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’ […]

Without Province-wide Data, School Boards Help Us Piece Together Pandemic Impacts on Student Pathways

HEQCO partnered with multiple Ontario school boards to understand how pandemic learning disruptions impacted postsecondary education (PSE) pathways. Our work with the TDSB revealed impacts on student pathways were not as negative as some feared. Our partnerships with three school boards in Central-Eastern Ontario reinforced this finding while providing insight into regional differences. These boards […]

Ontario School Boards Require Clearer Guidance to Collect Student Census Data

Recent Ontario legislation requiring school boards to collect identity-based data is an important step toward greater equity. However, issues with implementation have meant results have been delayed, inconsistent or limited. To facilitate the collection of high quality and comparable data, government should provide clearer guidance and more complete data collection templates to school boards. Author: […]

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Creating a University ‘Graduation Predictor’

A recent study outlines an approach that can help universities predict where, and when, to intervene with student supports. Taking a cue from K-12 research — where experts have long studied predictive factors related to overall achievement — the authors show how GPA and credits achieved in a student’s first year of study, and whether […]

Access Programs in Ontario: OPAIP and Pathways to Education

Access Programs in Ontario: OPAIP and Pathways to Education was written by Ken Chatoor, Rachel Courts, Jennifer Han, Victoria Barclay & Julia Colyar, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. Improving access to higher education depends on better access to high-quality data To assist historically disadvantaged students access postsecondary education (PSE), leading organizations and researchers require […]

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Closing Education Attainment Gaps with the Power of Connected Data

A new coalition — the Hamilton Community Research Partnership — provides a model for collecting and connecting data to track and improve long-term student outcomes in Ontario. Authors: Jackie Pichette, Director, Policy, Research and Partnerships (HEQCO) and Lorraine Valmadrid, Learning and Evaluation Lead (Hamilton Community Foundation) The Hamilton Community Research Partnership (CRP) is a coalition […]

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The Impact of School Closures and Emergency Remote Learning on Postsecondary transitions in 2020/21: Findings from Toronto

The Impact of School Closures and Emergency Remote Learning on Postsecondary Transitions in 2020/21: Findings from Toronto was written by Kelly Gallagher-Mackay and Robert S. Brown with George Tam and Christine Corso in collaboration with the research department of the Toronto District School Board. TDSB student applications and confirmations to postsecondary institutions increased during the […]

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Victoria Barclay and Ken Chatoor — BIPOC student support professionals doing anti-racist work need support too

Substantial evidence shows that racism in Canada has worsened in recent years. In addition to alarming rises in hate crimes in cities such as Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, there has also been a particular rise in anti-Asian hate that is disproportionately affecting younger Asian Canadians. Recent events such as the discoveries of mass graves […]

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Janice Deakin and Julia Colyar — Introducing the new HEQCO Research Roadmap

Our appointments as CEO and Vice President just over a year ago turned out to be coincident with many things, some anticipated and others not! The need to develop a new strategic research framework to guide HEQCO’s activities for the next three years was top of mind for us; however the path to completion was […]