions posed to panel members were:  (i) “What does an innovative university look like?” and (ii)   “Does Canada have innovative universities?” I suggested that if one wants to know whether a university […]

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Fear of Finance: Breaking down barriers to postsecondary education

A new HEQCO conference, Fear of Finance: Financial Literacy and Planning for Postsecondary Education (Nov. 3-4) will explore educational financial literacy — the knowledge of the costs, benefits and available aid associated with higher education. And it’s not a moment too soon. Ontario leads the nation in postsecondary participation, but despite rising enrolments overall, the […]

Financial Literacy of Low-income Students: Literature Review and Environmental Scan

Research Summary: Low knowledge of costs, benefits and financial aid pose barrier to higher education Ontario postsecondary enrolments are rising, but not among students from low-income families.  And of those low-income students who do pursue higher education, approximately half are not taking advantage of government grants and loans designed to help them. Students who could […]

@ Issue Paper No. 11 Participation of Low-Income Students in Ontario

Research Summary: Low knowledge of costs, benefits and financial aid pose barrier to higher education Ontario postsecondary enrolments are rising, but not among students from low-income families.  And of those low-income students who do pursue higher education, approximately half are not taking advantage of government grants and loans designed to help them. Students who could […]