Topic: Public policy

Corporatization and commercialization, Governance, History, Public policy, Research and innovation, Universities and the academic mission

Public money, private profit: A history of U of T’s MaRS Discovery District

Chelsea Tao and Mariana Valverde, University of Toronto

It is well known that the University of Toronto (U of T) has historically played an important role in scientific innovation. This […]

Academic mentorship, Equity and social justice, Hiring, promotion, and tenure, Participation and enrolment, Public policy

Canada should support diversity in STEM to encourage innovative research

Jennifer D. Adams, University of Calgary

Women from racialized communities in STEM education face the double bind of race and gender. (Shutterstock) Attracting and retaining diverse students in […]

Academic freedom, Contract faculty, Corporatization and commercialization, Equity and social justice, Funding, Governance, Health and safety, Online education, Public policy, Research and innovation, Students, Teaching and learning, Tuition and student fees, Universities and the academic mission

The academy’s neoliberal response to COVID-19: Why faculty should be wary and how we can push back

Honor Brabazon

Neoliberal ideology has been restructuring Canadian universities for decades. This influence has been made clear in responses to the pandemic that have […]

Equity and social justice, Governance, Health and safety, Public policy, Students

Are Ontario universities and schools doing enough to care for students with children amid the COVID-19 crisis?

Norin Taj and Asmita Bhutani

Many university students have child care responsibilities that they have had to balance with their academic work. With ongoing uncertainty around in-person […]

Corporatization and commercialization, Funding, Performance assessment, Public policy, Universities and the academic mission

The ugly side of performance-based funding for universities

Marc Spooner

With the economic and labour disruption wrought by COVID-19, for a time it seemed Ontario and Alberta had realized the folly of […]

Public policy, Research and innovation

COVID-19 has sparked new relationships between academia and policymakers – we must maintain them

Stephen Reicher, University of St Andrews

Mongkolchon Akesin/Shutterstock In the aftermath of the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, the New York Times stated that “science has failed to […]

Contract faculty, Funding, International issues, Public policy, Universities and the academic mission

Universities have thrived despite past disruptions and could grow even stronger after COVID-19

Thomas Klassen, York University, Canada

This past century, universities have proven to be nimble and entrepreneurial even while adroitly portraying themselves as guardians of tradition. (Shutterstock) In […]

Academic freedom, Equity and social justice, Ethics, Public policy, Universities and the academic mission

Four reasons to deny university status to Canada Christian College

David Seljak, St. Jerome’s University

Ontarians have opposed the Ford government’s legislation to give Canada Christian College university status and the ability to offer Bachelor of Arts […]

Funding, Public policy, Tuition and student fees

Drop tuition fees: University students face a precarious future amid COVID-19

Alison Taylor, University of British Columbia

A man on a skateboard and a young woman pass large letters spelling out UBC at the University of British Columbia in […]

Funding, Performance assessment, Public policy

COVID-19 reveals the folly of performance-based funding for universities

Marc Spooner, University of Regina

Universities’ funding can’t be judged against metrics such as student employment or salary outcomes over which universities have little control. (Shutterstock) The […]