York University applauds prominence of post-secondary education in report by Ontario Jobs and Investment Board "Road Map to Prosperity"; awaits particulars in spring budget

TORONTO, March 25, 1999 -- York University President Dr. Lorna Marsden said she was pleased to see the prominence given post-secondary education-- and the emphasis on innovation, quality and excellence -- in the Ontario Jobs and Investment Board's "Road Map to Prosperity," released today. Marsden said she is looking forward to seeing how these ideas will be implemented in the government's upcoming Speech From the Throne and spring budget. York is already well on its way to meeting many of the 21 priorities for the 21st century listed in the OJIB report, especially in relation to the call for innovation which is York's trademark.

For instance, York University is tapping the best potential from new technology by enhancing distance/Internet delivered education and increasing the range of opportunities for students to study in computer-related areas. Marsden noted that the ground-breaking pan-Canadian project (Yes-I-Can project) for improving science literacy among primary and secondary school teachers is based at York University in the Faculty for Pure and Applied Science.

That project received $1 million in support from Imperial Oil, pointing to another example where York is on board: private-public partnerships. The President cited such programs as Innovation York -- a program which facilitates connections between university researchers and the private sector and which works to move discoveries into the private sector by supporting the procurement of licenses and patents.

York is also leading the way in another OJIB priority -- innovative and flexible education and training delivery systems -- or more simply put, combining college and university studies. York has 56 separate arrangements with community colleges in Ontario. Recent joint programs include a York University-Sheridan College joint program in Design, leading to a York U. Bachelor of Design (Honours) and a joint Bachelor of Arts program with Seneca College which allows students to complete a university degree and a college diploma in three years of intense study.

In planning for its -- and students' -- future(s),York University is working to ensure that every grade 9 student who wants to go to university can be accommodated if they have the appropriate academic standing. To do that, and to meet OJIB's objectives, York University must begin immediately to expand and improve its physical plant and seek support to hire the faculty needed to deliver the high-quality, world-class education that the OJIB report is calling for, said Marsden. That can only be done by keeping watch over the critical importance of balancing support for research and teaching, adding that at York the two are inseparable.

"York University is fully committed to providing an innovative environment and relevant programs for the education and training of Ontario citizens. As York celebrates its fortieth anniversary at the end of this week, we are proud to say that innovation is our tradition. We look forward to working with OJIB, the government, the private sector and other educational institutions in designing and delivering the new education, training and research programs which will be required to prepare the citizens of Ontario for work in the new Millennium," said Marsden.

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For more information, please call:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
YU/030/99