Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results
Overview
Ministry Goals
At the most fundamental level, all the work undertaken by the Ministry and our system partners is done to fulfill the following
two goals:
Goal 1: Excellent public and private post-secondary education that meets the needs and aspirations of British Columbians;
Goal 2: Excellent research and innovation that supports economic and social development.
Linkage to the Five Great Goals
The Government of British Columbia has identified Five Great Goals to be achieved by 2015. These goals will guide activities
and focus efforts across all ministries and government organizations. The three Great Goals most relevant to the Ministry
are listed below. Each is followed by a short description of how it will be fulfilled in part by the work of the Ministry
of Advanced Education and our partners in post-secondary education, and research and technology.
Make British Columbia the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.
This goal pervades all activities of the Ministry of Advanced Education. The advanced education sector's contribution to reaching
this goal will be made by increasing opportunities for post-secondary students. Specific activities will include:
- expanding the public post-secondary system by adding 25,000 student spaces by 2010;
- devoting some of the 25,000 spaces to programs linked to government's key economic and social priorities, such as health care;
- funding 2,500 new graduate student spaces;
- reducing barriers to post-secondary education by expanding student financial assistance programs, including debt reduction,
interest relief and loan forgiveness;
- broadening efforts to improve post-secondary participation and success for Aboriginal learners;
- enhancing programs designed to improve adult literacy and basic skills, including community-based literacy programs, specific
programs and initiatives for Aboriginal people, workplace literacy programs, English as a Second Language, Adult Basic Education
and Adult Special Education;
- supporting online learning in British Columbia by expanding cross-institutional connections and student services via BCcampus;
- expanding the international reach of our post-secondary institutions by promoting British Columbia as a destination for international
students and supporting study abroad by domestic students; and
- supporting an integrated, quality post-secondary education system, that includes both public and private institutions, to
expand student opportunities, access and choice.
Build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and
seniors.
The advanced education sector's contribution to reaching this goal will include:
- providing student financial assistance programs;
- funding Adult Special Education programs and services that help people with disabilities participate in post-secondary education,
including Disability and Interpreting Services, Colleges and Institutes Library Service, Post-Secondary Communication Access
Service, Program for Institutional Loans of Adaptive Technology, and the Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities;
- supporting public post-secondary institutions' efforts to offer a variety of programs that prepare students for positions
in child protection, mental health services, hospitals, schools, youth correction agencies, infant development programs and
other related areas; and
- funding capital construction in public post-secondary education institutions that expand access for students with physical
disabilities.
Create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.
The advanced education sector's contribution to reaching this goal will be made by supporting partnerships between post-secondary
institutions and industry, and by ensuring post-secondary education is responsive to the needs of the economy. The Ministry's
investments in research and innovation will also play a role by increasing the number of highly qualified personnel within
the province and by encouraging the development of new businesses through the commercialization of research and innovation.
The Ministry undertakes labour market research to analyze labour requirements and develop relevant training and education
strategies. Specific activities will include:
- increasing graduate student programs at post-secondary institutions by funding 2,500 new graduate student spaces including
internships to support university-industry linkages and research;
- exploring options for building regional capacity for innovation through partnerships between post-secondary institutions and
local industry;
- supporting programs and initiatives at post-secondary institutions to train students in high-demand fields and provide the
knowledge, skills and training that entrepreneurs need to open businesses and create jobs; and
- supporting international education activities which have an economic impact; for example, creating 6,000 jobs for British Columbians
in occupations such as teaching international students.
Cross Ministry Initiatives
The Ministry of Advanced Education will cooperate with other ministries and government organizations to meet government priorities
in areas of overlapping responsibility. Cross ministry initiatives the Ministry is involved in are discussed below.
Literacy
The Government of British Columbia has set a goal to make B.C. the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.
To be considered literate, a person has sufficient reading skills to understand and process printed information encountered
in everyday activities. The Ministry of Education is leading the development and implementation of the Provincial Literacy
Action Plan — ReadNow BC — to help British Columbians improve their reading skills. The Ministry of Advanced Education will
work with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Attorney General and other ministries to achieve the goal. Activities will
include supporting programs to improve adult literacy, such as community based literacy, Adult Basic Education, English as
a Second Language training and a workforce essential skills initiative. Specific programs will be developed to support literacy
in those communities that face the greatest literacy challenges, including Aboriginal and immigrant communities. Enhanced
clarification of learning outcomes and articulation of benchmarks will support learner transitions.
Asia Pacific Initiative
The British Columbia Asia Pacific Initiative ensures the province has a coordinated and targeted strategic plan in place that
takes full advantage of B.C.'s Pacific Gateway advantages and Asian cultural and language base. The Asia Pacific Initiative
defines B.C.'s future role in the Asia Pacific economy and identifies immediate priority actions that must be taken to further
integrate the province into Asian markets. The Ministry will work with the Ministries of Economic Development, Education and
other ministries to enhance and expand international education which will complement the Asia Pacific Initiative. Activities
will include working with post-secondary institutions to expand quality international education activities; marketing British Columbia
as an educational destination and reducing barriers that confront international students who choose to come here; supporting
policy measures to ease transitions between study and post-graduation employment in British Columbia; and expanding and diversifying
academic links to the Asia Pacific region. The Ministry is creating two new scholarship programs for study abroad: the One
World Scholarship for study that is an integral part of the student's program, and the Pacific Horizons for Youth program
to support student travel exchanges with families across the Pacific.
Regulatory Reform
British Columbia continues to make regulatory reform a priority across government, making it easier for businesses to operate
and succeed in British Columbia, while still preserving regulations that protect public health, safety and the environment.
A citizen-centred approach to regulatory reform will reduce the number of steps it takes to comply with government requirements
or access government programs and services.
The Ministry supports government's regulatory reform initiatives by improving current regulatory processes to enable efficient
delivery of services to British Columbians. The student financial assistance program recently introduced a once-only student
loan agreement to replace the once-per-application agreement. This means students will only have to process the agreement
through the post office once. When the student's enrolment has been confirmed by the school, the service provider will electronically
deposit the student's British Columbia student loan funding into his or her account. Other initiatives to reduce regulatory
burden include streamlining steps or processes directly linked to student financial assistance programs.
The Ministry is committed to maintaining a zero net increase in regulatory requirements through 2009/10.
Citizen-Centred Service Delivery
Citizen-centred service delivery is a government-wide initiative to coordinate information, programs and services so that
they can be presented to citizens in a way that takes their needs into account from beginning to end. The vision is to make
it possible for citizens to access the government information and services they need in a simple and timely manner with a
phone call, a mouse click or a visit to a service centre, no matter how many programs or ministries are involved in their
request.
The Ministry recognizes its role in the delivery of high quality post-secondary education. Aside from personal benefits, post-secondary
education and training is strongly linked to economic and community growth. The Ministry continues to look for ways that ensure
citizens are well-informed when it comes to financing their post-secondary education, as well as to ensure student financial
assistance programs are easily accessible and efficiently delivered. For example, the British Columbia Student Assistance
Program provides a comprehensive website with information on the various student financial assistance programs, including
debt management tools, available to current, former or prospective students. Currently, applications for student loan funding
can be submitted, and are adjudicated, electronically. Students benefit from application processes that are faster and more
convenient, reliable and secure.
The Ministry provides funding and support for comprehensive surveys on student outcomes or results and satisfaction. This
includes surveys of university, university-college, college, institute, and apprenticeship students (annual), of post-graduates
(biennial), and on developmental programs (rotational). These surveys inform Ministry performance measures and decisions,
as well as providing valuable planning and program information to post-secondary institutions. In general, former public post-secondary
students have been satisfied or very satisfied with their post-secondary education and the post-secondary education system.
Performance Plan
The Ministry's goals and objectives described in this section are multi-year commitments for post-secondary education, as
well as research and technology, in the province. These goals and objectives are consistent with the Ministry's mandate and
vision, and reflect the Ministry's responsibility for providing leadership and policy direction to the post-secondary system,
and for supporting research and technology development across the province.
This section also provides brief descriptions of some activities and initiatives the Ministry will undertake to achieve its
goals and objectives. Progress toward achieving the goals and objectives will be tracked by a series of performance measures.
For each performance measure, the most current available data are provided along with annual performance targets for the next
three years. These targets reflect the ambitious agenda of the Ministry.
Performance Plan Summary Table
| Goal 1: |
Excellent public and private post-secondary education that meets the needs and aspirations of British Columbians. |
Underlying this goal is a desire to ensure students have affordable opportunities to pursue a wide range of high-quality post-secondary
education and training programs. Further, these programs will be delivered in an efficient and integrated manner, and will
promote knowledge and skills relevant to the social and economic needs of the province.
Core Business Areas that Support the Ministry Goal:
- Educational Institutions and Organizations.
- Student Financial Assistance.
- Debt Service Costs and Amortization of Prepaid Capital Advances.
- Executive and Support Services.
Objective 1: Capacity
Capacity means an integrated public and private post-secondary system that is of sufficient size to meet the needs of the
province and lay the foundation for its future prosperity. Achieving this objective will ensure that there is enough space
to accommodate students who wish to pursue post-secondary education, in line with the government's goal of making British Columbia
the most literate, best-educated jurisdiction on the continent.
Strategies
Implement Strategic Investment Plan. The Ministry will work to increase the size of the post-secondary system to meet the continued growth in the 18-29 year old
population and raise British Columbia's post-secondary participation rate. Government has committed to add 25,000 student
spaces to the public post-secondary system by 2010, along with the capital and student financial assistance to ensure that
finances are not a barrier to pursuing post-secondary education. Public post-secondary institutions receive funding for the
additional seats and are responsible for meeting their seat targets.
Target spaces to meet strategic skill needs. To address shortages of skilled people in some occupations, student spaces continue to be specifically targeted to strategic
areas — health care, including nursing and allied health professions, and undergraduate medical education. Producing additional
graduates in health occupations is a government priority, one that will enhance our health care system and stimulate economic
growth. To ensure that investment in health education programs reflects the number and mix of health-care providers needed
in B.C., the Ministry collaborates with the Ministry of Health and post-secondary institutions. To increase the number of
clinical placements and faculty at institutions, the Ministry works with the Ministry of Health, health authorities, and the
B.C. Academic Health Council. To remove barriers and provide access to training for foreign-educated health care professionals,
the Ministry works with the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Health and post-secondary institutions. The addition
of new spaces also allows institutions to address training needs in the oil and gas sector, tourism and hospitality sector,
and aerospace sector. A portion of the seats under the Strategic Investment Plan will be directed to graduate student spaces,
skilled trades, and access for Aboriginal learners to address new, emerging priorities.5
Expand support for graduate students. To increase its global economic competitiveness, B.C. needs to increase the number of highly qualified personnel trained
in the province who, through their knowledge and work, facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology to the economy
and society. The Ministry will add 2,500 spaces for graduate students at B.C. universities to address shortfalls in opportunities
for students wishing to pursue Masters and Ph.D. degrees. The Ministry is considering an increase in the availability of provincial
graduate scholarships to help our universities compete nationally for the best graduate students. Also being examined are
graduate student internship programs, which will ensure that students are able to conduct applied research in partnership
with industries and other organizations whose business is relevant to their studies.
Ensure campus facilities meet growth requirements. In order to accommodate the additional students, new or expanded facilities are needed. Capital leases and funds in the form
of prepaid capital advances are provided to post-secondary institutions for approved capital costs of new buildings and renovations
in support of the growth. The Capital/Debt Management Plan will continue to support the post-secondary system capacity within
the approved financial targets through rigorous planning and business case requirements. The Ministry encourages institutions
to use non-government sources of capital to minimize new government debt. Use of post-secondary facilities, including year-round
activity, continues to be monitored.
The Ministry is planning a new medical training campus at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan. This facility will
link to the University of British Columbia Life Science Centre in Vancouver, and to associated medical centres at the University
of Northern British Columbia and University of Victoria.
Online learning increases the capacity of the post-secondary education system without increasing the need for campus facilities.
Thus, the Ministry continues to support the development and delivery of high quality post-secondary online learning opportunities
through BCcampus.
Promote an integrated public and private post-secondary education system. The Ministry plays a role in regulating the ability of private institutions to fill market gaps and provide greater options,
choice and access to students. Promoting credit transfer between public and private institutions is one way the Ministry is
encouraging greater integration between the two sectors. The B.C. Council on Admissions and Transfer will continue to work
with private institutions to expand credit transfer options. Although private institutions are not funded by government, enrolment
data is expected to be available beginning in the spring of 2007 for institutions registered with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency. In addition, it is expected that information on student spaces at private degree-granting institutions approved under the
Degree Authorization Act will be available early in 2007. Such information will provide a more complete picture of the post-secondary education system.
Performance Measures
The number of spaces at public post-secondary institutions and the number of credentials awarded are two measures that indicate
the capacity of the public post-secondary system to, first, enrol students and, second, for those students to complete their
programs. The results of the first measure are primarily influenced by the Ministry, as well as the Ministry of Economic Development6, through funding for seat allocations. The results of the second measure are jointly influenced by the Ministry and its partners.
The Ministry provides funding; the institutions meet their target number of seats; and students complete programs. It should
be noted that both enrolments and completions can soften in a vibrant economy where students are often hired before completing
their programs. There are both positive and negative aspects to this dynamic.
| Performance Measures |
Baseline |
2007/08
Target |
2008/09
Target |
2009/10
Target |
| Student spaces in public institutions:1,2 |
|
|
|
|
| i. |
Total student spaces3 |
i. |
179,4054 |
190,442 |
194,600 |
198,626 |
| ii. |
Student spaces in nursing and other allied health programs |
ii. |
10,7975 |
11,306 |
11,656 |
12,006 |
| iii. |
Student spaces in medical program |
iii. |
6986 |
904 |
960 |
992 |
| Total credentials awarded7 |
|
48,4938 |
48,775 |
49,605 |
50,547 |
Objective 2: Access
For the purpose of this objective, access means all citizens have equitable and affordable access to public post-secondary
education. Achieving this objective will ensure that opportunities are available for students to pursue post-secondary education
throughout the province, and that barriers, such as financial or geographic limitations, are minimized.
Strategies
Provide student financial aid, including incentive programs related to specific occupations and geographic regions. Student financial assistance is available to help eligible students manage costs associated with education. Assistance is
also available to students attending accredited private institutions. The B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program and various bursaries
(e.g., Nurses Education Bursary Program) provide assistance to students in programs that target labour market demands and/or
regional labour market requirements. The One World Scholarship will be established to support international post-secondary
education — for both B.C. students studying abroad and foreign students studying in B.C. In addition, the Ministry is expanding
its share of funding for the student loan reduction program.
Develop and fund initiatives for Aboriginal learners. Specific programming will be available to improve the access, retention, completion and transitions opportunities for Aboriginal
learners, such as Aboriginal Service Plans, which are three-year plans developed and implemented through the coordinated efforts
of a public post-secondary institution and its Aboriginal community; an enhanced Aboriginal Special Projects Fund that will
include increased focus on Aboriginal language and student transition; and Aboriginal scholarships to reduce barriers for
learners, including an Aboriginal scholarship endowment for Aboriginal learners.
Develop and fund initiatives for specific populations. Maintaining access to developmental programs remains a priority for the Ministry. Many adults, for various reasons, have not
achieved the level of education they need or want to build the future they desire for themselves and their families. Others
want to improve their English language skills or have disabilities or combinations of learning difficulties that hinder academic
success. The Ministry will develop support programs and services to address the literacy and learning needs of adults, including
initiatives in support of the Ministry of Education's Provincial Literacy Action Plan. The Ministry also works with the Ministry
of Employment and Income Assistance, the Ministry of Attorney General, post-secondary partners and community-based organizations.
Work will continue with these partners on a variety of literacy-related initiatives, such as increasing access for persons with disabilities and literacy for Aboriginal
people, immigrant communities, and families. As well, Adult Basic Education programs at post-secondary institutions provide
courses ranging from basic literacy to secondary school completion to help students get better jobs or move on to post-secondary
education and training.
Maintain affordable post-secondary education through fair tuition policy. The cost of tuition is one of many factors influencing people's decisions concerning post-secondary education. To enhance
access, tuition increases will be limited to the rate of inflation. In addition, supports to students experiencing difficulty
repaying loans will be improved and better publicized.
Support online learning. The Ministry supports the enhancement of online learning throughout the province through the BCcampus initiative. Online
learning reduces many barriers faced by students today. Time and space restrictions are reduced or eliminated as students
are able to schedule their education around their lives. Programs are accessible without the need for costly relocation. Students
have access to a quality education, yet family and work commitments can be maintained.
Performance Measures
A number of measures provide information on the accessibility of the post-secondary education system. The results of the first
measure are primarily influenced by the Ministry, through funding for seat allocations; the results of the next two are jointly
influenced by the Ministry and its partners.
| Performance Measures |
Baseline |
2007/08
Target |
2008/09
Target |
2009/10
Target |
| Student spaces in developmental programs1 |
12,3712 |
≥ previous year |
≥ previous year |
≥ previous year |
| Public post-secondary participation rate for population aged 18-293 |
52.5%4 |
≥ 52.5%4 |
≥ previous year |
≥ previous year |
| Number and per cent of public post-secondary students who are Aboriginal5 |
16,8254
4.4%4 |
≥ 16,8254
≥ 4.4%4 |
≥ previous year |
≥ previous year |
New Measure
A new measure on affordability was developed in 2006/07. This measure is "Ratio of median debt to median income of graduates."
Data will be presented in the 2007/08 Annual Service Plan Report and will form the baseline for the 2008/09 – 2010/11 Service Plan. The baseline will be used to develop future targets for
this measure.
Objective 3: Efficiency
Efficiency means the public post-secondary system is able to deliver education programs to students in a timely and efficient
manner. The measure for this objective indicates that students in the university sector complete university courses and programs
in a reasonable amount of time.
Strategy
Facilitate transfer into and between post-secondary institutions. Ease of transfer enables students to receive credit for courses or programs taken previously at one or more institutions
when pursuing further studies at other institutions. This avoids having to repeat courses or programs. The Ministry provides
funding and support to the B.C. Council on Admissions and Transfer. This Council works with post-secondary institutions to
facilitate transfer arrangements among public and private institutions.
Performance Measure
The Ministry tracks the degree completion rate, indicating the ability of B.C. public universities to deliver degree programs
to students in an efficient and timely manner. The results of this measure are jointly influenced by the Ministry and its
partners, including students.
| Performance Measure |
Baseline |
2007/08
Target |
2008/09
Target |
2009/10
Target |
| Degree completion rate:1 |
|
|
|
|
| i. |
Percentage of university direct entry students who complete baccalaureate degrees within 7 years of admission |
i. |
74.1% |
i. |
≥74.1% |
i. |
≥ previous year |
i. |
≥ previous year |
| ii. |
Percentage of university transfer students who complete baccalaureate degrees within 5 years of admission to university |
ii. |
75.2%2 |
ii. |
≥75.2% |
ii. |
≥ previous year |
ii. |
≥ previous year |
Objective 4: Quality
Quality means the post-secondary system provides sufficient quality to meet the needs of students, employers and citizens.
Achieving this objective ensures that the education and training post-secondary students receive in B.C. meet a high standard
of excellence.
Strategies
Collect and provide quality monitoring and improvement information. To ensure post-secondary education is meeting students' needs, and that high standards of excellence in the post-secondary
system are maintained and enhanced, system-wide surveys on student outcomes or results (at university, university-college,
college, and institute levels) are conducted. Former students are asked about aspects of their education experience. Institutions
also use a variety of methods to obtain student feedback and engage students in program development and evaluation, for example,
through student participation on program development committees, student membership on institutions' governing boards, senates
and education councils, and student feedback forms.
Ensuring quality of institutions. Quality in private and public degree programs is addressed through the Degree Quality Assessment Board7. Quality assurance standards for accredited private career training institutions are established by the Private Career Training
Institutions Agency8. The Board and the Agency work directly with institutions. As part of its commitment to quality in the post-secondary education
system and as part of the Pan-Canadian Designation Policy Framework for Student Financial Assistance,9 the Ministry requires designated private and public institutions whose former students have a poor (28% or greater) B.C.
student loan default rate to provide improvement plans that outline changes they will make to current practices to ensure
significant improvement in their default rates. Improvement plans focus on improving student success, which research has found
to be a prerequisite to student loan repayment.
Provide oversight and input into quality review processes. The Ministry oversees quality review processes for private and public degree-granting institutions. Assuring quality is important
for safeguarding the public interest, including student and employer satisfaction and comparable quality between similar institutions.
The Ministry will continue to work with the Degree Quality Assessment Board, the Private Career Training Institutions Agency,
and other stakeholders to further improve the quality of and confidence in B.C.'s private and public post-secondary education
system.
Performance Measure
Quality of post-secondary education is measured by assessing the satisfaction of former public post-secondary students — overall
satisfaction with their education and satisfaction with how well their programs helped develop skills.10 The results of this measure are jointly influenced by the Ministry and its partners, as well as by students.
| Performance Measure |
Baseline |
2007/08 Target |
2008/09 Target |
2009/10 Target |
| Student assessment of quality:1 |
|
≥90% |
| i. |
Overall satisfaction: |
|
| |
• Former Diploma, Certificate and Associate Degree Students |
95.1%2 |
| |
• Baccalaureate Graduates |
95.8%3 |
| ii. |
Skill development: |
|
| |
• Former Diploma, Certificate and Associate Degree Students |
79.9%2 |
| |
• Baccalaureate Graduates |
84.5%3 |
Objective 5: Relevance
Relevance means the public post-secondary system is relevant and responsive to the needs of the student and the province by
providing the appropriate scope and breadth of education. Achieving this objective will ensure that education and training
offered through the post-secondary system are relevant to the knowledge, skills and abilities needed in the labour market.
Strategies
Conduct analysis of labour market and socio-economic trends. The Ministry conducts research and analysis of labour markets, as well as social and economic trends, to have current and
relevant information for training and education strategies. The findings of occupational research are available to students
to help them identify careers with good employment prospects, and make informed education and training decisions. These findings
are also available to post-secondary institutions, for developing and assessing program offerings, and to employers and business
councils.
Build linkages between the post-secondary system and industry. The Ministry continues to support initiatives to ensure that up-to-date knowledge and skills needed by employers and entrepreneurs
in a modern economy are provided by public post-secondary institutions. Institutions are responsible for developing, evaluating
and revising the content of their instructional programs. As a part of these processes, institutions maintain ongoing links
to industry and employers to ensure that, where appropriate, programs provide knowledge and skills relevant to employers and
entrepreneurs in a modern economy.
Monitor student labour market outcomes. The Ministry works with public post-secondary institutions and BC Stats to annually survey former students and graduates
of these institutions about their programs, educational experiences and employment experiences. These surveys provide valuable
information for program evaluation, program improvement and accountability purposes. Students report on their labour market
outcomes (employment, relevance of their education, and wages), and this information is used to assess the relevance of post-secondary programming to the labour market.
Implement a workplace literacy initiative. The Ministry will work with industry and business associations, post-secondary institutions and partner ministries to develop
and implement a workplace literacy initiative that improves the literacy levels of adults in the workforce. Improving the
literacy of B.C.'s workforce will maintain our competitiveness in the global economy and ensure a sufficient supply of literate,
skilled workers.
Performance Measure
Relevance is assessed by comparing the unemployment rate of former post-secondary students to those of British Columbians
without post-secondary education. The results of this measure are jointly influenced by the Ministry and its partners, including
students.
| Performance Measure |
Baseline |
2007/08
Target |
2008/09
Target |
2009/10
Target |
| Student outcomes — unemployment rate:1 |
|
Less than unemployment rate for those with high school credentials or less4 |
| • Former Diploma, Certificate and Associate Degree Students |
6.3%2 |
| • Baccalaureate Graduates |
5.5%3
High school or less comparator, 2005: 9.6% |
| Goal 2: |
Excellent research and innovation that supports economic and social development. |
British Columbia will enhance its reputation as a world-class centre for research and innovation in a diverse range of fields
and disciplines. The discoveries, innovations and knowledge developed through research will create social and economic benefits
throughout the province, including enhanced business opportunities and assisting organizations to develop and grow in a changing
economy. This goal reflects the Ministry's formal responsibility for research and technology.
Core Business Areas that Support the Ministry Goal:
- Research, Technology and Innovation.
- Educational Institutions and Organizations.
- Student Financial Assistance.
- Debt Service Costs and Amortization of Prepaid Capital Advances.
- Executive and Support Services.
Note: The measures for Goal 2 will be examined over the next year for possible revisions.
Objective 1: Research Capacity
Research capacity indicates that the necessary means to meet the research and innovation needs of the province are available.
Achieving this objective will ensure researchers in British Columbia have the resources and facilities necessary to fulfill
the Ministry's research goal.
Strategies
Develop a Research and Innovation Framework. A Research and Innovation Framework will be developed to identify key opportunities for increased productivity and provincial
economic growth through research discoveries, commercialization and highly qualified personnel. The Framework will direct
government research and innovation investment and will foster a coordinated and integrated approach to research, innovation
and the dissemination of ideas, and guide plans to increase the number of highly qualified personnel within the province.
Provide administrative and technical infrastructure funding support, as well as research funding support. The Ministry provides operating grants to the public universities, portions of which the universities dedicate to research
activity. In 2007/08, the Ministry will fund 2,500 new graduate student spaces at our research-intensive universities. Funding
is also provided to public post-secondary institutions through the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund,11 the province's major research infrastructure program. Support from the Fund helps provide research space at the universities
where highly qualified personnel undertake research. The Ministry will continue to fund BCNET12 for enhancement and expansion. Development will continue on the Natural Resources and Applied Science Research Endowment,13 the Technology Action Plan14 and Life Sciences Action Plan15.
Support and oversee research organizations. The Ministry is the provincial liaison for the Leading Edge Endowment Fund,16 which funds research chairs. The leadership research chairs attract world-class faculty; strengthen the province's capacity
for innovative research; promote B.C. as a centre for cutting-edge research; enhance economic development; and, position the
province as a leader in the knowledge-based economy. As well, the Ministry assumed authority for the British Columbia Innovation
Council17 on June 16, 2005, when the Ministry's mandate was expanded to include responsibility for research and technology. The Ministry
supports the Council through funding and liaison, thus enabling them to expand research and innovation in the province and
work to achieve government's goal of British Columbia becoming one of the world's top ten technology centres.
Attract research, technology and innovation activity to the province. The Ministry continues to work with industry and post-secondary institutions to develop strategies to increase research and
innovation investment and to increase B.C.'s capacity for commercialization of research. The British Columbia Innovation Council,
along with university-liaison offices and B.C. Regional Science and Technology Network18 are Ministry partners dedicated to facilitating knowledge transfer and commercialization of basic and applied research.
Performance Measure
This measure assesses public post-secondary research capacity — the resources that public universities have at their disposal
for research and innovation. It includes sponsored19 funding, as well as highly qualified personnel. The results of funding from provincial sources are primarily influenced by
the Ministry. The results of federal and other sources, B.C. proportion of federal awards, and the number of highly qualified
personnel are jointly influenced by Ministry and its partners.
| Performance Measures |
Baseline |
2007/08
Target |
2008/09
Target |
2009/10
Target |
| Research capacity:1 |
|
|
|
|
| i. |
Sponsored research funding from all sources2 |
i. |
Total: $507 M |
i. |
≥ $507 M |
i. |
≥ previous year |
i. |
≥ previous year |
| |
a) Federal |
|
a) $299 M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
b) Provincial |
|
b) $ 36 M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
c) Other |
|
c) $172 M |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ii. |
British Columbia proportion of federal awards2 |
ii. |
12.2% |
ii. |
≥ 12.2% |
ii. |
≥ previous year |
ii. |
≥ previous year |
| iii. |
Highly qualified personnel:3 |
iii. |
|
iii. |
|
iii. |
|
iii. |
|
| |
Number |
|
17,881 |
|
≥ 17,881 |
|
≥ previous year |
|
≥ previous year |
| |
Number per 1,000 population |
|
4.2/1,000 |
|
≥ 4.2/1,000 |
|
≥ previous year |
|
≥ previous year |
Objective 2: Research Relevance
Research relevance means that the research undertaken in the province is related to B.C.'s current and emerging social and economic needs. Achieving
this objective will yield the intended social and economic benefits.
Strategy
Contribute funding and support. The Ministry funds the British Columbia Innovation Council which supports the commercialization of research in all areas
of the province through public university-liaison offices, the British Columbia Regional Science and Technology Network and
other programs. The Ministry also funds and supports research at public post-secondary institutions through operating grants,
and also through the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund.
Performance Measure
This measure focuses on the commercial applications that result from research at public post-secondary institutions, commercialization
and the relationship of research to economic growth, in the form of licences, patents, and start-up companies. The results
of this measure are jointly influenced by the Ministry and its partners.
Note: The measure does not reflect the many non-commercial benefits of post-secondary research activity nor the indirect economic
benefits generated by start-up companies. These aspects are important but difficult to quantify.
| Performance Measure |
Baseline |
2007/08
Target |
2008/09
Target |
2009/10
Target |
| Number of licences, patents and start-up companies:1 |
|
|
|
|
| i. |
Licence/option agreements |
i. |
632 |
i. |
≥ 63 |
i. |
≥ previous year |
i. |
≥ previous year |
| ii. |
U.S. patents issued |
ii. |
263 |
ii. |
≥ 26 |
ii. |
≥ previous year |
ii. |
≥ previous year |
| iii. |
Start-up companies |
iii. |
94 |
iii. |
≥ 9 |
iii. |
≥ previous year |
iii. |
≥ previous year |
| iv. |
Licence income received |
iv. |
$14.6 M5 |
iv. |
≥ $14.6 M |
iv. |
≥ previous year |
iv. |
≥ previous year |