AUCC calls for increased research and student training funds in pre-Budget submission

The federal government should commit to the "principle of long-term research funding – with a rate of growth leading the economy" and predictable, multi-year funding for research infrastructure when it brings down its last Budget before the 2015 general election. The recommendations were contained in the pre-Budget submission to the House of Commons Finance committee by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).

The 2015 Budget is being eyed by many organizations as it marks the first time since 2008 that the government will balance its books. It is also likely to contain a host of spending measures geared to curry favour with as many voters as possible. How highly the government considers research and innovation as a vote getter is a matter of considerable conjecture.

The AUCC submission contains a series of recommendations in three areas: enhanced funding for research and innovation; incentives to boost employment opportunities for university graduates; and, initiatives to increase post-secondary partici- pation by Aboriginal Canadians.

The AUCC ties its request to increase research funding for the granting councils to its objective of attracting and retaining top domestic and international talent. Predictable funding for the Canada Foundation for Innovation would allow that agency to "sustain the competitiveness of current equipment and pursue opportunities for growth where Canada can take a leadership role".

Unlike previous iterations, the AUCC submission contains no numbers. The only reference to increased granting council funding is contained in the phrase "a rate of growth leading the economy".

The submission commits the universities that AUCC represents to work with the government to "integrate the various elements of a national digital ecosystem for education, research and innovation" but does not include a specific recommendation.

For students, the submission is more precise, advocating for a number of initiatives the AUCC contends will provide graduating students with job-ready experience and skills. They include:

* a new voucher program aimed at smaller firms and not-for-profit organizations to hire students and interns;

* a tax credit for cop-op education and paid internships emphasizing smaller firms; * new funding to support the development of co-op placements and paid internships;

* additional funding for programs managed by Mitacs; and,

* greater support for youth business internships and new incentives to invest in young entrepreneurs.

The majority of student assistance recommendations are geared towards smaller businesses. The AUCC cites a recent report from the Canadian Association of Co-operative Education that says institutions can't meet the demand for student placements and that smaller firms are challenged to find the time and money to take on co-op students.

The submission also supports increased mobility for students, both Canadian and international. Citing a 2012 report — International Education: A Key Driver of Canada's Future Prosperity (R$, August 31/12) — it calls for the government to work with other stakeholders to "create new opportunities for short-term international and domestic student mobility".

The submission also includes a series of measures designed to boost Aboriginal participation in post-secondary education. These include additional funding for the Indspire bursary and scholarship program, which received $10 million in the 2013 Budget.

R$