Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is a provincial agency funded by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU). The goal of the agency is to provide recommendations for improving quality, accessibility, inter-institutional transfer, system planning, and effectiveness in higher education in Ontario. The Council was founded in 2005 through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act.[2][3]

Sheridan College 2

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
Established2005[1]
PresidentJanice M. Deakin, PhD
Address
88 Queen's Quay West, Suite 2500, Toronto, Ontario M5J 0B6
,
Toronto
,
Ontario
,
Canada
Websitehttp://www.heqco.ca/

Background

In 2005, Bob Rae released a comprehensive review of postsecondary education entitled Ontario: A leader in learning, more commonly known as the Rae Report or Rae Review. The report included a recommendation to change the structure of higher education in Ontario by adding an independent and objective Council on Higher Education to monitor the dynamic changes of postsecondary institutions in order to provide advice to government on the overall system.[4][5] The provincial government acted on this recommendation and created an independent advisory agency to provide assessment and advice to improve higher education in Ontario.[6] In 2005, the provincial government established the Council through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act and appointed Frank Iacobucci as its Chair. The formation of the Council was part of the provincial government's Reaching Higher six-year plan for higher education.[7][8] In January 2007, the Council announced the appointment of James Downey as its first president.[9]

Presidents

The following people have served as President and CEO of HEQCO:

Janice M. Deakin – August 2020 – [10]

David Trick (Interim) – September 2019 – July 2020[11]

Harvey P. Weingarten – July 2010 – September 2019 [12]

Ken Norrie (Acting) – April 2010 – July 2010 [13]

James Downey – January 2007 – March 2010 [14]

Board

HEQCO is governed by a board of directors who are responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of the council as well as ensuring that its activities remain aligned with its mandate. Board members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council pursuant to the Higher Education Council of Ontario Act, 2005.[15]

Board Chairs

A. Scott Carson (Current Interim) [16]

Denis Mayer (2019–2020) [17]

Nobina Robinson (2019) [18]

Alastair Summerlee (2015–2018) [19]

Cindy Dundon Hazell (Interim) (2014–2015) [20]

Elizabeth Dowdeswell (2012–2014) [21]

Frank Iacobucci, C.C., Q.C. (2006–2012) [22]

Research

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario employs a multifaceted research approach with a view to developing meaningful policy recommendations and publishing reports and other publications that inform the postsecondary education community in Ontario, Canada and around the world. To date, more than 275 research papers and reports have been produced, with new reports continually being published. The Council's research publications are available on their website.[23]

HEQCO's current research priorities include:

  • Improving access to higher education for non-traditional and underrepresented students.
  • Ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workplace and in life through the assessment of skills and competencies.
  • Enhancing academic quality and choice by assessing the sustainability of postsecondary institutions and the sector. This includes examining approaches for differentiation among higher-education institutions and exploring options for outcomes-based funding.

Hosted events

The Council has hosted workshops, conferences, webinars and other events to further its research agenda and contribute to the higher-education sector. HEQCO held annual conferences from 2011 to 2018.[24]

References
  1. Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (n.d.). About us. Retrieved January 30, 2020, from http://www.heqco.ca/en-ca/About%20Us/Pages/Home.aspx&ID=1
  2. "HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY COUNCIL OF ONTARIO, O. Reg. 336/06". Queen's Printer for Ontario. 2005. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  3. Brown, Louise (26 July 2007). "Studying the Ivory Tower". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  4. "THE RAE REPORT". University of Saskatchewan, On Campus News. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  5. Skolnik, M. L. (2005). The Rae Review and the structure of postsecondary education in Ontario. In C. M. Beach (Ed.), A challenge for higher education in Ontario (pp. 21 – 22). Kingston, ON: John Deutsch Institute for the Study of Economic Policy.
  6. Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (n.d.). 2006/07 Annual Report. Retrieved July 1, 2008, from http://www.heqco.ca/assets/HEQCO%20Annual%20Report%202006-07%20EN.pdf, p. 1.
  7. "Public Investment and Accountability". Engaging the Future: Draft Report of the Task Force on Strategic Planning. University of Western Ontario. 22 June 2006. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  8. Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (n.d.). 2007 Review and Research Plan. Retrieved July 1, 2008, from http://www.heqco.ca/pdf/101_EN.pdf, p. 4.
  9. CNW Telbec (2007, January 4). James Downey appointed first president of Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. Retrieved July 1, 2008, from http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/January2007/04/c3135.html
  10. "Dr. Janice M. Deakin appointed President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario – Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario". HEQCO News Release. www.heqco.ca. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  11. "HEQCO _ About Us". www.heqco.ca. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  12. "HEQCO Press Release". www.heqco.ca. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  13. "HEQCO Annual Report 2011" (PDF).
  14. "HEQCO Annual Report 2010" (PDF).
  15. "HEQCO Annual Report 2018" (PDF).
  16. "HEQCO Board Meeting Minutes, August 8, 2019" (PDF).
  17. "HEQCO Board Meeting Minutes, August 17, 2019" (PDF).
  18. "HEQCO Board Meeting Minutes, July 22, 2019" (PDF).
  19. "HEQCO Annual Report 2017" (PDF).
  20. "HEQCO Annual Report 2015" (PDF).
  21. "HEQCO Annual Report 2014" (PDF).
  22. "HEQCO Annual Report 2012" (PDF).
  23. "Research". Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  24. "Events". www.heqco.ca. Retrieved 6 February 2020.

Further reading
  • Iacobucci, F. & Tuohy, C. (2005), Taking public universities seriously. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.
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