StudentsNS Responds to Postsecondary Funding Agreements
Halifax, NS - Today, the Government of Nova Scotia announced changes to agreements with Nova Scotia universities that will replace the expiring 5-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with one-year bilateral agreements that partially tie funding to performance targets. Students Nova Scotia is pleased to note new accountability measures, but believe that consultation with all parties on agreement details is critical to prioritizing student wellbeing and promoting sustainability in the sector.
The new measures include reducing the current 3% cap on domestic tuition to 2%, given that Nova Scotia has the highest domestic tuition at 36.5% above the national average. Other items include institutional accountability measures for student housing and international student recruitment and retention. All of these are policy priorities which Students Nova Scotia emphasized throughout its MOU advocacy over the course of 2023.
“We are pleased to see steps taken towards a more accountable postsecondary system,” says Matt Doyle, Chair of Students Nova Scotia. “We believe a high quality education requires improved supports both inside and outside the classroom, and have consistently advocated for the implementation of campus-specific housing plans and standards for international student supports. We look forward to working with the province and universities to inform the development of these plans and to ensure that student wellbeing and informed decision making are prioritized.”
However, Students Nova Scotia is disappointed to see the introduction of a minimum annual increase to international tuition for almost every Nova Scotia university, particularly following the recent announcement of international enrolment caps for Canadian postsecondary institutions. A minimum tuition increase means that all first year international students will be paying at least 9% more than the year prior. In contrast, among the institutions that the minimum applies to, the average international tuition increased 6.7% between 2022 and 2023. Coupled with a lack of clarity around bilateral agreements, there are concerns regarding educational accessibility, equity, and sustainability of the postsecondary sector.
“With the initial agreement terms in place, the focus is now ensuring that consultation and collaboration takes place with all parties in the sector,” says Georgia Saleski, Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia. “With individual agreements, financial sustainability of the postsecondary sector will be open to disproportionate funding amongst institutions. We need to ensure that the path forward is a collaborative one that does not threaten the accessibility and quality of education for students.”
Students Nova Scotia commends the tuition policy change for domestic students, alongside student housing and international student recruitment standards. However, we remain concerned about the introduction of minimum increases for international student tuition, given the vital contributions international students make to our province. We are committed to ensuring students are consulted throughout the development of strategic alignment proposals.