Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO)
The Council was asked by the Minister during the Spring of 2008 to provide him with policy advice on whether to create polytechnic institutions in Ontario. The Council undertook several research projects and consulted with stakeholders on the issue.
At its December 2008 meeting, the Council’s Board of Directors considered several options that emerged in the course of conducting research. The Board determined that the issue of polytechnics in Ontario should be considered as part of a full review of the design of Ontario’s postsecondary education system. The aim of this review should be to ensure that students have access to a full range of learning opportunities that would prepare them for the next generation of jobs. The Board thus recommended that the Minister conduct a full review of the PSE system’s design and over the short term take steps to promote better collaboration among colleges and universities.