Highlights of the Year
The following is an overview of major developments and achievements in British Columbia's post-secondary system in 2005/06:
- Increased overall funding for the Ministry by $70.5 million in 2005/06, for a total of almost $1.9 billion in operating funding.
- Improved student access by adding 4,200 new spaces for 2005/06. Together with the 3,217 new spaces provided in 2004/05, this marks progress of 7,417 new spaces towards the Strategic Investment Plan goal of 25,000 new spaces by 2010. Since 2001, a total of 13,274 new seats have been funded.
- Increased student spaces, in targeted programs; including 825 new seats for computer science and electrical and computer engineering, 508 new seats for nursing and other health education, and 96 medical school spaces.
- Continued to bolster research capacity at B.C. public post-secondary institutions by awarding $33.6 million in funding for research infrastructure under the British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund. This funding will leverage $65.2 million from the federal government and other non-government sources. Total investment in research infrastructure in the province in 2005/06 was $98.8 million.
- Provided:
- $45 million to Genome British Columbia to support genome-related research in the province.
- $15 million to the Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation.
- $4 million to the Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. and Yukon Division to establish a research chair in primary cancer prevention.
- $1 million for an endowed National Chair on Aboriginal Economic Development.
- Forgave $67.2 million under the B.C. Student Loan Reduction Program, in conjunction with the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, helping almost 28,000 students who invested in their post-secondary education last year to prepare for successful futures.
- Provided $223 million in new funding for capital projects on campuses throughout B.C. this year.
- Increased funding to $1.8 million for 36 new projects that will help Aboriginal students across B.C. pursue their post-secondary education and career goals.
- Improved opportunities for students to study in their home communities by expanding on-line learning. The final major development phase of BCcampus was completed, and $1.4 million will help develop new on-line learning resources and improve access.
- Helped students manage the cost of post-secondary education by limiting 2005/06 tuition fee increases to two per cent, based on the 2004 B.C. Consumer Price Index.
- Approved 31 new degree programs at B.C. public post-secondary institutions and ten new degree programs at private post-secondary institutions.
- Provided $1.4 million for community adult literacy projects and worked with the Ministry of Education on developing the provincial literacy strategy and on other initiatives involving libraries, family literacy and the Literacy Now community work plans as part of the Premier's strategy to make British Columbia the most literate jurisdiction on the continent by 2016 and beyond.
- Began work to help post-secondary institutions to increase international education activity, including attracting more foreign students.
