Publications

HEQCO conducts and commissions studies and evaluations, often in partnership with Ontario’s colleges and universities, on key issues in accessibility, quality and accountability. Various organizations and individuals have considerable and valuable expertise in postsecondary education research. The research publications below reflect this collaboration with some of the best thinkers on issues related to higher education. Join our mailing list and keep current with the latest HEQCO research.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

At HEQCO, we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. To request HEQCO material in alternate formats, please contact info@heqco.ca​​.

Special Needs Students and Transitions to Postsecondary Education

Research Summary: Special needs students: Improving pathways to higher education Special education in Ontario and elsewhere is under intense scrutiny as calls for greater equity push schools toward more inclusive policies and practices, including those that improve the likelihood of special needs students pursuing postsecondary education (PSE). While there have been a number of promising […]

@ Issue Paper No. 12 Teaching and Learning Centres: Their Evolving Role Within Ontario Colleges and Universities

Research Summary: Teaching and Learning Centres at Risk of Being Unable to Meet Needs of Students and Educators Teaching and learning centres are responsible for improving teaching effectiveness at institutions across Ontario, through workshops, instructional resources and ongoing professional development.  But a new @Issue paper by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO),  Teaching and […]

The Role of New Faculty Orientations in Improving the Effectiveness of University Teaching – Part 1: University Sector

Research Summary: New faculty are focus of university programs to improve teaching quality The quality of postsecondary teaching is on the public agenda amid calls for greater accountability for what students learn and how well they learn it. If tomorrow’s teaching quality begins with today’s new faculty, a study on their professional development commissioned by […]

The Communications Adjunct Model: An Innovative Approach to Language and Literacy Remediation for Adult Learners

New strategies, rigorous evaluation needed to improve literacy skills of postsecondary students Low literacy levels are not only an impediment to success in higher education; Canadian adults with lower literacy levels have significantly lower employment rates and incomes, higher rates of unemployment and are less likely to be engaged in their community. While colleges and […]

Teaching and Learning in Large Classes at Ontario Universities: An Exploratory Study

Research Summary: Large classes: Size matters but teaching skill and course design matter more The jury’s still out on the impact of large classes on student learning, but they’re a fact of life in higher education, prompting postsecondary institutions to explore new strategies to maintain or improve quality — from building community through social media […]

Final Report of the Aligning and Building Curriculum Knowledge Exchange Network Project

Research Summary: Online Forums for Educators Can Help Improve Teaching in Higher Education While there is considerable research on best practices and innovative solutions to improve the quality of teaching in postsecondary education (PSE), the challenge is ensuring that the information is widely available to educators for discussion and implementation. As virtual gathering places for […]